[MicroPsycho]

So I just got a new hard drive for Christmas, 200GB (w00t!). But I'm a bit confused as to how I get it running. I plugged it into my computer, as a slave, and everything seems fine, BIOS detects it, so does windows (XP Pro) as it is listed in the device manager. But it doesn't show up in my computer and I can't access it. So what do I need to do to format/access it?

[Prophet]

How big is your old hard drive? My friend claimd that if there is too much combined space some computers may not comprehend it...
Or it may be that your motherboard and hard drive (the new one) don't like each other. That happened to me, some driver problem or some such... Thankfully I'm such a whiz that I worked around the problem and got my new hard drive working

Most likely you just have to format the new drive. Can't help you on that one though. 'Cause I don't remember how it's done...

[karajorma]

I'd go for the simple answer. It's not been formatted yet.

Go to Control Panel/Administration Tools/Computer Management/Disk Management.

You'll be able to format (and partition) the drive from there.

[Stealth]

yup, i'm betting that's the problem

good explanation by karajorma; follow those instructions, and you'll be set

[an0n]

Even if it's not formatted, Windows XP lists it as a drive so you can right-click and Format from My Computer.

So I very much doubt that's the problem.

At a guess I'd say your other drive isn't specifically set as Master. Check you've got the jumpers on the right pins on BOTH drives.

[MicroPsycho]

Sweet, I figured all it needed was formatting, but I didn't know how. Soon I'll be able to play FEAR and Quake 4! Thanks for all the help.

[karajorma]

Even if it's not formatted, Windows XP lists it as a drive so you can right-click and Format from My Computer.

But it won't list it if the drive hasn't been partitioned because there is nothing to format yet. I'm still betting on the lack of partitions as the cause of the problem.

[IceFire]

Even if it's not formatted, Windows XP lists it as a drive so you can right-click and Format from My Computer.

So I very much doubt that's the problem.

At a guess I'd say your other drive isn't specifically set as Master. Check you've got the jumpers on the right pins on BOTH drives.

Even if it's not formatted, Windows XP lists it as a drive so you can right-click and Format from My Computer.

So I very much doubt that's the problem.

At a guess I'd say your other drive isn't specifically set as Master. Check you've got the jumpers on the right pins on BOTH drives.

If its not partitioned Windows won't see it...but you are right, normally it should be appearing in the My Computer window.

[an0n]

No. I just plugged my second drive straight in. No faffing about with partitions or anything.

At least, I don't remember any. Could be, I suppose.

[Stealth]

But it won't list it if the drive hasn't been partitioned because there is nothing to format yet. I'm still betting on the lack of partitions as the cause of the problem.

yeah. actually if he just plugged it in, in "Computer Management" he's probably going to have to right click the drive and click "Enable" or whatever that option is.  i think it's one of the only options you have when you right click the drive.  maybe it's "Assign".  either way, once you get to computer management it should be pretty straightforward.

[Scuddie]

The amount of misinformation in this thread is appalling...

[karajorma]

So what's the right answer in your opinion then?

[Stealth]

The amount of misinformation in this thread is appalling...

funny i haven't noticed any inaccurate information yet :-/