HDs require a lot of power.
Make sure you are using a high quality USB cable. The original should be OK but cheap replacements can cause problems.
If you are trying to use a USB hub this can often cause problems (if it is a powered hub you should make sure it is plugged in). But best is to try plugging it directly into a USB slot on the back of your computer.
Also you want to go to the HD manufacturers site and make sure you have installed the latest firmware for their product.
After trying the above, if it is still a problem you might try
Microsoft's Mr Fixit for USB devices.