Jimi Michiel

So one of the things I really like about this forum is that it brings together people from such diverse backgrounds that I can usually find an answer to any question, trumpet-related or otherwise.

So here's my computer question: I'm running Windows XP. I recently tried to install a WesternDigital 250 GB hard drive as a second hard drive. The drive belonged to a friend who used it in a Mac, and something with the formatting/partition didn't quite work. It only recognized one partition, and so I could only use about half of the 250 GB. I decided to just give up on it, so I (physically) uninstalled it.

Along the way, something happened that is causing problems with my USB 2.0 external hard drive (an 80 GB WD). When I plug it in, it registers as a device, but no drive letter is assigned.

Hopefully somebody out there is a bored IT guy and can help me out.

Thanks!
Jimi

bigtiny

Jesus I hate Windows......for case #1 it sounds like the drive was formatted and partitioned with a mac-only scheme which the Windows box couldn't recognize. This should be easy enough to fix by formatting/partitioning the drive from the windows box. Tell it to format the entire drive and destroy all partitions (all data will be lost). Then repartition with a windows format.

#2 I've never seen before. It sounds like the drive letter that go assigned to the WD is still known to the OS as the second disk device. This shouldn't have anything to do with the USB drive....hmmmm. I assume you've rebooted the machine with the USB drive plugged in?

bigtiny

misty.sj

For the #2 problem, here is what you do. Right-click My Computer, go to Manage, go to Disk Management (it's a ways down the list). Find your partition and right-click it. There you can assign it a drive letter or a directory.

Jimi Michiel

Thanks for the input, guys. I've played with disk management to no avail. The second partition on the 250 GB doesn't show up. I tried reformatting the first partition, but it still only comes out about 120 GB. I've tried a bunch of different ways of getting the USB 2.0 drive to work, including rebooting while plugged in. No dice

-Jimi

PS. Somebody want to buy one of the horns listed below so I can go get a MAC Mini?

robertwhite

Could a program like Registry Mechanic help this problem? I had a very similar (from the sounds of it) recognition problem with my Ipod recently, and running a registry fix solved the problem for me (though I have no idea just how ).

MJ

Way to jump in there Bob

While we are on the subject of computers I am about to buy the mid level MacBook. I'm at the end of my rope with PCs. Thoughts?

Eeviac

I highly, highly, highly, suggest a mac.

Stile442

I prefer mac for my own use but fixing PC's is my business. Without seeing the problem first hand its harder to do but here's my advice. #1 I am assuming is an internal drive so the easiest way to force it to reformat is to pull both internal drives, and put the new drive in only and run Windows setup. This will reformat the drive from the bios not the os and will unlock all 250gb. After the format is done just put the old one back in as master and the new one as slave. As far as the external goes, if you can afford to lose the data then you can reformat that one from disk managment just be sure to do a complete format. If you've tried that already or want to try and save the data then I would reinstall your USB interface from the device manager. Hope that helps.

btw I would love your E3L but just can't afford it right now :)

rowuk

You can format the whole drive to fat32 through the Mac, then to NTFS with the windows machine.
I have had the lost drive name on USB drives before and there is sooo much it could be. Does a USB stick or other drive get a drive letter? It smells like the FAT (File Allocation Table) on the drive is messed up and the only fix is a COMPLETE reformat. If windows can't, Linux or MacOS can!

I have the MacBook and a G4 and am VERY happy with them. My son has a MacBook pro and is also very happy. They just "work".

bigtiny

I don't know how much of a 'geek' you are, but if you can get the drive to a linux box you can format the whole drive as FAT32 or something the XP box can see and partition....

bigtiny