just got a second harddrive 200gb
fitted it in think it right normal one on primary lead with cd writer connect to the second socket
new second harddrive connected to secondary lead with dvd writer connect to second socket
the computer recognises it fine
but it doesn't show it in my computer it comes up in the devices thing in the control panal

can anyone help does it need formatting or partitioning or something i don't know how to do it and want more space for music and videos

Right-click my computer, manage, disk management, format it there.

You may also want to consider putting both hard drives on one cable, with your dvd+cd drives on the other, as mixing them will affect overall performance.

Basically the channel (cable) will only go as fast as the slowest component. The DVD/CD drives are usually only ATA33, whilst Hard drives are usually at least ATA100

indeed.

2 x hard drives on one bus

2 x disk drives on other bus.

also mixing can cause lock ups when doing disk to disk copies.

cool thanks guys sussed it i'll swap them when it's finished formatin

Just out of curiosity.. which 200gb hdd did you get and for how much?

I'm looking into getting one soon enough. When money premits me to. :)

Thanks,
nelly

it was £75 from www.planetmicro.co.uk maxtor or somethin