The Fifth Great Format

[Toolie]

Sometime this week I will be performing my fifth great format. I've run across logistical problems that I would have never imagined when I started the Great Format many a year ago...

First, I have nearly 8 GB of vital files I have stored; porn, software, ISOs, music, porn, backup of websites, porn, etc...

I burned a number of CD's for my software and ISOs. I backed up my music and website backups to a large .rar file and copied it to a computer on my network.

I'm deleting the porn... I have over 2.5 GB of it and can easily find more after the format.



This would all be done easier if I could figure out why my second hard drive isn't working. I have a functional 30GB Quantum Fireball... and its doing fine. I installed my Western Digital 40GB, and XP shows it as a disk drive, it shows its space, and shows it has no assigned volumes. And I can't assign volumes.

It's not like XP is being dumb, it knows its a hard drive. It has it installed, it has the drivers installed too. I just can't figure out how to format and partition it. DOS is not letting me do anything with it either. I cant switch to it and run fdisk because there is no letter assigned to it.

Hopefully after the format, it should fix this problem, but maybe you guys could help. If I could ge tthe second drive online, then I could simply backup my files to that and format the Fireball.


If any of you have suggestions, please tell me. I plan on doing this tommorow or Tuesday :eek:

[Menokh]

I know this is probably the stupidest thing I have ever suggested, but check the jumpers on the WD drive. XP will have problems if they are set wrong.

[vegeta1215]

Why are you formatting your drive again?

[Toolie]

Every six or so months I just like to format ( no Vegeta, not because of my OS ). I clutter up my drive with files and I'm too lazy to go and clean them up... and I just like the feeling of a format.... :)

[vegeta1215]

You format your drive every 6 months? That's just retarded, I'm sorry.

[Toolie]

How is that retarded? It keeps everything clean, including ridding corrupted files, potential viruses and infected files. Plus it frees a lot of space by removing stuff I don't use like programs that I forget to install. If you don't format your computer, you're the retard.

Any one else like to recommend how I should set up my drives? Which should be the master and the slave, etc...? I always manage to screw up master/slave combo's ( I did it before with the 30GB and the 8GB )

[vegeta1215]

If you have a bunch of programs on there you don't use, as long as they're not affecting your system negatively, who cares? Hard drive space is cheap, and it seems like you have enough space. If I had to worry about the hundreds upon hundreds of programs on my computer right now, I would go insane.

The other things you said about corrupted files and viral stuff are legitimate reasons to format, but how can you say that is not due to Windows?

Anyways, do what you want, waste your times formatting and painfully reinstalling Windows, spending countless reboots to update to the newest security patches for IE, reinstalling all your programs and putting your files back on. No sweat off my back.

You won't here from me anymore when people post about problems they have with their computers. Instead, I'll just be sitting back and laughing cause I won't ever those same problems again.

[Toolie]

Sigh...

First off, I've never had a virus. I don't think I have one now. To be safe, I just like to format. Who knows what the hell is on here anyway? Plenty of my friends use my computer. I don't know how that is due to Windows.

Reformatting and reinstalling Win XP is so simple I can almost do it blindfolded. I can do it in less than 2 hours and have everything set up on my computers. 2 hours every six months is fine.

Only once would I need to download updates for IE. My files are already on the other drive. I don't have problems with my computer, I just want things to be clean.

Never will you convert me to Opera or Linux, please stop trying. Never have I seen one of you cronies present a valid reason for a conversion. You're like Jahova's Witnesses... and those guys really need to have their bike-tires deflated..

[vegeta1215]

I have presented many good reasons why I prefer the software I use over other software, but who said I'm trying to convert you? I've been sharing my opinion. If anything. I just want you and everyone else to quit bitching about your computer problems, most of which could be solved by refraining from using IE and Windows.

Anyways, like I said before, I'm not arguing with you or anyone else anymore. If anyone wants to talk Linux or whatever, post in the Programming forum, I'll be there.

[Toolie]

My quesion was how to get my second drive working. Obviously its being read, which leads me to believe there could be a problem with the IDE controller, though thats reading it too. I could be jumpers, but I dont know. Obviously your almost an equal level of computer literacy as me, you know that my hardware has nothing to do with what OS im using. This is strictly a hardware issue.

And dont try to tell me that you weren't trying to "convert" me or spark a debate. This was not an opinion topic, so yours wasn't needed. I'm requesting assistance with my hardware, not your suggestions for an OS. Perhaps I should pop into a random topic and tell you to ditch that shitty Neon you drive and get an Lexus? Just as annoying, and unneeded, Vegeta.

[vegeta1215]

The topic was on formatting your hard drive. A fifth one, correct? Sorry if I think its dumb to format your drive.

So DOS won't let you format the other drive? It shouldn't have to have a letter assigned to it, at least I don't think so. How else would you format non-fat partitions if you needed a drive letter?

[Toolie]

It's not reading the drive at all in DOS. Consequently, neither would fdisk.


And being that I format every 6 months or so, I think that its not redundant whatsoever. I know people that format quite regularly. And I know people that don't, and it shows in performance ( especially with slower machines ).

[vegeta1215]

Did this second hard drive that your trying to fix, work at one point?

Side note: of course the performance is better after formatting. the drive isn't fragmented anymore, hehe :)

[Toolie]

No. It's brand new. It's there, and it works aparantly. XP has it installed and lists it as a disk drive, but there are no volumes from it.

[vegeta1215]

It very well may be a connection problem on the inside of the computer. Then again, there may be something your overlooking in XP. Wish I knew about XP to help you.

Still, I don't understand why XP would see it and DOS not see it. :shrug:

[Mander]

Have you got it set as a master or slave? Did you set it up in the cmos/bios setting?

[slothman]

I don't know much about XP but I would set up the faster drive as the master since it actually runs the slave.
If you have Partition Magic you could try that in DOS. If not it might be a good idea to get since you format so often.

[Menokh]

Partition Magic works great.
I use it whenever I need to reformat my Windows partition. It can even split and merge neighboring partitions, or shrink them.
I use the PM boot disk set though, it prevents all sorts of problems that Windows will give it.

And if there is a physical problme with your slave drive, Partition Magic will notice it and point it out to you.

[Jemsee]

Check the jumpers for master slave.
Somtimes it makes a difference where they are on the ribbon.
If both drives are on the same ribbon try changing them around.
Better yet, have them on different IDE connectors.
Run find new hardwear.
Reinstall drivers.
Check out the drives websight.
:shrug: