so, abit more info:
1) this started about a year ago
2) unit started acting funny - wouldnt respond correctly to key presses, but would function as gps... had to remove batteries to turn off, would only turn on/off 1x before needing to remove batteries.... would act differently with and without sd card... and i could access as a drive - but only for a few minutes before it would stop responding - but at least i was able to get all my data off it when it started acting up....
3) found a guy overseas that said he could look at it after exhausting other options - but $$$$ to ship, fix and ship back - so unit sat on my 'to-do' shelf for 1yr boxed up....
4) when i figured to have a last go with it before mailing - is gives me this error and wont post up like before

anyway, it does mount in device manager - but not as a drive, and that is with a usb3 port via a hub.... i do have access to older laptops with usb2 ports....