Computer with multiple hard drives question.

[Elgin Clock]

I'm attempting to reformat a computer with 2 hard drives, C & D.

I formatted the D drive, and want to use that strictly as a storage drive (think huge "my documents" folder).

Do I have to reload the O/S onto the D drive as well as the C, or just the C drive?

I have it working now as C is my main drive will all the windows and programs on it, and D is just sitting there, looking pretty with a ton of space on it.

Can I just read and write to the D drive without an OS installed on it?

Currently I have the C as a master, and D as a slave btw.. (I think)

Help?!

[Jay H 237]

If "C" is your main drive then you just need your operating system installed on that one. Also make sure the computer is set to boot from the "C" drive since that's where the operating system is. "C" doesn't have to be the first in the boot sequence (most computers try booting from the floppy first....usually "A" drive) but make sure "C" is in the boot sequence.

The only time you want to have operating systems on both drives is if you're running two different ones (for example, Windows 98 and Windows 2000, Windows and Linux). I don't see any need to have identical copies of the same operating system on two different drives in the same computer.

[Greg Ross]

What OS do you have? Since you mention "My Documents", I'm assuming it's some version of Windows.

Are you wanting to actually have your "My Documents" located on your D: drive? I think that should be possible, but the details of how to do it will probably vary according to the version of Windows you have.

If you just want to use it to store files (without worrying about where My Documents is located, and assuming Windows can actually "see" the drive), you're good to go.