Z2 mini G( Workstation

[BobST1]

I have a card reader attached via USB and a portable hardrive that I keep my photos on.  For past couple of weeks When I put a card in the card reader, the system will freeze.  The blue progress circle spins and spins, then the taskbar on the bottom of the screen disappears and my only option is to power down.  This also happens when i open file explorer, sometimes right at the file explorer screen or at times when I open a photo file on the portable drive.  I checked with support and their solution is to re-image the OS.  Not sure I want to do that.  This happen to anyone else out there ?  

[TheOldMan]

Just to start the troubleshooting process

1) disconnect the USB devices while the PC is off.  

2) start the PC and verify that everything is working properly

3) connect the card reader only and see if it works properly and if it will read from the memory card

4) disconnect the card reader with the PC off and connect the portable external hard drive.

5) restart the PC.  Verify that the hard drive works properly.  If "Yes" then connect the card reader and see if the two will work together.  If the described scenario begins again, I would suspect the hard drive and card reader is overloading the USB ports.

If the described scenario begins again, then a self-powered USB hub is needed to power the external hard drive.