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aviator686

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16 years ago

A

aviator686

2 Intern

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175 Posts

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March 4th, 2011 06:00

Installing a 2nd HD XPS600

Last year I replaced my 160gb HD that came with my XPS600 and replaced it with a new WD 250gb HD. I would like to reinstall it as a secondary drive to run my MS Flight Simulator programs since you can't partition program files on XP like you can with Win7. The secondary drive already has a clean install of XP SP2 from my Dell reinstall CD. My primary HD is on Drive0 Sata 0-ON. The rest of the Sata drives are Off. Do I go into the BIOS to enable Drive1 before I install the HD or wait until I install the other HD and then go into the BIOS in order for my system to recognize the new HD? Since I have never done this before looking for some assistance. Thanks.

  • S

    Skybird

    10871 Posts

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    Posted March 4th, 2011 08:00

    You want to use the 160gb as the secondary drive?  If so,
    turn your system off.  Install the drive and upon boot up,
    enter the Set-up and enable the SATA port you connected it
    to.  Then from windows, you can format the drive.

  • A

    aviator686

    2 Intern

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    175 Posts

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    Posted March 5th, 2011 10:00

    Thank you for your reply. I will try that out.

  • G

    gator6x4

    195 Posts

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    Posted March 6th, 2011 08:00

    As I understand what you have said you have the following: A 160 GIG hard drive that originaly came with your unit. This 160 GIG drive contains the operating system and other software that was installed either by the manafacture or you. You now want to install this drive as DRIVE # 2 in your system. Windows has a problem recognizing two hard drive with the operating system installed. It will turn the second drive OFF. You will need to do the following:

    Open a CMD Prompt:

    (Click on START, select accessories and then right click on CMD)

    In the Command Screen that appears enter the following. A word of caution do not decide to get creative.

    DISKPART  - Press Enter

    LIST DISK - Press Enter

    (This will show you which disks can be physically seen, offline and online)

    (Look for the disk that states OFFLINE. SHOULD BE DISK ONE (1) )

    SELECT DISK 1 - Press enter

    ONLINE DISK - Press enter

    (Wait for the message saying your disk is now on line)

    EXIT - Press enter

    Now click on start and then right click on COMPUTER and see if your disk is listed. You will need to format the disk if you want to retain your original partiton. Or partition and format if a different set up is desired.

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