Troubles with HDD....

[Blueovalguy]

I have a IDE HDD and a SATA drive....IDE = MASTER, has windows/other software on it....SATA = basically my files drive....

I just put a new sys together and I want to do a full format but I haven't transfered all my files and went ahead with the format of the IDE HDD to reinstall windows....and it's a good thing I didn't.

I transferred some files from the IDE drive that I wanted to keep over to the SATA drive....in the process of installing some drivers and rebooting and trying a new crack for the XP key I got locked out of the computer basically and couldn't get the key to change back when I went into safe mode.

The problem I have is that once I got windows going again after another install, the SATA drive lost all the files I had on it and said I had to format it (I had formatted it already before storing some files on it).....my concern is how the heck to I transfer the files over to the SATA drive that I want to keep, format the IDE drive and install windows if I'm gonna end up losing the files on SATA drive from the windows install anyway?

When I had to install Windows again due to the mixup I made sure I selected the right partition and away it went....

I'm sure it's a small problem but I'd like to clean this old drive up and start fresh on it without worrying what's gonna happen to the files I save on the SATA drive....it was a pain to format it once already (320GB drve)....

[Blueovalguy]

by the way, both drives are internal...IDE is set to master, SATA is secondary drive....windows boots from the IDE drive

[Fruss Tray Ted]

in the process of installing some drivers and rebooting and trying a new crack for the XP key

But we don't DO 'CRACK' here!!! As said on SouthPark, "Drugs are B-a-d..." (http://images.art.com/images/products/regular/11755000/11755341.jpg)

[Hagar]

I have seen this problem described many times in another forum. I am not sure how it happens, when I ask for details it seems they are always newbies.
It does not happen for most people, and whatever I try I can never reproduce it. The only clue I have is that it can sometimes happen when using the first version of XP when installing, without the 48-bit LBA service pack the filesystem gets butchered on large disks.
So make sure you use a CD with SP2 (make one yourself with Autostreamer), and/or disconnect the other drive when reinstalling.

[Blueovalguy]

in other words, its NOT normal for the second drive (already formatted, and with files) to basically be reset when windows is installed.

The other thing I had noticed was that the 320GB drive was only being acknowleged as a 128GB drive after this had happened....so I deleted the partition and created a new one for the same drive and it went back to 320GB...

[Blueovalguy]

I have seen this problem described many times in another forum. I am not sure how it happens, when I ask for details it seems they are always newbies.
It does not happen for most people, and whatever I try I can never reproduce it. The only clue I have is that it can sometimes happen when using the first version of XP when installing, without the 48-bit LBA service pack the filesystem gets butchered on large disks.
So make sure you use a CD with SP2 (make one yourself with Autostreamer), and/or disconnect the other drive when reinstalling.

I've been looking into what you have wrote and I'm just looking for some clarification...

If I back up my files from my Maxtor 60GB IDE drive to the 320GB Seagate SATA drive (after I format the SATA drive)....when I go to format/install Windows XP Pro SP2 onto the MAXTOR IDE drive will the Seagate drive cause me problems because it was formatted under the first edition of Windows?

I'm having problems writing files to the DVD writer at the moment with the file transfer wizard and I have a tonne of photos I want to save to the seagate drive so I can start over.

If I can't get them to DVD and put them on the seagate (and even disconnect the Seagate SATA connection) I'd hate to find out after I format the Maxtor drive and reconnect the SATA drive that I have lost all the files...and it wants to reformat the Seagate again....which is a pain because it takes over an hour to format the Seagate.

I've always seemed to have problems writing to DVD in the file transfer wizard and don't really have a way around it...atleast I don't think I do.

[Blueovalguy]

Still trying to work around this before I cause myself grief and headache...

Taking my above posts into account and looking at formatting this Seagate and NOT have it erase my data after I put them onto the drive...

Would the better option be to install Windows with SP2 onto the IDE (master) drive ontop of the old windows....format the Seagate SATA (so it has the 48-bit LBA service in the format) transfer the files, and then reformat the IDE master drive and install the Windows XP (with SP2)?

I've never had two drives before so I've never run into this...i've reformatted and installed numerous times but obviously never had this sort of issue.

I have all the recent BIOS drivers and flashed the BIOS accordingly according to what I go on the ASUS website for my motherboard. I know I need to get up to SP2 to get the audio driver to work properly...just didn't think it would affect the extra hard drive.

[Hagar]

...The other thing I had noticed was that the 320GB drive was only being acknowleged as a 128GB drive after this had happened....
This means you have a problem with 48-bit LBA. I can only guess, but it sounds like you install from an old XP CD and then upgrade to SP2 after installation is finished?
Never do that, you should have SP2 on the CD you use for installation. Here is how: http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/1092632287/1
Or disconnect the big drive until SP2 has been installed.

I have often moved drives from one Windows installation to another, this should normally be no problem.

[Blueovalguy]

Thanks guys, I'm reading up on the information you're giving me and it's making sense...

All in all, does the SATA drive need to be formatted using Windows XP SP2 or can I format is with just Windows XP...transfer my files....disconnect the drive....reformat/install SP2 and plug away after?

The big key isn't reformatting...it's getting my files onto the SATA drive and not losing 'em for format/48 bit/reinstallation of XP reasons.

[Whyzman]

Fruss Tray Ted's comment above, I'm afraid got lost in the humor.

The PC Guide does not condone, nor do we support theft by assisting individuals who are using "cracked" software.

There are liability issues involved when assisting someone who is breaking the law.

I am going to lock this thread down. Do not continue to ask for support in this regard or you will be banned from further participation here at the PC Guide...