External USB 2.0 problem

Question

I have tried my external USB 2.0 hard drive on 2 iMac, 1eMac and my new PowerBook 1.25G.
iMac and eMac can regonize it, but when I tried to copy a folder, the Finder freeze.
that's happened after I upgrade to 10.3. while before 10.3, those macs can read and copy it whithout any difficulty.
My PowerBook can regonize it sometime, let's say 50% percent with an extra power supply, but can never copy a file from it. I have to copy the file to my PC and ftp to my Powerbook.
so is there a software issue?
BTW, the HD works very well with all PCs, mine and my friends'

Answer 1

(I figured I'd copy my post into this thread... hopefully this is an obvious enough problem that Apple will address it soon)
I have a brand-new 15" PB G4, 1.25 gHz. I purchased a (very inexpensive) external USB 2.0 enclosure for my old hard drive, a 40 GB 3.5" ATA internal drive. I was able to assemble everything and hook it all up, and it showed up on the desktop just fine. However, I want to reformat it. When I go into Disk Utility, the drive is seen, but when I say "Erase" (on either the drive itself or the single partition), the Utility either says "Partitioning..." forever or "Preparing to Erase..." forever (or at least as long as I was willing to wait). Does anyone know a) how I can make Disk Utility work, b) any other utilities that might do the trick for me, c) if I'll be able to format this drive on a USB 1 or 1.1 computer or d) how to be a badass and reformat the thing through the Terminal. Thanks!