Reformating question

[lpete301]

Alright, well I'm calling it a night. Does it usually take a while to connect to the IRC? I was just using the Java that was on the website. I dont use much of the chat type features.

Anyhow thanks for all your help. I am going to check back in about 3 to five mins before going to bed. To see what you have to say about the IRC.

Linda

 

[Matthew DeCarlo]

No, it shouldn't take more than a few seconds to connect. Good luck.

 

[lpete301]

Ok, I am going to check back in the morning before I go mess with this thing, to see if anyone else has any ideas after reading through the massive amounts of information here.

Thank you all very much.

 

[Rick]

About merging your partitions...

Your best choice is a program like Acronis Disk Director. It's easy, it works really well but it also costs $$. I've used it a million times and never had an issue, but this is definitely use at your own risk software.

Your second best option (and safest) is to copy the files from your E and F partitions into folders on your computer (if you have the space). Then use Start > Run > Diskmgmt.msc to delete your E and F partitions. Next, you would create a new partition to replace the E and F partitions that used to exist and make it the full size of the drive. Have it 'quick format' using NTFS and copy the data in those folders back over to your new partition. At this point, you're done. Oh, and keep in mind you cannot copy the "System Volume Information" folder (Will only show up if you have hidden + system folders visible) and you may need to take ownership of user folders (documents, pictures etc.. in C:\Documents and Settings)

The third option I'm going to give you is much like the first one, but it is free.
http://gparted-livecd.tuxfamily.org/ I don't like recommending it though, because in the past, I've had some problems with its reliability on Windows NTFS partitions. It will probably work just fine, but use at your own risk.

 

[raybay]

You will generally not be able to use the setup on your eMachines drive to fix this problem. You will need an external source disc containing an installable OS.
You may be able to do it with Sony or other, but not from within the eMachines hard drive. It will lock up on you, because the Windows XP on the drive is designed to do that, as I assume you have already learned.
There are tricks that an experienced user or tech can do, but it doesn't sound like you are yet at that level.
We have been buying Windows XP Home for $64, but the price has gone up due to the fact that people prefer it over VISTA.
You can use a shopping site such as NexTag, Price Grabber, ShopZilla, MoneySavingExpert, or Smarter.Com to find Windows XPHome for $79.99.
That cost may be an easier choice than what has been described above, if your time means anything to you.
You can then use Windows to make your eMachines hard drive pristine, remove all partitions, then install the Windows Partition NTFS, and the OS automatically.
You will then need to install the drivers for the various components. Do you know how to find the drivers?

 

[Matthew DeCarlo]

You will generally not be able to use the setup on your eMachines drive to fix this problem. You will need an external source disc containing an installable OS.
You may be able to do it with Sony or other, but not from within the eMachines hard drive. It will lock up on you, because the Windows XP on the drive is designed to do that, as I assume you have already learned.
There are tricks that an experienced user or tech can do, but it doesn't sound like you are yet at that level.
We have been buying Windows XP Home for $64, but the price has gone up due to the fact that people prefer it over VISTA.
You can use a shopping site such as NexTag, Price Grabber, ShopZilla, MoneySavingExpert, or Smarter.Com to find Windows XPHome for $79.99.
That cost may be an easier choice than what has been described above, if your time means anything to you.
You can then use Windows to make your eMachines hard drive pristine, remove all partitions, then install the Windows Partition NTFS, and the OS automatically.
You will then need to install the drivers for the various components. Do you know how to find the drivers?

Raybay, they don't even want an OS on their eMachines HDD. Why would they buy a copy of XP to delete a couple partitions? They want to use their Sony HDD (for which they have an OS CD already) as a Master and their eMachines HDD as Slave. The Slave drive will be for excess storage only. They also won't be needing drivers for that HDD.

 

[raybay]

Sorry if I mis-read the post.
If you just need the partion (s) removed, Acronis for $9.95 will do it... as will Kill Disk... www.killdisk.com fix you up.
However, the user needs an OS to fully bring the eMachines drive to use. It should still be formatted and setup as the slave drive, and he or she does not have a Windows OS to do that. That eMachines drive must be setup properly to be used as a slave, and the Sony VISTA OS disk is apparently unreadable.
The solutions here are not satisfactory for an uninformed user.
If the Sony hard disk is fully usable, but the Sony disk set is not, and the eMachines disk set is not, you still need that second drive setup after all files are removed. VISTA needs to be able to recognize it and use it... difficult to do without discs on a Sony VISTA machine.

 

[Rick]

raybay, you are out of touch. Could you please re-read the thread before responding again. Everything in your reply above is incorrect because it does not apply to this situation.

In summary, lpete301 has three computers. A Sony (XP, works but full), an Emachines (Unknown OS, broken) and a brand new HP (Vista, works). lpete301 has taken the hard drive out of the Emachines and put into the Sony. It shows up in My Computer as two partitions. lpete301 wants to merge those partitions together. lpete301 also wants to restore his Sony to its original factory state, because it is full of junk. The HP, for all intents and purposes, plays no role here.

If you just need the partion (s) removed, Acronis for $9.95 will do it... as will Kill Disk... www.killdisk.com fix you up.

In My Computer I can see the emach listed as drive E and F. I would like these two to become one

However, the user needs an OS to fully bring the eMachines drive to use. It should still be formatted and setup as the slave drive, and he or she does not have a Windows OS to do that. That eMachines drive must be setup properly to be used as a slave, and the Sony VISTA OS disk is apparently unreadable.

"The sony is set up as the master and the emach. is set up as the slave [with Windows XP]..." "...The Sony has been good to us. We have had it since 2002 with no issues other than it is running out of space and is filled with kid junk."

VISTA needs to be able to recognize it and use it... difficult to do without discs on a Sony VISTA machine.

"My new computer (a HP) is running Vista, but it has nothing to do with the Sony that has the old emach hdd in it for storage..." "...I am not running Vista on the computer that I am dealing with."

 

[Samstoned]

I'm back and gotta tell you

Zenosincks is correct we have given you the information more than once to fix the problem
I see you ignoring this and repeating the same question
I'm gone will not deal with someone who does this

 

[Rick]

I see you ignoring this and repeating the same question
I'm gone will not deal with someone who does this

This guy is a dentist, not a computer tech. Your last reply is adds nothing to this thread and only creates animosity.

Please be patient or leave the thread - but don't make an issue out of it run someone down because they are having difficulty understanding everyone's messy, written instructions. That's really unfair of you.

 

[Matthew DeCarlo]

Haha, yeah really, this thread has been nothing but a pile of confusion. I wouldn't be able to follow this either.

 

[lpete301]

I am a Dental Assistant, not a dentist. And I finally got it figured out. I took care of the hard drives by deleting the partitions and got lucky that my restore disks were good. They did have to be polished though. I am finished with the xp updates that I needed, since my original software was running before SP2.


I am not completely computer illiterate, and was able to find the KB download that I needed to be able to network my two computers. And I set up a print server so that both could be able to use my good printer.

I appreciate the help that I did get, but I noticed that some of you guys are quick to judge and dont read everything completely.

I felt that I was very clear as to what type of OS's I am using and what I was doing with the dead comps hdd. But there was still a ton of confusion.

Thank you to all who did help.

Linda...PS I am not a guy!

 

[the_GIMP]

sorry wrong forum cant delete so ill jus type this