Help with a USB Drive Issue

[cringemaster]

Ive noticed that recently, whenever i plug both my iPod (5G 30 GB) and External USB HD (Western Digital 160 GB), my mac mini grind to a halt and no programs respond properly or quit, and i cant shut down. The reason i need both is because i moved my iTunes folder to my External drive by creating a shortcut to it and have been storing everything on it fine. The issue arose yesterday when i went to sync my 'Pod and plugged my ipod into the remaining USB jack, and i got the "perpetual-spinning-beach-ball-of-death". the same happens even when everything is closed and i plug them both in.

 

if anyone can advise me if this is Software or Hardware related, id appreciate it. I also have everything updated from software update.

 

Thanks, nick

Edited January 13, 2007 by ResXhacker