hard drive format

[mr tee]

i wish to dissconnect 2 80gb hdd wish are currently operating with vista 1x master and 1 is slave ...then i wish 2 connect 1x 160gb hdd and install win home edition on the same machine but only i only want the info on the 160 gb hdd ..can you tell if i do this will it cause any conflict to the 80gb hdds which run vista when i reconnect them to the machine ... oh and do i use the f / disk when trying to install home ed on that 160gb hdd .. this machine has no floppy disk drive and i do have the home edition cd  ...basically i want to reformat and reinstall . thanx in advance for any help suggestions

[Geek-9pm]

That will be a lot of work.
Why do you want to do this?
What kind of computer is it?
Does it run well now with the two drives?
Putting all on one drive may reduce the performance.
Do you have another computer?
Do you have two versions of Vista?

[patio]

80G C: is master with Vista correct ?
80G D: is slave with only data correct ?
160 is going to have another OS installed to it correct ?

If all the above is true there are 2 ways of accomplishing this.

Method 1:
Remove 80G #2 and install the 160G drive ...this will become D:
Install the 2nd OS to the 160G drive...
This means on boot up Vista will show an option screen asking which OS install you want to boot to.
When everything is up and running you can re-introduce the other 80G data drive.

Method 2:
Remove both 80G drives.
Hook up the 160G as master and install the 2nd OS.
When everything is all up and running unhook the 160G
Re-install the 80G as master and hook up the 160G as slave.
Now at boot time you enter Setup and select which Physical HDD you want to boot to.
The selection remains the same unless a change at bootup is again made.
NOTE: In this scenario the drive you select to boot to will automatically be C: every time you boot no matter which Physical drive you select....consequently the other bootable drive becomes D: as long as you're not booting to it.
The 80G data drive can now be connected and will be E: no matter which Physical drive you boot to.

Method 2: is the cleanest and least trouble free setup...

P.S. There are complications depending on which OS the 2nd OS is going to be so please be clearer on that important detail.....

[mr tee]

it appears that the 160gb hdd is damaged i took it 2 another friends place who has an f/disk and he tried to format it for me unfortunattly i aquired this hdd on ebay and have made contact with the person / private seller and he has agreed to refund half of the cost price  due to him rather adamantly gauranteeing postage...  blah blah blah  i tried connecting it upon receival onto 2 machines only 2 find that it appears on start up / mem test and it appears in the bios but it does nothing there after if i shake it something is loose inside it and really all i can do is put it down to... electronics via ebay..     but thankyou patio and geek-9pm for attempting to assist me   

[patio]

You're Welcome...
This is why i never purchase components from eBay.
Now 25 people will post opinions on what great deals they have gotten blah blah blah....so get ready for the onslaught.....

[mr tee]

lol 25/100   

[patio]

lol 25/100   

Let's just say i'm used to it by now...