cannot assign drive letter

[Guest]

I purchased a new computer with a SATA HD and put my old IDE drive in to get
some key files off of it. Device manager and disk manager both "see" the
drive but windows will not recognize it and assign it a drive letter. Disk
manager shows it active and healthy. The problem? could be both are showing
as MBR formatted but I do not know how to change that. Both contain a single
large partition. I have tried different jumper settings to no avail. All
options in disk manager are greyed out except for 'delete partition'

 

[Guest]

Some hds,like wdc IDE use no jumper pins if used solo on IDE cable,in
diskmgmt.
msc L.click the hd,actions,all,set to "make active"..Also,install the
boards chipset
drivers..

 

[Guest]

The status of the drive is already active and healthy, I cannot see the
files. The problem I cannot solve is that both drives are showing as primary
partitions. I need to know how to change the IDE drive into a simple volume,
but ALL actions are greyed out except for delete.

 

[Anna]

The status of the drive is already active and healthy, I cannot see the
files. The problem I cannot solve is that both drives are showing as
primary
partitions. I need to know how to change the IDE drive into a simple
volume,
but ALL actions are greyed out except for delete.

Slow:
That PATA HDD disk type is basic and not dynamic, yes? If it *is* a dynamic
disk and your present XP OS is the Home Ed., that might account for the
problem you're experiencing. If it *is* a dynamic disk, then do a Google
search for some research on the subject.

Anyway, we'll assume the drive in question is a basic disk and is
non-defective.

So do this...

1. Shut down the machine and disconnect that PATA HDD from the system.
2. Boot with only your boot HDD connected. We'll assume it boots without
incident and functions without any problems, right?
3. Shut down the machine and reconnect the PATA HDD. You will, of course,
ensure that you've connected & configured it correctly. Boot.

If still no-go, try connecting the drive to another IDE channel. Check out
the disk with the HDD utility available from the disk's manufacturer.
Anna