Formatting

[Guest]

Hi all, Hoping someone can help me here. My comp crashed on the weekend to the dreaded blue sceen took it to the comp repairer and he put in an additional 40g hard drive. I have a 120g hard drive on there as well the one that crashed. Now the first problem is what is the easiest way to back up all my files. I dont need the programs as I have all the disks. Second once I have backed them all up, I do know how to format the drive, but how do I access it as its the slave drive at the moment? and thirdly once I have formatted the drive and put XP back on how do I tell the comp to open in that drive.
Regards
Sue

 

[Mike]

Other than just install a 40gb drive, what did the repairer do?..
presumably, you have a working OS on the 120gb drive, in which case you save
important files to the '40' just by copying over, dragging and dropping, or
moving..

You do not need an OS on the second drive..

Hi all, Hoping someone can help me here. My comp crashed on the weekend to

the dreaded blue sceen took it to the comp repairer and he put in an
additional 40g hard drive. I have a 120g hard drive on there as well the one
that crashed. Now the first problem is what is the easiest way to back up
all my files. I dont need the programs as I have all the disks. Second once
I have backed them all up, I do know how to format the drive, but how do I
access it as its the slave drive at the moment? and thirdly once I have
formatted the drive and put XP back on how do I tell the comp to open in
that drive.

 

[Chris Unitt]

Hi all, Hoping someone can help me here. My comp crashed on the weekend to the dreaded blue sceen took it to the comp repairer and he put in an additional 40g hard drive. I have a 120g hard drive on there as well the one that crashed. Now the first problem is what is the easiest way to back up all my files. I dont need the programs as I have all the disks. Second once I have backed them all up, I do know how to format the drive, but how do I access it as its the slave drive at the moment? and thirdly once I have formatted the drive and put XP back on how do I tell the comp to open in that drive.
Regards
Sue

It sounds to me like your 'repairer' is taking you for a bit of a mug.
If he put in an 'additional' 40gig HDD and the first drive was not
removed, the first drive must be working ok. So why did he install an
extra HDD? 120GB is plenty of space for even a heavy user!

One of two things is happening:

1) you have a software problem. See if the system will boot into safe
mode (press F8 before the windows splash screen appears and you will see
a menu). If you system is totally screwed it may be worth re-installing
windows clean. You will need to back up your files and then erase your
existing drives and make absolutely sure that your boot records are
wiped in case there is anything nasty lurking in there. Then boot from
your windows CD and install windows fresh.

2) You have a hardware problem (and your cowboy repairer hasn't
correctly diagnosed it). Download the diagnostic tools from your hard
drive manufacturer(s) and run those. If those are ok, return your PC to
its 'repairer', insist the first drive was ok and get a refund for the
second and make sure he/she finds out what the problem really is. If
your 120GB is actually faulty, get him/her to remove it.

Hope this helps,

Chris.

 

[Haus]

Hello
What is the error code when the blue screen appears?
Why did he tell you that you need a new HDD?
You may just need a little miner adjustments and do not need to transfer
your files.

Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Files & Settings Transfer Wizard
or
http://www.pcmech.com/show/harddrive/52/