static discharge

I have installed previously mentioned HD successfully.
Is it desirable to partition this drive, before storing information? This seems to be a fairly simple task in Windows 7 and would make data acquisition faster.

I am deciding whether to renew my subscription to Norton Internet Security. This software seems to be quite advanced, but is designed for business where many $$$ are at stake. Perhaps Win 7 virus protection would suffice. Also Avantis has been recommended by tech sales people I know. Any suggestions?
Thank you.

Yes, you have to format the hard drive before you can store files on it. Right click on Computer and select Manage, then scroll down to disk management. Right click on the drive you want to format, making absolutely sure you are formatting the correct drive.

I myself don't recommend anything by Symantec/Norton. I use Avast

I agree. Symantec (Norton) used to make a great product with Norton Utilities but anymore, well... They ain't what they used to be. I too use Avast as an AV and other stuff for spyware/malware purposes.

Where I moved too the static discharge is horrible. I have to have a steel knife by my desktop and touch it, and you can literally see the spark, each and everytime, when I come from another area of the place. Never experienced this ever as where I live now. I fried a Case Fan, shorted out my PSU roughly twice, it's brand new, and took out one partition for almost two weeks before it came back. All that happened before I had the steel knife, which discharges all the electricity out of me with one touch. There is carpet in the place, that is not from us, and I think it's cheap, electric attraction carpet. Installing new hardware, Mobo, CPU etc I swear I'd order a Intel White Jump suit.

Eww. Static and electronics don't go well together. Hopefully your outlets are grounded okay.