Sansa Clip 8GB - USB mode getting me down

Did you try the copy-and-paste instead of the drag-and-drop?  I doubt that there would be any difference, but you never know.  There seems to be some issue between your computer and the Clip. 

(If you haven’t, you may want to try drag-and-drop on another computer as well; if it works, it seems that there would be some sort of glitch with your computer.  I haven’t had this issue, on 3 separate laptops–an IBM, Toshiba and Lenovo.  I know that this must be frustrating for you!)