SP2 installed- where's my 2nd HD gone? Help please.

[Geoff W]

Hi I hope someone can help please.
I installed SP2, no problems. Now I notice that I can't access my 2nd HD
(primary slave) and that it's not registering under "My Computer". BIOS is
still set to auto recognise HDs.

My data is backed up, but I need the storage space- how do I get the C drive
to acknowledge this second drive please? As a worst case I am tempted to wipe
the C: drive and re-install XP Home SP 1- anyone got any alternatives?

Thanks,

"No problems"? Seems there is.

I, very strongly, agree with your last sentence. VERY!


"Geoff W" <Geoff > wrote in message
...
> Hi I hope someone can help please.
> I installed SP2, no problems. Now I notice that I can't access my 2nd HD
> (primary slave) and that it's not registering under "My Computer". BIOS is
> still set to auto recognise HDs.
>
> My data is backed up, but I need the storage space- how do I get the C
drive
> to acknowledge this second drive please? As a worst case I am tempted to
wipe
> the C: drive and re-install XP Home SP 1- anyone got any alternatives?
>
> Thanks,

[R. C. White]

Hi, Geoff.

What does Disk Management say about your second HD? One way to find Disk
Management is to type at the Run prompt: diskmgmt.msc

Reinstalling WinXP to solve this kind of problem is kind of like replacing
your car engine because the spark plugs are fouled. It probably would work,
but it's a bit of overkill. And might not work anyhow if you put the same
spark plugs back in the new engine. It makes much more sense to diagnose
what the real problem is, and then fix that.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP

"Geoff W" <Geoff > wrote in message
...
> Hi I hope someone can help please.
> I installed SP2, no problems. Now I notice that I can't access my 2nd HD
> (primary slave) and that it's not registering under "My Computer". BIOS is
> still set to auto recognise HDs.
>
> My data is backed up, but I need the storage space- how do I get the C
> drive
> to acknowledge this second drive please? As a worst case I am tempted to
> wipe
> the C: drive and re-install XP Home SP 1- anyone got any alternatives?
>
> Thanks,

[Geoff W]

Hi Rc,
Thanks for the usggestion- I ran this prog, it showed no problem with the C:
drive and recognised a USB flash device, but did not show signs of a second
HD- since I've made no physical changes I have to presume this is an OS issue?

Please could you suggest any next moves?
TY
Geoff
__

"R. C. White" wrote:

> Hi, Geoff.
>
> What does Disk Management say about your second HD? One way to find Disk
> Management is to type at the Run prompt: diskmgmt.msc
>
> Reinstalling WinXP to solve this kind of problem is kind of like replacing
> your car engine because the spark plugs are fouled. It probably would work,
> but it's a bit of overkill. And might not work anyhow if you put the same
> spark plugs back in the new engine. It makes much more sense to diagnose
> what the real problem is, and then fix that.
>
> RC
> --
> R. C. White, CPA
> San Marcos, TX
>
> Microsoft Windows MVP
>
> "Geoff W" <Geoff > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi I hope someone can help please.
> > I installed SP2, no problems. Now I notice that I can't access my 2nd HD
> > (primary slave) and that it's not registering under "My Computer". BIOS is
> > still set to auto recognise HDs.
> >
> > My data is backed up, but I need the storage space- how do I get the C
> > drive
> > to acknowledge this second drive please? As a worst case I am tempted to
> > wipe
> > the C: drive and re-install XP Home SP 1- anyone got any alternatives?
> >
> > Thanks,
>
>

Does it show up in the device manager? If so, can you
might try the troubleshoot, and driver update/rollback
options there depending on what you see.

How about the BIOS? Does it list it when the computer
boots up?

[Geoff W]

Dear RC & Anonymous- many thanks indeed- when I opened the device manager the
F drive was not visible, but when I refreshed it seemed to spark it up and i
have my 2nd HD back- thanks for your help.

" wrote:

> Does it show up in the device manager? If so, can you
> might try the troubleshoot, and driver update/rollback
> options there depending on what you see.
>
> How about the BIOS? Does it list it when the computer
> boots up?
>

[Rock]

wrote:

> "No problems"? Seems there is.
>
> I, very strongly, agree with your last sentence. VERY!
>
>
> "Geoff W" <Geoff > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Hi I hope someone can help please.
>>I installed SP2, no problems. Now I notice that I can't access my 2nd HD
>>(primary slave) and that it's not registering under "My Computer". BIOS is
>>still set to auto recognise HDs.
>>
>>My data is backed up, but I need the storage space- how do I get the C
>
> drive
>
>>to acknowledge this second drive please? As a worst case I am tempted to
>
> wipe
>
>>the C: drive and re-install XP Home SP 1- anyone got any alternatives?
>>
>>Thanks,
>
>
>

Maybe next time you'll think about offering some help, since as it
turned out a very simple step fixed the OP's issue.

[Alex Nichol]

"Geoff W" <Geoff > wrote:

>Hi I hope someone can help please.
>I installed SP2, no problems. Now I notice that I can't access my 2nd HD
>(primary slave) and that it's not registering under "My Computer". BIOS is
>still set to auto recognise HDs.

And presuming that the BIOS is reporting it as seen when you boot,
Check in Control Panel - System - Hardware - Device Manager to see if it
is showing up in Drives, If so, double click there and make sure it has
not got onto 'Do not use (Disable)' in the pane at the bottom.

--
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
Bournemouth, U.K. (remove the D8 bit)

[Peter Hutchison]

On Tue, 21 Sep 2004 10:19:02 -0700, "Geoff W" <Geoff
> wrote:

>Hi Rc,
>Thanks for the usggestion- I ran this prog, it showed no problem with the C:
>drive and recognised a USB flash device, but did not show signs of a second
>HD- since I've made no physical changes I have to presume this is an OS issue?
>
>Please could you suggest any next moves?
>TY
>Geoff

Click ReScan Disks on the Action menu to get XP to detect any
additional disks.
If that fails, make sure the BIOS finds the drive (if IDE), or that
you have the correct USB drivers installed. Sometimes USB 2.0 devices
may not be correctly recognised on USB 1.1 interfaces, try a different
port or install a USB 2.0 card.

Peter Hutchison