FCP 4.x sees my USB 2.0 External 500G HD as "offline"

bought a new USB 2.0 ext 500 gig drive for a western I shot recently. it captured fine for a few weeks, then somewhere in there it stopped

on starting up FCP it wants to open the last project (no matter from what Project I open it). A screen pops up saying "drive is offline" and buttons QUIT, SEARCH AGAIN, and Reset Scratch Files.

I tried to put all the scratch files on the external so if my tower crashed I could move the whole project to another tower and keep moving. But as the USB 2.O drive sometimes doesn't mount or unmount cleanly it seems, those capture scratch files never manage to see the hard drive as ONLINE. And no matter what I do to prove that the hard drive is on, hitting Search Again never changes anything.

Any suggestions?

well, first thing is that USB 2.0 is NOT adequate for FCP. second, it may have gone bad - is it by anu chance a lacie product?

trash your fcp preferences un hook the drive then restart fcp.

well, first thing is that USB 2.0 is NOT adequate for FCP. second, it may have gone bad - is it by any chance a lacie product?

trash your fcp preferences un hook the drive then restart fcp.