XP has issues with drives over 127GB. That is until you install SP1. But you didn't write that information.
There are also issues that I will never debate with anyone that decides that "partitions" are the best way to keep stuff organized. The horror stories have never stopped and all I can offer is that if you don't backup that hard drive data then you will lose it.
What I suggest is to use simple methods. I have my USB 2.0 160GB drive as one partition. I make a directory and toss a daily backup of my stuff there. Monthlys are now on a set of DVDRs.
The directories work just fine, but some want drive letters.
In closing, get the maker's DRIVE FITNESS TEST and see if the drive is OK.
In closing, you must format drives to use them. You didn't write you did that step.
Bob
I have 2 hard drives in my PC. I use a 15 GB for just my windows. I also use a 160 GB for everything else. I have the 160 Gb drive partitioned into 5 smaller Drives. 2 of the drives will not let me into them. The have more than enough free space. (one has 26.7 GB free, and the other has 21.7 GB free. These are both out of 30 GB.) When I double click on the drive in the My Computer screen, it freezes and becomes non responcive. I tried to brouse the folder and got a message that the hard drive needed to be formated. I want to keep all the data on this hard drive. What do I do?

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