Externel USB 2.0 HD with Openbrick (not ng)

Hi all,

since two weeks I have Problems with mit Openbrick (not ng) and my =
internal 2.5 Fujitsu HD. This HD runs for 17 months without Problems. =
Now the hole machine craches every night. I can't find the reason in =
syslog - there ist just no more entry in the file after different times =
in the night. I must reboot to get the system back to work!

I think its a HD Problem, so my idee is to buy a externel usb 2.0 HD =
like the Fujitsu Handy40-Data. This HD doesn't need a externel power =
supply. Idea is to test, if this HD runs fine with my old openbrick. So =
my questions:

1. can I use the Fujitsu Handy40-Data (usb 2.0 with power supply over =
the usb bus) with my openbrick - I mean the old openbrick, not the ng

2. I have an broken elko inside the openbrick. Is the one in the upper =
left corner near the pcmcia-slot on the upper board (with the =
connections to pcmcia and hd). Everything works fine for the first =
moment (hd, pcmcia, I don't use a CF), but can this cause the problem =
with my hd?

Any ideas will be appreciated,
Wilfried