Dual Drive Dilemma.....

[BlizzardWolf]

So right now my PC is using a primary HD, which has little space left.... So, I want to use my old hd which was corrupted as a slave drive. How do I erase all of the stuff on the corrupted harddrive? Will it be necessary to reinstall windows?

I will be using my current (one with little space) as my primary and the old corrupted one as my secondary....

so do i just delete all the partitions on the old harddrive? and then format it to start out new again?

 

[barnett25]

"so do i just delete all the partitions on the old harddrive? and then format it to start out new again?"
Actually you format the drive, then make a new partition (FAT32 or NTFS).

"Will it be necessary to reinstall windows?"
No.

And when you plug the old HD in, make sure you set the jumpers correctly. If your primary HD is set to "Cable Select", then set your old HD to that. If your primary HD is set to "Master", set your old HD to "Slave".

 

[BlizzardWolf]

Appparently I have a Western Digital Caviar and they have an option where you can erase everything by downloading something on their website... However, I have to follow these steps... but i dont understand them:

1. Download the DlgDiag28.zip.
2. Create a bootable floppy and extract the file onto it.
3. Boot to that floppy by making sure that your boot order is set to floppy first in your Bios.

How do i make a bootable floppy and extract the file? do i just put the file on a floppy disk?

How do i set the floppy first in bios?

These are the full instructions:

1 Download the DlgDiag28.zip.
2 Create a bootable floppy and extract the file onto it.
3 Boot to that floppy by making sure that your boot order is set to floppy first in your Bios.
4 Run the Dlgdiag.exe file.
5 You will see the following options:

* SELECT DRIVE AND VIEW STATUS- Always choose this option first, as it determines which drive you will be working on.
* QUICK TEST - This option tests your drive quickly for any major physical problems. (Please note: Although this option is safe and does not alter the data on your hard drive, Western Digital recommends that you have a current backup of your data).
* EXTENDED TEST - This option checks your drive thoroughly and it can repair any correctable errors. (Please note: Although this option is safe and does not alter the data on your hard drive, some data loss may occur, depending on the errors fopund and the rrors corrected. Western Digital recommends that you have a current backup of your data).
* WRITE ZEROS TO DRIVE - The Write Zeros option, wipes any and all data off your drive. This option used when your data is no longer usable or recoverable. If you no longer need any data from your drive and would like to start over, run this option to set your drive to an as new condition. NOTE: Please make sure that you have selected the correct drive to perform this function on as once ran, no data will be recoverable.
* VIEW TEST RESULTS - You can see the results of the test you just performed
* PRINT TEST RESULTS - Test results can be printed with this option. USB printers are not supported
* LOG FILE OPEN/CLOSE - You can access the log file which is generated automatically
* ENTER AND PRINT RMA INFORMATION - Information pertaining to each drive tested can be customized and printed with this option.
* QUIT - Reboot your system once you have completed the selected tasks

5 Select the task you wish to perform

 

[Hans5849]

im going to assume your using XP, what your trying to do can be done from XP. If i were you my worst worry would be accidently formatting my main partition using that WD disk. It sucks when you do that, trust me i did it once.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=309000

 

[BlizzardWolf]

I need to delete everything from my old harddrive and start out new again.... the thing is, do i just make a bootable cd? So isn't it just where i download the file, burn it to the cd? is it that simple to make a bootable cd?

 

[Andres3605]

OMG not you AGAIN

 

[Hans5849]

im going to hit you, read my link it tells you how to format a drive using the XP control pannel.

No it is not that simple. http://unattended.msfn.org/

 

[Jiggz]

Follow this simple steps religiously and you will be done in minutes:

1. Connect the old hdd to an available ide controller. Check the jumpers make sure it is set appropriately. (if it is by itself, WD needs no jumpers. If it is the second drive on the same controller, then set it slave or master as long as one of the hdd's is master and the other is slave. Remember, this is if you have two hdd on the same ide cable)
2. Boot the system and go to the bios and check to make sure the hdd are detected correctly.
3. Go to Administrative Tools under Control Panel
4. Under Admin Tools, go to Disk Management.
5. Check on the hdd you just installed. Partition it and then format it.
6. You are now done and ready to use the newly installed "old hdd" as a storage device.

 

[BlizzardWolf]

I think my old hd is so corrupted that it's unusuable, i cant even zero the hd with the cd it came with and it doesnt recognized hte hd...... should i just trash the hd or can it somehow still work?