also if you want to test to see if it's the usb port giving you problems, you could load the wad for hermes v4 223-(37-38). this will let you use the top port in gx an cfg. but you have to edit the xml so the loader nows to use that cios instead of 249.( again this would be a test). if the loader detects the usb drive then it could be the bottom port giving you the problems. an not the hdd. (just my 2 cents).