USB Issues

The Problem:

Whenever I plug my USB flash drive or my digital camera USB cable into my Dell Dimension 4550, and then attempt to access the drive or camera using Windows Explorer, I get a box on my screen "Windows Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close.  We are sorry for the inconvenience."

 

What I Have Done and Not Done:

I have sent Microsoft the error report, but nothing changes.  I have NOT sent Microsoft the error report, and my computer totally locks up and I need to Control-Alt-Delete to reboot it.

 

I have looked on the manufacturers web sites for information which may help, but nothing.  (The flash drive is a 512MB Fujifilm; the camera is an Olympus D-550 Zoom.)

 

I have also discovered that, lately, using the "Safely Remove Hardware" doesn't always work.  I keep getting a "The device 'Generic volume' cannot be stopped right now.  Try stopping the device later."  Okay, I can understand that the computer may be busy doing something else, or that the computer is still communicating with the USB flash drive.  But 4 hours later it's "still busy"????

 

I thought that changing the FAT to NTFS on the flash drive may help, so I did that.  Nope, didn't help.

 

What I'm Asking/Seeking/Begging For:

Can any one suggest or help here?

 

Thank you.

 

Jim