[http://www.gearhack.com/myink/ViewPage.php?file=docs/Western%20Digital%20Elements%20External%20Hard%20Drive%20Disassembly|this] is the disassembly you could use to get to the USB port. If you are ok at soldering then I'd try resoldering the legs to the motherboard-with time and putting the cord in and out something has wobbled free and contact is broken. Obviously try this without the hard drive attached to the board...