I can't get my USB/Media ports to read

Ok, so my laptop hasn't worked for about a year then it suddenly was able to boot up.

Now I'm sitting here trying to use my 1TB WD external hd to get all the files off of it so i can format and install WinXP (i hate vista). ANd it won't recognise it. Nor will it any other usb/media hardware (i have an sd slot).

I'm assuming it may have to do with my tinkering with the software, or because i had a trojan. Not sure.

I'm wondering what i can do to fix this. I need to get all of my data off. I'd take it to a computer shop, but I'm in AIT (Military School) without the ability to leave Post so i have to try and troubleshoot myself. Pretty crappy!

Everything comes up as Unrecognizable. I've been updating windows...Ive gone 55 major updates, 22 more maj. updates needed it says...but i highly doubt that is the problem. I'm on a coffee shop's free wireless at the PX so i have a shoddy connection.

Any ideas on where to start? Maybe i turned off something in the Services that I'm not supposed to.

Thanks for your help! I don't get much time on the internet so my response may be few and far between. I'll try and get on as much as possible on buddy's pc's.