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General discussion

confused about new hard drive

Aug 24, 2006 11:43PM PDT

hello- i recently put in a new second hard drive because my c disk was full.( my computer is a sony vaio i bought in 2001, i run windows xp.) My question is: I cant tell which of the disks in my computer is the new one. I bought the hard drive at a local computer store and it didnt come with any instructions or docs at all. It shows disk:C, D, G,and H. The C i know isnt it. and the D-i think it is a "partition"(not really sure). (my cd & dvd is E,F) i need to format the new one(i guess) How on earth do i find my new one? and no, i cant get any help from the place where i bought it-he is not very helpful. Thanks, Lizzie

Discussion is locked

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Disk Management
Aug 25, 2006 3:25AM PDT

Some larger HD's won't work with older computers and operating systems, but there are solutions available.

What is the model name of the HD?
What is your operating system (and service pack)?

Click:
Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management

Double-Click:
Storage > Disk Management

From there you can rt-click any HD and initialize, partition, and format it.

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Here's what I'd do...
Aug 26, 2006 12:12AM PDT

Like 'Linkit' suggested ...get to 'Disk Management' do a right click on one of the CDs....and change the drive letter to say "R". Then do the same to the other CD...make it "S". Shut down the PC and disconnect the new HDD. Then reboot the PC to to see how the drive letters show up....you should have a "C", "D" plus an "R" and "S". If this is the drive line up ....open explorer and right click on "C" on type in a name for "C" in the label box. Do the same for "D". Now shut down again and reconnect the new HDD..and see what shows up as other than "C", "D" or "R" and "S".

Then you should be able to identify the new HDD and prepare (partition and format) it for use with your system.

Keep us posted

VAPCMD

Note: The reason I suggest changing the CD-ROM drive letters to R and S is to avoid the confusion that develops when you add a new hard drive or hard drives to the system... HDD takes precedence over the CDs in drive letter assignments...leaving unused drive letters beteween the hard drive(s) and the CD-ROM eliminates the CD-ROM drive letters from being bumped/changed in the future.

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Thank you
Aug 26, 2006 10:34PM PDT

I didnt really understand any of your suggestions-lol-because my real problem is that i put in a new hard drive and cannot figure out which one it is, let alone use it! (and yes i have looked all thru disk mang. but dont understand it).
thanks again, Lizzie

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Try again...step by step
Aug 27, 2006 12:07AM PDT

Here's what I'd do...

Go to the Windows
"Start"...
"Control Panel"
"Admin Tools
"Computer Management"
"Disk Management"

Do a right (mouse) click on one of the CDs....and select change the drive letter to say "R".

Then do the same to the other CD...make it drive "S". Shut down the PC (uplug it from AC power) and disconnect power or data data cable from NEW HDD.

Then reboot the PC to to see how the drive letters show up....you should have a "C", "D" plus an "R" and "S".

If this is the drive line up ....open explorer and right click on "C" on type in a name for "C" in the "Label Box". If present do the same for "D". Now shut down again (unplug from AC power) and reconnect the new HDD..and see what DRIVES shows up other than "C", "D" or "R" and "S".

Then you should be able to identify the new HDD and prepare (partition and format) it for use with your system.

Keep us posted

VAPCMD

Note: Reason I suggest changing the CD-ROM drive letters to R and S is to avoid the confusion that develops when you add a new hard drive or hard drives to the system... HDDs takes precedence over the CDs in drive letter assignments By leaving unused drive letters beteween the hard drive(s)and the CD-ROMs eliminates the CD-ROM drive letters from being bumped/changed in the future.