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Solved: Installing 2nd hard drive...

767 views 3 replies 2 participants last post by  etaf 
#1 ·
I just installed my older hard drive in my current computer (after reformatting it). The only way I can access both is when I have my reformatted one as the master and my current one as a slave. If I switch (including the jumpers), I get a message that says I don't have an operating system. So, I switched it back. I have 3 questions:
1) Why?
2) Also...why can't I run the programs that are now on my slave drive?

finally...

3) Is there a way I can reverse the order of drives (placing the one that has all of my info on it)...as a master? This would prevent me from having to reinstall all the programs...correct?

I am running Win Xp Home on both...

Thanks -
Onen
 
#2 ·
Hi, and welcome to the TSG forum :) :up:

Because thats the way a PC works - it looks at the master on the IDE and if it has a boot code written on a special area of the Hard disk - it boots....
The salve drive reformatted ( you old one ) does not have the boot area anymore
2) Also...why can't I run the programs that are now on my slave drive?
he salve drive reformatted ( you old one ) does not have the boot area anymore - nothing will be on the harddrive - also you will have to install programs on this PC to run from the second harddrive. If you had put the harddrive in without formatting then that may have booted and run programs - but that is never a good idea - as hardware and software need drivers etc that are set up for the actual hardware

finally...
3) Is there a way I can reverse the order of drives (placing the one that has all of my info on it)...as a master? This would prevent me from having to reinstall all the programs...correct?
as i said not a good idea - and if you have formatted the drive you nolonger have all your data

I am running Win Xp Home on both...

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/pc.htm
http://www.pcguide.com/intro/works/
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/pc.htm
http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/pc/howitworks.php
 
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