Laptop Hard Disk hangs computer. "Windows - Delayed Write Failed"?

I had HP laptop (Compaq 9x 9010) for which, I purchased 150 GB capacity Hard Disk couple of years back. After some time the laptop became obsolete, so I disposed it off and used this Hard Disk as external storage. But so far I have not been able to use it effectively. Whenever connected to my computer (Compaz Presario) the computer halts and the indicate light in the external hard disk keeps on blinking. May be the cumputer is searching for data on the sternal Hard Disk which is formatted and empty. But it takes indefinite time and during this period computer do not respond to any action. Unless External Hard Disk is disconnected i am not able to use the computer. At one instance I decided to wait untill the scanning of external hard disk by the computer is is over. Eventually I received a pop up saying "Windows - Delayed Write Failed"

Now I need your assistance in order to make this external hard disk work normally. Do you have any suggestions? Is there any specific driver required to be installed? FYI I have windows XP Istalled on my Computer.