it looks like it broken but when i attach it it comes up maxtor but then it says problem with the device, and everything stops and dosent work until i disconnect the external harddrive.
can it bee a virus i downloaded on the external maxtor one touch or is it just just broken?

Have you tried it on different computers?

What is the exact error message? Verbatim.

Not sure if PowerMax will work on external drives but it might be worth a try:

http://www.maxtor.com/portal/site/Ma...&downloadID=22