BleepingComputer.com: "cannot Mount Volume": Ubuntu 7.10

I'm running Ubuntu 7.10, Gutsy Gibbon. Whenever I try to plug in or turn on an external storage device, I get the message, "Cannot Mount Volume." I get this message with every single usb-connected drive I have--FAT32, flash, the card readers on my printer--same thing on every one.

The weird thing (well, one weird thing) is that this only occurs with kernel 2.6.20-16. In kernel 2.6.22-14, I haven't had that problem. (But I've had other problems with that kernel, like freezing up or not starting at all, so I've been bypassing that kernel altogether.)

I've tried all the fixes listed in "The Official Ubuntu Book" for mounting a volume, and none of them did a thing.

Please help--this is quite frustrating, and the combination of both these problems has rendered my Ubuntu all but useless. Sadly, the Ubuntu forums have been useless so far as well.

I'm guessing that you have checked all your permissions? How long ago did you install 7.10? I had a "buggy" install and ended up having to re-install. All is well now. Back up all you files first if you decide to try this.

What's the best way to reinstall?