Hello Paul,
My hardrive is internal, I know there is recomended 7200 HD but for me is working good 5400 too. I have no problem with VSL samples. 36% of free space and 17% of fragmentation.
Only with this special issue with one project and after reload VE project is everything normal but this anomaly what i described is saved in patch I attached in my previous post, you can look on it. Maybe this will be much more then thousands words. If you try it, please look at staccato matrice (or how it is called).
I know there are not release samples in staccato, but did you read my last section? I try it describe another way. In my staccato I set up in edit -> envelope release to 127. That means if I hit note for short time, I hear full staccato sample. Now in this "bad" project I hear full staccato sample if I hold note for example 2seconds, but if I press note for very short time, I hear it only when key is down. And when I release key, sample shut up, it is looks like release envelope dont work on this patch. Because it is on sustain, spicc, detache, pizz metrices too. Please if you something not understand, aks me. I am sorry for my english.