Vista: CF and SD slots fail - used to work

I installed (upgraded from XP pro) to Vista Ultimate a few weeks back and all was working ok

Last week while copying files onto a CF (Compact Flash card) the copying took longer tham normal and just hung (I left it for > 20 mins).

I pulled the CF card out (from the slot in the front panel of my PC (Packard Bell iExtreme A885)

Ever since this episode, everytime I put either a CF of an SD card into the slots into the front of the PC, Explorer never sees the Card devices and simply hangs. Taking the CF / SD card back out then allows explorer to work again ok

I'd love to fix this as now the CF / SD slots are unuseable.

Ideas anyone ?

Btw: Under Device manager,there dont appear to be any conflicts and all the Controllers esp USB Controllers are there without any warnings etc.

- peteZ