How do I swap between hard drives?

This is probably very obvious, but can someone please tell me how I swap to the second hard drive in my machine? I want to download and then run CCleaner on it.
If I then run Format, what do I have to do to use it as a backup to the C drive and will formatting affect any programs on C?

Thanks.

 

Hello. What you have posted doesn't explain what it is you want to do. Try again pal-- we'll check back on you shortly....

 

First can you see the 2nd hard drive? Check in my computer, and if it is hooked up right, it should show as D drive? Can you click on it and open it? I would gather you are trying to use it as storage? Need more info than you gave, as The Prisoner has stated.

 

Ah. the old lack of info problem. Get this with Mrs Mulcher all the time...

I can see the drive and explore it no probs. It is shown as Hard disc 2 (F.

I want to use it as backup storage. It runs FAT32. My queries are:
-Do I need to run CCleaner before I format it and if so, how? (CCleaner only shows the "C" components on it).
-If I use format option, will it affect the C drive? (When I install programs on "C" - they often appear on "F" as well).
-Will I have to change the file system to NTFS before I write backup jobs to it from Genie Backup 4?
-Er, thats it I think.....

 

Dratt those smileys.....

 

Okay cool. Right click it and select Format.
You don't have to select NTFS but if you are using WinXP there's no real reason not to as it's a better file system than FAT32 (AFAIK). Format the drive (you do realise all data will be lost on this F: drive). Done.

No.

I have no idea why they would appear on F, unless they were previously installed on F in it's past life. If you install a program to C: , that's the only place it should be.

No, not necessarily, but see above.

You can disable smilies In Additional Options, which is the section below where you type your reply.

 

Thanks bud. Fishing looks good at your place.....

 

No problems. And yeah the fishing can be good here. In the my homepage photogallery I'm column 1, 4th photo down (rainbow trout) and column 5 6th down. (Mulloway)

 

You said that "installed programs" show in the other drive? If this is a mounted volume (for instance, in your PROGRAM FILES folder) then you will lose all your installed programs if you format it. There are other possibilities, but you better find out WHY this is happening before you do anything to this drive....

 

Ah. I have just checked Program Files on the "F" and they were all last modified in April last year, when I got this new machine and put the old drive in it. Is there any way I can check whether this is a mounted drive?

 

If they are that old, then it must not be mounted, but here's how anyhow:

Open computer management (under administrative tools) and select Disk Management.

Right-select "CHANGE DRIVE LETTERS AND PATHS..." on the disk in either the upper list view or the lower graphical view.

If unmounted, you will see only the drive's letter displayed in the resulting box.

You should read about mounting drives in other folders/directories, as you are already halfway there with your use of paritioning and your intended use for the partition. It is VERY useful...

 

Thanks everyone. Top advice as usual and now problem solved. So far you lot have cured my hard drive thrashing, taught me about second drives, cleaned my computers and emptied the malware.
finding Major Geeks has save me a pile of cash with my IT man as well. I'm even starting to enjoy it - I think.....