If the drive was installed as your boot drive actually booting – even with noises then I would encourage you to “immediately” copy “all” your personal files etc to external storage; typically DVD but an external hard drive too is nice(r). But you appear to suggest it’s a usb drive?
Based on my limited experience I’m inclined to view that the drive is failing – if it hasn’t already failed. Clicking noise invariably means the drive is on its way out…

Regardless of the problem drive – now would be a good time to save your files (on the actual working computer) and then set about resolving the external drive noises… (which if it is failing are beyond the average user’s ability…). Why save the those files (copy them to external media)? At some stage you may wish you had – should there be any problems with the working system that put your files on its drive at risk.

Re’ the “usb drive: remove it (if you) can from its case; wrap in paper towel; place inside a plastic bag – the type used for sandwiches or freezing… Squeeze out the air; place bag and contents in the freezer for about an hour. Remove from freezer; open bag and loosen (do not remove) the paper towel wrapping. Leave it sit for about 20mins or so. Then re-install into its case and see if it will spin up when reconnected to the working computer. If it will – immediately set about copying its contents to DVD.Likely it will stop at some stage; if so repeat the cooling process and try again…etc.. chances are you may revive it long “enuff” to recover all data; but possibly not.

If you can’t remove the drive from its case; put the whole assembly in the freezer as above… and proceed as above.

Sadly drives do die; and often clicking noises are a symptom, as are “screeching noises…”

Medion generally use decent drives (at least that’s been my limited experience). Some of their kit in the past has actually been Acer rebranded (older laptop etc. models). Some of their kit may even have been Sony (audio kit etc…)

I thought that we are tech support people, guess not?
Your laptop has 6 USB ports.

Devices can run at USB 1.1 speeds even when connected to a USB 2.0 port as I inferred above.

In your case I am going to guess that your 5 in 1 card reader is sharing a USB controller with two of the UPS ports. Probably the two that stand by themselves. Those ports may degrade to USB 1.1 speeds.

I have a keyboard with two USB ports built into it. The keyboard is connected to a USB 2.0 port. The two built in ports are considered to be a hub and degrade to USB 1.1 speeds. When I connect any device to the keyboard ports I get that same message. This is due to a USB CONTROLLER only having a finite amount of current available. It is shared by all the ports connected to that controller.

Normally two ports share one USB controller. However, card readers are usually piggybacked onto a controller and share with two ports. So that USB controller will degrade to USB 1.1 speeds.

Removing any memory cards from the reader MAY allow the two shared ports to then run at USB 2.0 speeds. If a device is not designed to need USB 2.0 speeds, which the two devices you mention above are not, then they will not run at USB 2.0 speeds in any event. This is by design and should not be taken as an error.

If you have been using the same two ports for more than the month your mentioned the message may have started due to the presence of a memory card in the reader or a Windows update. The reason is not important, there is nothing wrong with your laptop.