Computer Question & The Leafs.

[Kathleen]

Computer Questions

1) Since installing WinXP, and all my hardware, my (D) Drive and (E) Drive have always been backwards. Meaning, my burner is my (D), and my CD rom is my (E).

I have just gotten used to this, but it drives me nuts when going back and forth from my desktop and laptop. BTW - this error is on my Desktop. I have removed the hardware, and reinstalled, and swaped places..any ideas?

2) Space. Since getting high speed, I have been downloading movies, shows like Family guy, and music like mad. Well, I am now out of room on my HD. I would like to add more space without effecting my current settings, or having to move to new HD. I have a WD 40gig 7200 now. I was thinking of adding
- a usb or firewire external HD around 40gig
- or another internal HD and dragging files into it.

However, I'm not sure if the 2nd internal HD will not mess up and confuse the OS i have, or things like scans, and defrags.

Any thoughts please?

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Leafs

If interested, the last Leafs Charity dinner is coming up Feb 27. I've been to these before, and usually these are around $350-$400 a ticket. This event is only $175. Just thought if anyone liked to meet the Leafs, it might be a fun night. I'll be there. I especially like the must be 19 part which means no kids running around unattended. Ticket Info for Casino Night (http://www.mapleleafs.com/events/specialevents.html)

Thanks for any help
Kathleen

[tweety_bird]

Kathleen, I may be able to help you with your computer issues.

1)Changing Drive Letters

- Open Control Panel
- Open Administrative Tools
- OPen Computer Management
- Choose Disk Management under Storage (left window)
- The lower right window disk drives and cd-Rom drives are shown.
- Right click on the device you want to change. Select "Change Drive Letter and Paths and change the letter.

Since you are swapping letters you will have to first change one of the letters to something else (say "z"). You can change it to the letter you want after changing the other drive.

2) Space: Kathleen, I would recommend getting second internal hard drive. I would recommend something larger than 40gig maybe 80 or even 100gig but 40gig would be ok. Price will dictate your selection. Keep all programs and operating system on your current drive. Don't touch them. Move all your data to the new drive. You can change your xp settings for My Documents to be on your new drive. This will prevent any problems with your current OS and program installations.

Hope this helps. If you need more assistance PM me.

[LoveThemGirls]

Hi Kat, regarding your second question, just simply hook up your hard drive to the unused slot of the ribbon cable that is hooked up to your present hard drive. Make sure that the jumper on the hard drive is set to auto (Western Digitals are shipped with the jumper on that as default). When you boot up, the computer will recognize the hard drive, and you just have to format it to store files on it. Your system files are only stored on your c drive (the bootable partition) so you don't have to worry about anything on other drives/partitions affecting your boot up.

[tweety_bird]

LoveThemGirls, I certainly agree. In fact, Kathleen, you should connect bot disk drives (current plus new) to one ribbon and the two CD drives to the other ribbon. Connecting a 7200 rpm disk drive and a CD drive to the same ribbon would impact performance of the hard drive.

[Kathleen]

tweety_bird and LoveThemGirls

Thanks to the both of you. I printed your responses, and did a step by step on the drive problem. Worked like a charm.
As for adding another HD, that was also very helpful. I went out tonight with my tower, and two computer stores ( Sumitt, and JMG ) were both sold out of the 80 gig HDs. I feel 60gig is too small, and the 100 gig too expensive. So, I was told they'll be in stock tomorrow.

On that note, I was asked about Fat32, and a partition. Anything I need know here? I just want this 80 gig for all my movies, Mp3s, Media, and I guess to act as a back for my 40 gig.

Thanks again you two. Super job
Kathleen

[JDayger]

Use FAT32 as this will be more efficent with large numbers and large files.
I generally make my nonOS drive one large partition, and using XP should give you a slight performance increase on the data (nonOS) drive.
Dayger

[jack]

I see the goblydygook language is in vogue again!!

[Kathleen]

JDayger - Wonderful. Thanks so much, I'll remeber both tomorrow when I get this new HD. Then let the downlaods roll.

Kathleen

[Paul Waters]

Originally posted by JDayger
Use FAT32 as this will be more efficent with large numbers and large files.
I generally make my nonOS drive one large partition, and using XP should give you a slight performance increase on the data (nonOS) drive.
Dayger

Isn't NTFS the way to go, now?

When I had to upgrade to winny doze, eXtra Pathetic to have a woking firewire driver, I lost all the data on 60 gig FAT32 drive.

[maverick]

Originally posted by JDayger
Use FAT32 as this will be more efficent with large numbers and large files.

not necessarily true. ntfs is more efficient with large hard drives and smaller block sizes. also ntfs allows for compression and data encryption on folders. fat32 does not.

the only advantage fat32 has is that it can be accessed thru dos command prompt.

mav

[tweety_bird]

Kathleen, my advice is to use one partition on your new drive and use NTFS. The information I have is that NTFS perfoms better under Windows XP.

Glad we could help.

[Kathleen]

Thanks for the further input and help. I'm all set for 80gigs more of movie space tomorrow. :)

Kathleen