Why do I have 2 hard drives?

[TrueBlueAngel]

I have an Acer laptop and it has an Acer (C) drive but I also have a Data (D) drive which isnt used, hence c drive gets used up quick. Why are there 2 hard drives and why isnt the D drive being used?
Thanks

[KittyKat]

Sounds like it might be a partitioned drive. We used to have our drives partitioned at work to allow for networking. All the applications were on the c: part and work was stored on the (larger) d: part. As you say with larger and larger applications the c drive soon became full and d drive was relatively empty.

You can unpartition it with some software but I'm not a techy so can't tell you how.

Kitty

[PLUTOXX]

i dont know, but surely twos better then one? lol

[TrueBlueAngel]

i dont know, but surely twos better then one? lol

LOL....it would be if I knew how to use the D drive :pgig: :pgig:

[Matt Charlton]

Most laptops these days ship with a partitioned drive. They presume that it will make it easier for the end-user to keep their work together.

There are a few different ways to do it, the easiest way is to get hold of something called "Partition Magic", this will let you combine the two logical drives into one.

[essexmick]

i always save my data either to a 2nd partition or a second hard drive. the good thing with that is if your operating system goes bang, you just re-instal on c drive and all your data is untouched. the one BIG downer that way is if your harddrive goeas bang you lose the lot. so a good practice is to back up onto a cdrw or better still a dvdrw

[TrueBlueAngel]

Thanks, how do I move from C to D drive? I'm looking at the obvious send to - but theres no D drive there

[buzz lightbeer]

I also have an Acer with a C and D drive - when I want to transfer data I just use the cut and paste option... Although being a laptop it only has 80gig, so found the best option was a 320gig external hard drive, am now transferring all photos, videos, etc over to this and freeing my laptop up for the software...

What you will find is when you load a new piece of software it will always default to save the data files onto your C drive, you can simply change this by selecting the D drive (usually have to hit the 'browse' button or can just type the path if you know it...

[Elsie]

If you open Windows Explorer it should be listed in there, just drag and drop the files from C into the D drive.Er... please don't do this at random as it could cause serious problems!

When you install software onto your PC it's location will be logged. For example, you install Microsoft Office into C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office. Every time you start an Office application the PC will look for the files in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office. If, in the meantime, you have moved Microsoft Office from C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office onto the D: partition, the Office programs won't work.

Please don't move any of these folders or their sub-folders:

C:\Windows
C:\Program Files
C:\Documents and Settings

You maybe able to move some of the subfolders of Documents and Settings but it could still cause some programs not to work.

[Spoonah]

Er... please don't do this at random as it could cause serious problems!

When you install software onto your PC it's location will be logged. For example, you install Microsoft Office into C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office. Every time you start an Office application the PC will look for the files in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office. If, in the meantime, you have moved Microsoft Office from C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office onto the D: partition, the Office programs won't work.

Please don't move any of these folders or their sub-folders:

C:\Windows
C:\Program Files
C:\Documents and Settings

You maybe able to move some of the subfolders of Documents and Settings but it could still cause some programs not to work.

Agreed be very careful on this. As stated in previous mails there is physically only 1 disk but it is partitioned. If you need more space I would suggest getting an external hard drive. This is a cost effective way of increasing space and are usually plug and play through the USB ports.

[brianuk]

On my Acer laptop the "D" drive partition is used to store all the info you need to to a system restore back to as it was when it left the factory in case of failure.

Not to be messed with and it's usually only a small portion of the drive, around 5 or 6 gig.

If you are struggling for space buy an external plug in drive. They are now really cheap (around £80-£90 for a 300gig +).

[dreadnort]

you will find that there is 3 partiones on an acer laptop one of which you can not see which contains back up data incase you need to reinstall.

use the second partion to store you data as the fitrst partion can suffer from a problem which will not damage your other partion. it makes life easier to have multipul partions on larger drives.

[Andre]

If the D drive is not a hidden partition for disaster recovery purposes, you should be able to use it fine.

You can ask for programs to be installed to D: if you want, but DON'T try to move the files yourself later!

In XP, you can move your My Documents folder to the D: drive really easily: just right-click on My Documents, click on Properties, and click on "Move" and set up a new folder on your D drive and everything will be moved there for you. You can use any name, but sticking with My Documents is easier. Your programs should know that the folder has been moved and use the new one automatically.

Andre

[Griff_389]

As Andrew has said, moving docs is easier by just changing where "my documents" points to.
Although all i'd change is the drive letter (i.e. change C to D or whatever drive letter it is), and leave the rest at :\documents and settings\username.

This way if you reinstall windows, just change the drive letter of where "my documents" points to, and away you go. You don't then have to remember much at all.