Solved New Win 7 Laptop setup doesn't "See" 2nd Internal HD

[FirstShirt]

I just started from scratch on a Toshiba Satellite P875-S7201 laptop. It has two internal Hard Drive Ports, one that I used with a SanDisk SSD for installing the Windows 7 Ultimate Op system. The other has a WD Internal 1TB Drive sold as compatible with Win 8, 7, Vista, or XP. I have confirmed the driver is installed.

Many software applications can see this Hard Drive, including parts of Win 7,but when I look for it in the Windows 7 Computer Directory so I could write to it, it is not there. My intention was to place the Win 7 Operating System on the SSD and install the applications, Documents, Music, and other libraries to the additional Hard Disk.

 

[Layback Bear]

From post #1

Windows 7 Extreme Op system

Never heard of this. What is it?

Jack

 

[FirstShirt]

Sorry, I meant Ultimate...

 

[Layback Bear]

Please complete this tutorial by Golden so we can have a look.

Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image - Windows 7 Help Forums

Jack

 

[FirstShirt]

This may shed some light on my problem. Disk 0 is the SSD, Disk 1 is the #2 internal 1TB Drive.

 

[FirstShirt]

Here is Disk Management shot . . .

 

[FirstShirt]

More Info

 

[Layback Bear]

Give this tutorial by Brink a good slow read.

Convert a Dynamic Disk to a Basic Disk - Windows 7 Help Forums

Jack

 

[FirstShirt]

Wilco. And, thanks for your assistance.

 

[FirstShirt]

By the way, this is a brand new disk and I have not yet formatted it. Might that be the problem?

 

[FirstShirt]

Alright, shall we get started? Let me tell you what I am thinking of doing and let you advise as needed.

1. I won't backup anything on the target drive because it is a new drive.

2. I will use Option Two (Disk Management) to convert the disk from Dynamic to Basic following the instructions on the link you kindly provided.

Note: After this is complete what is your advice regarding Partitioning the Drive? My plan is to keep as much free space on the SSD Boot Drive that has the Win 7 Op system on it by installing the programs on the 2nd internal drive. Also, various "Libraries." too. Photos, Videos, Documents, etc. Do you think that is a good idea?

 

[Layback Bear]

Format the hard drive to Basic NTSF and pick a partition letter of your choice. Except A,B,C, or D.
Movies, music, large documents ect. on the hard drive

I would keep programs on disk '0', 'C' partition along with Windows 7.
Some gamer's put their games on the hard drive because some are large.

What kind of programs are you talking about?

Jack

 

[FirstShirt]

Since the C: (SSD) is only 122GB (small in today's world) I had wanted to install to the much larger 1TB internal all of the installed programs that would normally be in the C:/Program Files & C:/Program Files(x86) directories. Also all the space consuming crap like Doc's, Music, Movies, (normal Library stuff).

Is there any way to educate Win 7 that those directories on the other drive are the "New" directories for those things?

 

[Barman58]

Windows is hardwired to look for program files on the system drive in the Program Files and / or Program Files (x86) folders. Some programs will allow you to change the install folder during installation, and still work many will not (due to their designed use of the registry and need to do this from the system drive).

Unfortunately there is also a lot of data that must be located on the System Drive eg the hidden ProgramData and Appdata folders I say must be but there are methods to achieve this but they tend to be unstable so I do not recommend them - If you feel you need to do this I'm sure we can find one of our members with experience of this to guide you

There is another option for some programs PortableApps.com - Portable software for USB, portable, and cloud drives which produce special versions of some common programs and utilities which will allow you to run them from anywhere and without the use of the registry.

The placement of the default data folders is a lot easier, if you right click one of these special folders eg. Documents you should see a Location Tab on the properties, this can be used to move the location of the folder to another drive, and will even move the contents for you. I have used this technique for many years without problems, I created a folder structure on my data drive with a folder for each of the personal folders and then used the location option to move them all over, Even folders like Desktop are moveable if you are someone that tends to dump stuff on the desktop, (only temporarily of course )

Although this may not solve all of your issues It should make things easier for you .

To give an Idea of how much space this can move off your system drive I've just checked the "My Stuff" Folder structure on my data drive, that contains my relocated personal folders and some other business data etc and it is currently 197 GB+

 

[essenbe]

FirstShirt, this is a quick video of what Barman58 is talking about. It was done on Windows 10, but is exactly the same on Windows 7.

 

[Layback Bear]

As you can see FirstShirt, their is many methods one can choose if needed to move things.

***I would recommend making a backup or clone of your 'C' partition to a external drive before moving things. Just in case.

I personally don't move things because I have no need to. My ssd's are big enough to handle everything.

If you read and understand Barman58 post #14 and watch and understand essenbe video post #15 you should do just fine.

Let us know how things go for you.

Jack

 

[FirstShirt]

My friends, again let me say, "Thank you." You have assisted me by jogging my tired old memory on so many aspects of bringing my project together with this laptop project! I can only hope I was as good a student as you people are Instructors and Mentors.

I spent an appreciable portion of my life in the US Army, much of it as an Instructor in various Army Service Schools. Teaching someone a complex subject, like Microsoft Operating Systems, can be daunting, to say the least. Yet you folks seem to have the Gift. Not to mention you do it all without benefit of course curriculum of classroom structure. You are to be commended for this much needed public service.

I shall mark this case "Solved."

 

[essenbe]

I'm glad we were able to help. Thanks for the kind words, and thanks for your service.

 

[Layback Bear]

Most everything we do on this forum is learn and help other.

Your thank you, brings a little joy to my day.

Jack