Building a gaming rig! Need assistance

ezeht · 24 Apr 2011

Thinking now. I think I had same prob with my e: drive in w7 until I formatted it. Just I had previous read about it and knew what to do.. That is why I read so much stuff in these forums and say at msi, just to learn and see what probs others have and how they are fixed and maybe I can help others down the road or if I have probs pop up I might can help my self and is not totally new to me.

Or what pit just said might fix ya up. I formatted mine and solved it If I remember right.. I think it will auto give it a letter if you format it. As a fact I think I did quick format took less than a minute it was good to go.

ezeht · 24 Apr 2011

Maybe what I see as multi partition is w7 made that space because I think your c is ssd drive and to free up the space for it. A quick format should fix ya up tho.

Ha ha you would think this os said the best thing since butter would auto do that stuff or prompt ya. I think xp would fix it right away- I know macs fix it right away- plug a new drive into a mac it works right away..

mlevy · 25 Apr 2011

You've always needed to partition and format a new HDD, this is nothing new.

BarTmaN · 25 Apr 2011

Do I have to convert it to a Dynamic Disk first? There is no option to format.

ignatzatsonic · 25 Apr 2011

Avoid dynamic disks!

You cannot make more than 4 primary partitions.

To avoid dynamic disks, you may need to make an extended partition and then make a logical partition inside that extended partition.

Best thing you can do is post a picture of your Disk Management screen.

BarTmaN · 25 Apr 2011

Here is two screenshots of my disk management. Also, I do not want multiple partitions on my drive. I am just using it for storage.

ignatzatsonic · 25 Apr 2011

Confession: I have not been following this thread closely, so I'm not sure of your intentions.

Do you want RAID?

I'm not sure how you ended up with the System Reserved partition and C on different physical drives. Normally, they are on the same drive.

Since they are on separate drives, that may be why you cannot format the 931 GB partition? I assume you have right clicked it and tried to create a simple volume.

Dynamic drives are generally a major complication to be avoided in most situations. They are not easy to undo.

I'd prefer to see something like this:

Disk 0 contains System Reserved partition and C partition

Disk 1 contains only 1 partition--the entire 1 TB drive.

But it's best that you explain what you want and why (if you know) the System Reserved and C are on different drives.

BarTmaN · 25 Apr 2011

I'm not even sure what RAID is. I can go research it I guess. I want my 1TB drive for my music and videos and other stuff. My SSD is just for my OS, games, and programs.

No I have no tried creating a new simple volume. Should I try that then? I've never ran two internal hard drives before so some of this stuff is relatively new to me.

I have no idea how the System Reserved and C got onto different drives.

I could always just wipe out my SSD and reformat the OS onto it, since I don't really mind as I won't be losing anything because I barely even have anything as of now.

ezeht · 25 Apr 2011

Did you try to right click on the unallocated space [not the reserve]. You should get a format option click it and just click quick format

I think windows will have that 100mbs for system stuff but is not considered as multi partitions- Sorry it was first thing that pooped into my mind before.

Its just your ssd is small and or maybe is just normal for ssd and w7 and being you have a second drive it put the reserve on the larger drive. which is good for you and free up space on the ssd.

Try and right click that unallocated space see what happens- you should be able to format it- click quick format- should take 2 minutes or so and its done and will give it letter e: or should and good to go.

Not all of my drives show full space as usable. it is normal for windows to reserve some for its use. If right click and it lets ya format- after done reboot your system. It for sure should be showing up and as e: then and or being if you only have those 2 drives on the system. Main drive with os is c storage will be e.

ignatzatsonic · 25 Apr 2011

BarTmaN said:

I'm not even sure what RAID is. I can go research it I guess. I want my 1TB drive for my music and videos and other stuff. My SSD is just for my OS, games, and programs.

No I have no tried creating a new simple volume. Should I try that then? I've never ran two internal hard drives before so some of this stuff is relatively new to me.

I have no idea how the System Reserved and C got onto different drives.

I could always just wipe out my SSD and reformat the OS onto it, since I don't really mind as I won't be losing anything because I barely even have anything as of now.

I think your last sentence is your best move.

Disconnect the 1 TB drive before you begin.

I'd do things in this order:

1: set your PC BIOS to boot from the DVD drive first.
2: insert your Windows installation disc in the DVD drive.
3: shut down
4: disconnect the 1 TB drive completely
5: restart. The PC should boot from the installation disc
6: Continue with Windows install as you did before.
7: When Windows is back up and running on the single drive, reconnect the 1 TB and reformat it, wiping out the 2 partitions that are now on it.

You don't need RAID. Forget about it.