Print

hdd installed as E drive , not C drive, only one hdd onboard

Sign in
Sign in to post messages.
Latest post 11/07/2009 12:32 PM by shesagordie. 5 replies.
Back to forum | Previous | Next
Page 1 of 1  
Joined on 10/04/2009
Posts: 9
Points 269

hdd installed as E drive , not C drive, only one hdd onboard

02 Nov 2009 07:15PM

When the hdd  went on my XPS 210, Windows XPPRO I ordered a drive from Dell, a larger one, which was supposed to be installed by Dell in 3 days at the most, I paid for overnight delivery, after a couple of days a Tech called from Knoxville and said he was  coming to install my hdd, I told him I had not recieved the HDD, he thought he had it, but he only had the Installation disks, about a week later I received the HDD, so I called Dell support and they said they had made one service call and COULD NOT MAKE ANOTHER, I explained  that the Tech had not physically been to  my home as we had talked on the phone, they said I would have to install the HDD myself and a tech would come by to restore the OS which was Windows XP pro. I installed the HDD and waited for the OS to be delivered, when this (not the original) tech came and installed the OS onto  E drive and the C drive now shows up as removable disk, I have no idea where it is. anyway, setup tells me, there is no hdd present and the NEW 500GB Hitachi is PO-Hitachi is also AHCI and I don't know what that means! Dell service told me I needed to re-install the OS  to the C drive (which I have a disk the tech left.)  They will help me for a fee ?? what did I pay for when I bought the extended service??How can the large program of  Windows XPpro be on only one disk? Does anyone know how I go about doing a reinstall as the help from dell service is NIL!

Tags:
  • Post Points: 80

verified answers

Solution
Texas
Joined on 11/08/2001
Posts: 38,463
Points 364,272

Re: hdd installed as E drive , not C drive, only one hdd onboard

04 Nov 2009 05:04PM

helen377

You need to create the C:/ partition on the hard drive

Which drive was assigned, the drive letter C:/ ?

Yes, you need to disconnect all the peripherals, including any external/removeable drives, [the modem should be fine] except the monitor, keyboard and mouse.

While installing, remember to delete all existing partitions when you are prompted, then recreate the C:/ partition and format the hard drive, following by installing XP.

Maybe THIS interactive guide can help, you can click on a Image to enlarge it.

Bev.

  • Post Points: 40

5 Replies:

Texas
Joined on 11/08/2001
Posts: 38,463
Points 364,272

Re: hdd installed as E drive , not C drive, only one hdd onboard

03 Nov 2009 02:01PM

helen377 

You can find Dell's XP Professional reinstallation directions HERE

A Hint: Remember to use the correct order for installing the drivers and utilities.

Bev.

  • Post Points: 50
Joined on 10/04/2009
Posts: 9
Points 269

Re: hdd installed as E drive , not C drive, only one hdd onboard

04 Nov 2009 04:28PM

shesagordie:

helen377 

You can find Dell's XP Professional reinstallation directions HERE

A Hint: Remember to use the correct order for installing the drivers and utilities.

Bev.

Bev, thanks, I already have the list of drivers and how they are installed, I am a little concerned about why the new drive showed up as E and drive C was a removeable drive, wil I have an option  to drives or was this caused because the Tech didn't unplug the printer, DVD and passpot drive? If I unplug all the peripherals except keyboard and mouse, will it automatically choose C drive? also should I  unplug my satalite modem or will that be ok? I am sorry I sound so uncertain, but I have not done this before although, I have replaced A drives and batteries. Thanks again. Helen377

  • Post Points: 50
Solution
Texas
Joined on 11/08/2001
Posts: 38,463
Points 364,272

Re: hdd installed as E drive , not C drive, only one hdd onboard

04 Nov 2009 05:04PM

helen377

You need to create the C:/ partition on the hard drive

Which drive was assigned, the drive letter C:/ ?

Yes, you need to disconnect all the peripherals, including any external/removeable drives, [the modem should be fine] except the monitor, keyboard and mouse.

While installing, remember to delete all existing partitions when you are prompted, then recreate the C:/ partition and format the hard drive, following by installing XP.

Maybe THIS interactive guide can help, you can click on a Image to enlarge it.

Bev.

  • Post Points: 40
Joined on 10/04/2009
Posts: 9
Points 269

Re: hdd installed as E drive , not C drive, only one hdd onboard

07 Nov 2009 10:40AM

Bev,

Thank you so much for your help! I finally got up enough nerve to reformat my HDD and  re-install my OS, it was not as hard as I thought, but is not easy either, if you had not sent me the guides to go by I never could have done it.  Anyway, I got my HdD on the C drive and everything seems to be alright.

Helen 

  • Post Points: 20
Texas
Joined on 11/08/2001
Posts: 38,463
Points 364,272

Re: hdd installed as E drive , not C drive, only one hdd onboard

07 Nov 2009 12:32PM

Helen .

Happy to hear everything went well, reinstalling the operating system is never easy, but the more times you reinstall them the easier it gets.   Wink

Bev.

  • Post Points: 5
Page 1 of 1