hard drive problems

[Guest]

i have one hard drive which is partitioned to "C:" and "F:". whenever i
install new programs or updates they are installed to "F:" and i am not given
the option of choosing either "C:" or "F:" to install either the programs or
updates. Also, when accessing "My Documents" they come from "F:" and i am
denied access to the folder on "C:". Is there a solution to this???

i have disabled "File Paging" and also the "System Restore" in the hopes
that this would resolve the automatic use of "F:" as my primary boot and
install drive, but it has not!

Any help, gratefully appreciated!!

 

[Guest]

Where does all that figure in my computer,R.click a
partition,properties,open.
Whats listed where...Also,in run type:diskmgmt.msc What listings does it
give..
Also,if all downloads/update go to F: Then the OS is probably on F: Which
means that during the xp install,you had other add on items connected to
the pc,
& were running.If all or some is true,try booting to xp cd,recovery,select
OS/
partition (usually 1),press enter for password,typeiskPart In
DiskPart,delete
all,then create 1,press ESC key,type:EXIT Reboot to cd,install xp,default
will be
C:

 

[Guest]

Hey Andrew - Thanks so much! i have tried everything!!

"My Computer" - it is just as if the "F:" partition is a mirrored copy of
everything on the "C:" partition. i have a Sony Vaio desktop which the hard
disk got corrupted and just aboout died back in March. The only way i could
access programs or files was to run in Safe Mode. Come to find out Sony has
proprietary software on the hard drive. Everything pertaining to Sony Vaio
hardware was fried! i had no cmos, it just wiped out.

i know for a computer person i sound stupid! i contacted Sony and got the
recovery disks, but even that did not work. finally, i got smart - i think -
and contacted Microsoft Support - and they worked closely with me to restore
my hardrive and do a clean install - and i now have a "Windows XP machine"

i had no peripherals hooked to my desktop - i was very careful of that - and
rebuilt/reinstalled all of the software, hardware etc. on the entire hard
drive from scratch. The partition was automatically added during the
installation of WinXP or was a remnant the Sony hardware configurations.

does this help You figure out what the heck happened? Again, than You so
much for Your assistance.