Adding 320GB HDD to 200GB HDD setup - Please help newbie configure...

[leepark]

I added an additional 320GB (SATA) to my existing 200GB (SATA) setup. It installed fine but how do I configure it? It doesn't show up show up on Explorer, only the 200GB shows up as the Local Disk (C. How do I get the 2 drives to work together? Is this the best way to utilize the 200 and 320 drives in my system? RAID something or another? Please take me through step by step (I'm quite new to this stuff). If I'm missing something please let me know. Much appreciated.

 

[MichaelD]

You need to ENABLE the new hard drive in Windows.

Right click My Computer/Manage/Disk Management. On the bottom half of the screen, you'll see all your drives listed. Your new drive will be listed as "Unknown drive." Right click the tab of that drive and select "Enable" or "Use." (I forget what it says).

You will then have to PARTITION and FORMAT the drive. Right click the drive, New Partition. Select the size and file format (use NTFS) and you're done.

 

[leepark]

thank you!

Do I use it like an extra storage drive? Is it better to configure it differently (eg, RAID)?

 

[dfuze]

I wouldn't set it up as raid since they are vastly different sized (unless you are going JBOD, you would lose 120gb on the new one so they could match size).

Once it's formatted in Disk Management, it will be assigned a drive letter (i.e.- "E") and then you can use it just as you would a normal "C" drive.

 

[leepark]

quick question, do i partition it as a PRIMARY or EXTENDED? thanks.

 

[dfuze]

Are you reinstalling windows onto it? Or just adding it on as a 2nd drive? If you are doing the latter, just load into windows, right click on My Computer, select Manage. Then click on Disk Management on the left menu side. Now your drives will appear on the right side. Just right click the new one and select Format.

 

[leepark]

I don't think I can "just" format. The only options that appear when right clicking are: 1. Convert to Dynamic Disk...; 2. Properties; and 3. Help, PLUS NEW PARTITION option when right clicking on the graphic area of the new HDD.