Trying to repurpose an external drive

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by bboots, May 27, 2009.

  1. bboots

    bboots Private E-2

    I have a 150 gig external drive I was using on an a computer for backup purposes. I wanted to move that external drive to another computer and use it for another purpose. Since I no longer needed any of the old data or partitions on the external hard drive, I deleted the data and removed the partitions. I thought this would leave the drive empty, but usable. But now, when I connect the external drive to another computer, the computer doesn't recognize the drive is there. Both computers are running the same version of Windows XP. What do I need to do?
     
    bboots, May 27, 2009
    #1
  2. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    Format the drive.
    Depending on the BIOS of the 2nd computer, it may not recognize a drive more than 137GB in size.
    Maybe you can partition it into two parts again on the old computer then attach it to the computer you want to use it in and see if it is now recognized.
     
    plodr, May 27, 2009
    #2
  3. bboots

    bboots Private E-2

    The new computer did not recognize the drive when I added it. So I moved the external drive back to the old computer it was originally used for, and that computer no longer recognizes that the external drive is attached. I no longer need partitions. How can I reformat the drive if the computer doesn't recognize it's there?
     
    bboots, May 28, 2009
    #3
  4. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    plodr, May 28, 2009
    #4
  5. bboots

    bboots Private E-2

    I'm sorry, but English is my only language. :confused What does "Boot a linux live CD" mean? I'm guessing it means I put a CD with "linux live" on it into the CD drive and ...then what? How would I get from that CD to the external drive? Is "linux live" something I can download and burn to a CD?

    What does this translate into..."(not sure about NTFS) as FAT32 using diskdrake."

    I looked at the GParted web site. I'm not clear on partitions. I will just be using this external drive to backup files from one of the two internal drives. In my mind, I'm taking files from one box and putting them into another box. Do I really have to divide that external box into 2 parts?
     
    bboots, May 29, 2009
    #5
  6. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    If neither computer sees the hard drive it might mean that your computers are limited to "seeing" hard drives 137 GB and smaller. If that's the case, then yes, you do need to partition the drive for the computers to see it. A computer can't use something it can't see.
    When the drive was new, was it partitioned? If not, was your computer able to see the entire 150GB?

    1. Boot a live linux CD means, you open the CD tray, put the linux CD in (making sure that the computer is set to boot from CD before the hard drive). You restart windows only this time, it will boot the linux live CD in the CD drive.
    A live CD means the linux does not get installed to your computer and does not interfere with any of your windows files and settings.
    3. Live linux distros (short for distributions aka different flavors) can be downloaded from here http://www.livecdlist.com/
    4. You'd then burn the .ISO you downloaded to a CD.

    At this point, I suspect this is too overwhelming for you.
    My advice, ask one of your friends if he/she can hook up your external hd to his/her computer and partition and format it as NTFS for you.
    Windows uses two types of file systems: FAT32 and NTFS.
    FAT32 was used exclusively for windows 95, 98 and ME. Then a New Technology File System was developed starting with NT4 and moving to Windows 2000, XP, and Vista. And that what NTFS stands for.
     
    plodr, May 29, 2009
    #6
  7. bboots

    bboots Private E-2

    Thank you SO MUCH for the explanation.I learned a lot. Sometimes the hardest thing with computers is just figuring out if something is--or-is not--an "I can do it myself" project. Now that I understand what's going on, I will, as you suggest, get someone else to do this. Thank you again. I really appreciate your help!
     
    bboots, May 30, 2009
    #7
  8. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    Come back and let us know how it worked.
     
    plodr, May 30, 2009
    #8

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