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Cannot install new software and some software does not run after adding second hard drive
First, I am have a Dimension 8250 w/ Win XP SP2
I added a second hard drive and made the new one the master. Used Western Digitals copy and set up software. Most programs on the new HD work fine. When I went to add new software the Windows Installer Window comes up and then after about 20 seconds just disappears with no error or other messages!
This happened when I went to install new Norton Antivirus software and Dragon Naturally Speaking software.
The 2007 version of Norton software no longer works. Oddly, I was able to install Corel Office12 with no problems. When I tried to open a MS Word Document, I got an error message telling me to place the MS Office (2003) CD in the drive and select a repair option. Same thing happened, the installation window started then disappeared!
I ran Norton WinDoctor from the product CD. It found nearly 800 errors of medium severity! Lots of active X com notes and entries about C and D drives.
I am looking for suggestions from someone who has has this or similiar problems. My ideas for fixing this:
1. Wipe the D drive clean and see if this solves some of the conflicts.
2. What would happen if I choose a Windows Restore point before I addded the second HD? Would that totally mess up my system or can I do that.
3. In similiar fasion, I did make a full back up to an external HD of my original C drive before I added the second HD. If I reloaded my software from the back up to my "new" C drive , would that help?
Would my OS still recognize the second HD if I choose 2 or 3 above?
4. I believe I have the Win XP CD that I got with my system ($10 option, but worth it). I've read that there is a Windows Repair option on this CD. Maybe this is the way to go.
5. I guess a Virus is a remote possibility, but with Norton unable to run, is there some good antivirus software I can download and run?
Thank you.
I added a second hard drive and made the new one the master. Used Western Digitals copy and set up software. Most programs on the new HD work fine. When I went to add new software the Windows Installer Window comes up and then after about 20 seconds just disappears with no error or other messages!
This happened when I went to install new Norton Antivirus software and Dragon Naturally Speaking software.
The 2007 version of Norton software no longer works. Oddly, I was able to install Corel Office12 with no problems. When I tried to open a MS Word Document, I got an error message telling me to place the MS Office (2003) CD in the drive and select a repair option. Same thing happened, the installation window started then disappeared!
I ran Norton WinDoctor from the product CD. It found nearly 800 errors of medium severity! Lots of active X com notes and entries about C and D drives.
I am looking for suggestions from someone who has has this or similiar problems. My ideas for fixing this:
1. Wipe the D drive clean and see if this solves some of the conflicts.
2. What would happen if I choose a Windows Restore point before I addded the second HD? Would that totally mess up my system or can I do that.
3. In similiar fasion, I did make a full back up to an external HD of my original C drive before I added the second HD. If I reloaded my software from the back up to my "new" C drive , would that help?
Would my OS still recognize the second HD if I choose 2 or 3 above?
4. I believe I have the Win XP CD that I got with my system ($10 option, but worth it). I've read that there is a Windows Repair option on this CD. Maybe this is the way to go.
5. I guess a Virus is a remote possibility, but with Norton unable to run, is there some good antivirus software I can download and run?
Thank you.
jmwills
2 Intern
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11984 Posts
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Posted February 13th, 2008 02:00
When in doubt do a clean install. If this were my system, I would take one drive, create two partitions using ione for the OS and one for data and then use the second as a backup of the data.
By creating two partitions on the main drive (Drive 0), you can completely blow out the OS without hurting the data.