Can anyone shed light on these two problems please.
(a) 10GB HDD. did have windows XP on it.
A bigger drive having XP replaces the smaller drive.
The 10GB HDD would not format with the XP operating system on it.
Used Darik's Boot & Nuke to remove all the xp operating system.
Tried to boot with both drives in place.
This only gets to the DOS screen with computer details on it
How can I format this drive that refuses to be recognised please?
(b) There are two yellow question marks in Device Manager.
Both are Multimedia Controllers. Where can I find the drivers please.
a) with only the ''bad drive'' installed , boot the xp cd , and select exit to command prompt ( i think that is still there in xp )
you will confuse windows xp if both drives are set to master , or if both drives are set as bootable.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313348 explains how to format the drive from the xp setup cd.
b) depends what the multimedia controllers are : check what it says is installed , and the ones that are not , will be the ones you need drivers for
i.e. sound card
video capture card
etc
All I require is to format that 10GB drive for use as an F: drive. (A second drive for storage).
Do I follow the procedure you recommend for that?
I do not want to put an operating system on it (XP).
You need to delete the partition in disc manager. The easiest way to do this is by putting the drive in an external enclosure - power it up after Windows has booted.
In all honestly a 10GB drive has so little value these days (money or storage space) - it could be more trouble than it is worth. A 16GB USB stick would perhaps be a much more flexible solution.
I think this will explain the situation Gavin.
I have enquired of a local charity if they would like to have this computer. They accepted. The alternative was to dump at the local tip.
My security dictated that all data should all be removed from both drives. Darik's Boot & Root was used.
Windows XP Home and some useful programs were installed on the 10GB drive which was proved inadequate
The alternative 80GB drive was used for this purpose, leaving two drives with the operating system. (Both HDD in removable caddies).
The current problem is to format the 10GB drive so it can be used as F: HDD.
I do not have facilities to run drives other than in the computer.
I do not have blanking plates or spare drives.
attach 10GB drive as second drive
boot from primary drive
using disk manager ( my computer , right click , manage , storage , disk management local ) select drive , ( the 10GB one ) right click , and delete partition.
Now partition the drive , and format it.
Unless they are (mildly) computer savvy they won't even know the second 10GB data drive is present let alone what it's for.
The number of computers I've worked on with a full C: drive and an empty data drive beggars belief - this includes people who you might expect to know better e.g. Professional photographers, web designers.
Video editors/enthusiasts like yourself understand the concept - the great unwashed often don't.
Make sure the 10GB drive jumpers are set to slave and the 80GB is set to master. I'd hook the 10GB drive to the secondary IDE channel just to be safe.
Go into the BIOS and set the boot order preference so that the 80GB is top of the list/first.
Once it boots* right click on my computer and select MANAGE.
Click on disc management then wait for the drives to show up.
Find the 10GB drive, right click on it and delete the partition.
Once done right click again and create a new partition. Then do a Quick Format with NTFS at default settings.
*If it doesn't boot you might be stuck. There are options - A Linux install on a memory stick would do the trick - but that requires a whole new learning curve.
SUCCESS!
Thank you Gavin and Gary.
When a problem occurs the simple and obvious is often missed. I did.
The jumpers were the items mentioned in your postings that alerted me, at last.
Neither drive really gave clearly a jumper position indication, so it was then trial and error - and consult the BIOS.
At last it was possible to boot with both drives connected. Impossible before.
When I pass anything to another I like it to leave me as perfect as possible.
Now item (b)
Device manager - two yellow question marks. Same text listed for both was "Multimedia Controller"
Tried so far:
Re-Install from a dialog box and from a source CD.-
(Windows CD, CD for Sound-blaster Audigy 1, Drivers & Utilities CD (Supplied with equipment)
Allowed internet search - requested on dialog box
Tried motherboard web site (MSI) and Creative web site.
Any further ideas please?
IF there is a SoundBlaster installed. Have you disabled the onboard audio?
Some old modems had audio hardware (requiring drivers) to make them beep - given nobody really uses dial-up any more they are redundant - So if there is a modem installed then pull it out.
That computer has been on broadband for years, so modem was taken out.
Slowed over the last year. XP re-install. Didn't speed up much. Processor AMD 2200+
Another computer with AMD 1800 was much faster. Both machines exit this week.