Thanks that did it for me

"Anna" <myname@myisp.net> wrote in message
news:uzyVNkCDGHA.3876@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>
>> "Jim Corderman" wrote:
>>
>> | I installed a new (2nd) HD on my computer and I need to know how I can
>> | format it so that it will be seen by windows.
>> |
>> | --
>> | Jim Corderman
>
>
> "Carey Frisch [MVP]" <cnfrisch@nospamgmail.com> wrote in message
> news:O1IOxSCDGHA.312@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>> How to use Disk Management to configure basic disks in Windows XP
>> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;309000
>>
>> --
>> Carey Frisch
>> Microsoft MVP
>> Windows - Shell/User
>> Microsoft Community Newsgroups
>> news://msnews.microsoft.com/
>
>
> Jim:
> Coincidentally, today, in one of the MS XP newsgroups, someone raised the
> identical question to yours, Here's my response to her which I trust will
> be of use to you....
>
> As you know, before the system will recognize a new hard drive, it must be
> partitioned & formatted. You can easily do this within the XP operating
> system by accessing the Disk Management utility - Start > right-click My
> Computer > Computer Management > Disk Management.
>
> But before accessing the DM utility, make sure you've correctly
> connected/configured your new hard drive, i. e., it's been correctly
> jumpered and the data (flat ribbon) cable is properly connected to the
> drive and the appropriate motherboard's IDE connector. (I'm assuming that
> your new HD is a PATA drive and not a SATA drive). Also ensure that the
> power plug (commonly know as a Molex plug) is securely fastened to your
> drive's power connector.
>
> Assuming this is a brand-new drive, i.e., hasn't been previously
> partitioned/formatted, you will most likely (but not always) get the
> "Welcome to the Initialize and Convert Disk Wizard" dialog box. Note that
> in the Disk Management window your new HD will be shown probably as Disk
> 1, "Unknown" together with its capacity in GB ("Unallocated") and "Not
> Initialized". (You'll see a small red-circled icon with a small white bar
> in the middle of this icon).
>
> Step through the Wizard to initialize your disk. There are just a few
> screens and the process is pretty straightforward. You shouldn't have any
> trouble. Just remember that you SHOULD NOT select the option to convert
> your disk to a "dynamic" disk. Again, DO NOT SELECT THAT OPTION.
>
> Now you must partition and format your new drive. Again the process is
> pretty straightforward. You start by right-clicking on the schematic of
> your new disk - the area that shows the disk as "Unallocated", and select
> from the sub-menu "New Partition". The "New Partition Wizard" will open
> and you'll be stepping through that "Wizard".
>
> On the "Select Partition Type" window that opens, select the option,
> "Primary Partition".
>
> The "Select Partition Size" window will open where the maximum size (in
> MB) of your new HD will be shown. If you want only a single partition
> encompassing the entire capacity of the drive, just accept the figure
> shown. If, on the other hand, you want to create multiple partitions on
> the drive, so indicate the size in MB for the first partition and you will
> have a subsequent opportunity to create additional partitions on that
> drive.
>
> The next dialog box will allow you to assign a drive letter to your new
> drive. It is best to do so at this point (rather than selecting the "Do
> not assign a drive letter..." option). Either accept the default letter
> shown, or choose one to your liking.
>
> Now you will come to the formatting process...
>
> On the "Format Partition" dialog box that opens, you probably should
> accept the defaults shown unless you have good reason to do otherwise. The
> default settings will create an NTFS file system with the appropriate
> "allocation unit size" (cluster size). The new drive will be given the
> label "New Volume". You can change it if you want. It's not really
> important. (You can always change that given name at a later date).
> There's an option to "Perform a quick format". If you select that option
> the formatting process will go very quickly, but it will not be as
> thorough a process as a regular format in terms of the system examining
> the drive for defects. The downside
> to a non-quick format is that it it's quite time-consuming depending upon
> the size of your HD. In our own case, where secondary drives are involved
> and we're working with a brand-new drive, and have no reason to suspect
> the drive may be defective, we usually select the "quick format" option.
> But many users feel otherwise and select a regular (non-quick) format. So
> if time (at least at *this* time!) is not an important consideration for
> you, do not select the quick format option.
>
> After you get the "Completing the New Partition Wizard" window showing the
> selections you have previously made, the formatting process will begin
> after you click the "Finish" button. But before clicking that button,
> review your selections to ensure they're the ones you want. You can always
> go back and change one or more of your previously selected settings by
> clicking on the
> "Back" button.
>
> Again, if you've selected the "quick format" option, the formatting will
> go very quickly. If not, it will take a considerable amount of time. As an
> example, the last time I (non-quick) formatted a 120 GB disk, it took
> about 45 minutes.
>
> If you run into any difficulties, remember that the Help file in Disk
> Management is your friend.
>
> Good luck.
> Anna
>