dual hard drives

[jenbot]

Dear Everyone,

I don't know if I can explain this right--but I'll try. A friend installed (internal) an additional 35 gb harddrive for me as my original harddrive was almost full. Can someone help me learn how to toggle back and forth between these?? I can't seem to do it.

When I open My Computer--I see both drives, but they are separated by a line--like they are in their own category. Is this right??

I have a Gateway and am running XP.
Thanks for any help.
Jennifer (a non computer geak in MN)

[GX1_Man]

They are separate drives, each with their own directory structure. It can not be seen or used as one large drive.

[jenbot]

THanks--so how can I access the new one??

[GX1_Man]

Once it is installed it needs to be formatted. This may or may not have been done already - you didn't say. Go to My Computer and locate this drive. If you right click on it and choose format you will be set. Then just copy some files to it.

[Neil]

GX1, you might have overlooked a potential propblem: "I see both drives, but they are separated by a line--like they are in their own category." On my computer, all local disks are in their own catagory, seperated by a line from removable drives etc. If this is an ordinary harddrive, it should be in the same catagory as the original one.

Jenbot, a screenshot of your My Computer window would be helpful.

[jenbot]

Here's what I see:

0% Free
____________________

Old C Drive            19gb

80% Free
____________________

New E Drive            35gb


Unspecified
____________________
misc things like A and D drives and camera


I tried to copy the whole page but it wouldn't work. Sorry to be so stupid!! I do think it's already formated (the new hd that is) cuz he installed Windows already

[soybean]

Do you know how to create an image using Windows Print Screen key?  

[jenbot]

nope--sure don't! enlighten me!! hahaha

Jen

[jenbot]

I just clicked on your message and read about that screen print--that's really cool. I got it to paste into Word but it won't paste into this--I'm going to try to attach it and see if that works.

J.

[soybean]

To post an image in the forum, I suggest you create a free account with www.photobucket.com.  Then, you can upload the image to their site; that' very easy to do; once you logon, you'll see an Upload button in your browser window.  Once you've done that, they will generate the code you need to post in the forum to make your image appear here.  It will start with "img" inside [] and end with "/img" inside [].  

For example, I posted an image in http://www.computerhope.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1167375933/7#4 earlier this morning.

[Neil]

Or you just paste it into paint, save as a jpg, and then use the attach feature below.

[soybean]

You know, I don't know why I've never used that method.  I'm going to test it right now.

[jenbot]

   I just can't seem to make this work--I saved the screen into Word--but can absolutely not get it anywhere else--I know that I'm pretty stupid--but I at lease can copy and paste--and it just won't paste anywhere.

[linuxlover]

just get to the screen u want and press printscreen then open paint and press CTRL+V. then save it as whatever.jpg.

[soybean]

To reiterate what linuxlover said, go to Start, Programs, Accessories, and open Paint.  Then, you should be able to Paste the screen print into Paint and save it from there.  I recommend saving it in JPEG format.

[jenbot]

okay--I saved the screen print in paint. Now What??

[GX1_Man]

That looks normal for what you describe. A full original C drive and a nearly empty E Drive. (It is E because it was added after the system recognized the optical (D) drive.) You first need to move some data files to the E drive so that Windows can function normally. (You need 1-0-15% free space on the C drive.)

Now what is the question? There seems to be no problem

[soybean]

Ummm ...., you seem to have a weird computer.  You should see Hard Disk Drives as a category and Devices with Removable Storage as another category, as shown here:



Looks to me like another case of format and reinstall Windows.  Do you have a genuine Microsoft Windows CD or a Restore CD that came with your computer?

[soybean]

That looks normal for what you describe. A full original C drive and a nearly empty D Drive. You first need to move some data files to the D drive so that Windows can function normally. (You need 1-0-15% free space on the C drive.)

Now what is the question? There seems to be no problem

Am I having a mental lapse?  Is she using a certain Explorer View that displays her info that way instead of the way my screen print looks?

[Dilbert]

soybean: Yes and Yes.

[Fed]

Soybean is a HDD hoarder! LOL
Where is your C: Drive Soybean?

[soybean]

soybean: Yes and Yes.

Dilbert, help!  What view is it?

[soybean]

Soybean is a HDD hoarder! LOL
Where is your C: Drive Soybean?

It's all one partitioned hard drive.  C is hidden.

[Fed]

I prefer the KISS approach.

[soybean]

OK, Fed, now I have the same View as you; it's the Details View, with "Show in Groups" disabled.  I still have the left panel, with System Tasks, Other Places, and Details; I don't know how to disable that.

Edit: jenbot's My Computer window still looks abnormal, though.  Notice the 0% above drive C and 80% above drive E.  Well, I finally figured out how to make My Computer window look like hers.  She's using a Details View, with Icons arranged by Free Space.

[jenbot]

One of my original questions was how to access the new E drive. The installer told me to do something like F2 at Start, arrow to Boot and down to Hard Disk Drive--and choose the new drive. Do I have to restart my computer every time I want to access this??

My game plan is to move all my pictures and media to new hard drive--which should free up over half of the old C drive. What do you think is the easiest way to do this. I've also found a File transfer wizard--can I use that??

Happy New Year!!
Jenbot

[GX1_Man]

The easiest way is to open two exporer Windows, one with the C drive and one with the E drive and just drag the folders or files from the C drive to the E drive. NOTE: This should only be done with data files (pictures, MP3's, etc.), not the actual program files.

[jenbot]

Will I have to create appropriate folders on the new E hd?? Or will dragging them just keep them as they are??

I did fiddle around with the views of My Computer and I got mine to look like the other examples. I think my friend had changed the view to include the available memory so we could keep an eye on it.  

Thanks much!
Jen

[Neil]

The E: drive is not empty which suggests you or someone has already placed some data on it.

Let's keep it simple. Find the folder you want to put on your E: drive, in your C: drive. Left click it (or drag a box around multiple folders) to select them. Right click one of the folders and press copy. Then go to your E: drive and right click in an empty area in the window. Press paste. After making sure they have copied, go to your original files and delete them if you wish. Don't forget to remove them from the recycle bin. I'm not sure how computer savy you are, but if you're in any doubt practice with a few files first and do not delete the originals until you are sure they have copied correctly. You can use cut instead of copy but this will remove the original files in the process, ie delete them.

You can put the data anywhere you want on the E: drive. What folders to put them in is up to you. You can move files such as pictures, photos etc but you cannot move programs and applications or their data. Most of the time they will not run. You will need to reinstall them to the E: drive.

I hope this helps.

[soybean]

In addition to what Neil and GX1_MAN said, here's a way to move your entire My Documents folder to E, which I recommend doing.  Right click on My Documents, select Properties, click on the Move button, click on the plus sign next to My Computer to display your drives under it, select drive E, and click OK.  Windows will now move My Documents and all its contents to E.  

[Fed]

The installer told me to do something like F2 at Start, arrow to Boot and down to Hard Disk Drive--and choose the new drive. Do I have to restart my computer every time I want to access this??

I bet the new drive has got XP on it.

[GX1_Man]

Well that is a good question. What operating system was installed prior to all of this? What operating system starts up now?

[jenbot]

I've never accessed drive E. He installed XP on it--but with Christmas and all that jazz I just haven't had time to sit down and fiddle.


When I can find 2 seconds to sit--without kids crawling on me--I will try to move the folders. What great help!! Thanks

Jen

[Neil]

You'll probably want to wipe the harddrive before usage then.

[GX1_Man]

Well that is a good question. [highlight]What operating system was installed prior to all of this? What operating system starts up now[/highlight]?

So did you spend $100 for a copy of XP or is this an install of pirated software? If that is the case your installer messed up on several points. Where did the newly installed copy of XP come from?

Time to be honest here. First it was just an additional hard drive installed for storage. Then as the story progressed we find that Windows XP is suddenly installed on the newly added drive, but this never got mentioned.

So what is the FULL story?  

[Neil]

Now, now GX, before we jump to conclusions, it seems to me that Jenbot's friend offered to give her his old harddrive, presumably which used to be a primary harddrive in an old computer. For one reason or another he did not format, or know he should have, this harddrive. I have done this before when getting a new drive for my computer. I just make my old one a secondary drive, and install a fresh OS on the new drive. My old operating system files still remain on the second drive, unless I choose to delete them. I do this so I can still access my old data easily.

[jenbot]

Well, GX--I didn't think there were any WINDOW SHERIFF's on here--and really it's none of your *censored* business if I purchased the software, stole it from the store or found it lying in the middle of the flippin street.

Why would you jump to conclusions and get so nasty and accuse me of theft? You have no idea of the situation--only that I needed help accessing the computer. I never said, one way or another, where the harddrive OR software came from.

I would be happy to tell you where the hd and XP came from--but I think I'll keep you guessing.

I appreciate the back watching Neil!! Thanks!!

[jenbot]

As I reread GX's post I am more offended than ever.

Why would I come to you and ask for help and then not tell the truth about ANYTHING?? I wanted more space to put my pics on, end of story. I have the last 4 years of my life on this computer--2 kids and some great vacations--I don't intend to stop taking pictures and wanted more room to download for the next number of years. Is this so wrong?? And so what if XP is on there--is it "wrong" to have it on there and put my pictures on there?? I don't understand the big deal?

I am really offended here--I don't think you have any right to accuse me of what you did.

[Serrik]

First, he was trying to help you, everyone in this thread was.

Second, he has to be careful when a mere whiff of possible pirating comes up.  He has to be paranoid.  When a website is as visited as this one it gets legal attention fast if they start helping with pirated software.

Third, if you have Win XP on that 2nd hard drive, you should remove it unless you are the original owner who put it there.  There is no "grey area" about how you got it.  Ownership of a Windows license is not transferable from one person to another.

I am sure you did nothing intentionally wrong, and I don't think you are a theif.  But he had to ask what he asked.  If he hadn't, someone else would have.

Please be a little more patient with the VOLUNTEERS who are trying to help you, they are human too.

[GX1_Man]

I don't think I ACCUSED you of anything. Please re-read the post and see that all I asked for is the full story. I was just trying to get information.

Why I asked is twofold. One reason is that we do not help with warez (pirated software) on this forum. Those are the rules and are clearly posted time and again. If this offends you that we don't assist with this you can complain to the Admin. There are legal issues involved and the issue is not negotiable. As a Moderator, I uphold the rules of the forum.

The second reason is that with Windows activation you will run into problems sooner or later with updating your software. The first hurdle will come 30 days after it was installed. Hopefully that will not be an issue for you.

As you can see from my previous postings I have been nothing but helpful toward getting your problem resolved. I certainly appreciate honesty from posters with questions and frequently we go round and round before the real issues come out. It makes it so much easier to get all the cards on the table. Surely you can see that the story did evolve over what was originally posted.

So you can be offended if you want. That's totally up to you.

And so what if XP is on there--is it "wrong" to have it on there and put my pictures on there?? I don't understand the big deal?

Hopefully you understand it better now. And yes, I now understand where it came from.  

[jenbot]

I don't understand how you say that the real problem "evolved". I never ASKED about helping me run Windows--I only asked how to "get to the new drive". With my limited knowledge of computers and your obvious vast knowledge--I think you are reading more into it.  If my question of how to access this--means that I needed to understand XP--then my mistake. I am just not following your reasoning about including XP in the mix.

I am very grateful for the help you've given me. I am offended because you jumped to conclusions and used a nasty tone with me. SOmething that was completely not necessary.

I originally was going to use the new drive for my main harddrive--and then the more I thought, the more I thought I'd use it for storage.

So the REAL story is my friend works at a computer store, the hard drive AND XP was purchased from him through the store. Should send receipts?

I probably wasted $100 on XP--JUST so you can sleep tonight!

Thanks for your help. I am sad that this ended this way. I have lots more questions that I could ask you--but instead I will just log off and not come back.

Thanks again!

[GX1_Man]

Oh well, she has gone and never did get what I was saying. Too bad.

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks."

--From Hamlet (III, ii, 239)

[Neil]

  If you're still having problems with things, please don't let pride and this arguement stop you from asking. GX1_Man is right, though, that you are not allowed to transfer operating systems like that. He didn't mean it as a personal attack.