System Reserved HD?

Well, i threw the old install in a usb 2.0 hard drive enclosure should I try attaching it via SATA directly to the motherboard?? Tonight, I don't have time to do any more than I have, but maybe Sunday.

Yeah the USB converter is not working correctly which does happen. Have you tried this converter on another HD successfully before? Are you using USB 2.0?

You can plug it in via SATA to use as a storage drive, copy out the files, boot the old install, or when ready wipe the old HD to repatition it to use for storage. Wiping it and fresh formatting may get the USB working, too. If not we'll help you get it working.

Well, I'd like to get some data off the old hard drive first before totally formatting it

Then I'd slave it via SATA or boot it to copy out the data. Is this a desktop with another SATA port?

Yes, its a desktop...but I tried to copy data last week and for some reason it wouldnt let me....should I have it as a master or slave on the drive pins?

If it's SATA there's no master/slave just plug it into next available port.

If it's IDE set it as slave with HD as master, is best, unless there's another port for a ribbon cable.

It's SATA...I'll try it again Sunday and see what happens...

keep us posted