spicetraders:
Basically yes there are different protocols for USB. Your hard drive and the port on the NETGEAR follow USB Mass Storage Device Class (UMS or MSC). Your not likely able to plug in a mouse or keyboard to the port either and have it work. Mouse, Keyboard, etc. follow Human interface Device Class (HID).
In looking at tutorials on Atduino IDE use they show an expectation of the host computer popping up showing new keyboard or pointing device attached hence a HID device. And as listed in the port pull down a serial TTY connection
Other protocols include Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) which is microsoft based to talk to media devices and android.
And the DFU which is like a universal to allow upgrade to firmware.
Last there are about 24 decive class code used to select the proper driver modules to talk to USB connections. If the correct class code is not supported or not exchanged data will not work.
Your NETGEAR and many USB expansions devices do not properly fall in the right classes, so best test is with an older USB Keyboard or mouse on the port to test for matching compatibility.
fbforce
Perfectly explained 
Couldn't have said it better myself!