programs and updates install to external hard drive instead of internal sata

fjargo

New Member
I am having a problem with unwanted installations to external hard drive when it seems i have no control over where program or microsoft updates install. actually the worst problem was when windows live updates and installations went to external. i did not discover this until recently and this explained why i have had to reinstall vista several times. i can always unplug the external if necessary but i would rather not. i asked western digital why this happens and they told me that since my internal hard drive is smaller than external that vista seems to not have solved this installation glitch yet. i prefer to use my external as storage for files and backups etc. does anyone know how to make my system recognize main drive as the smaller one. i hope this is clear enough to merit an answer. i have already suffered through a 3 day phone help with tech finally telling me to reinstall vista, which i did and it solved several other problems but not the int/ext installation issues.
thank you
fran
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    intel celeron d 3.46 ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus P5gc-mx
    Memory
    4.0 gb
    Hard Drives
    internal 80 gb sata
    external wd 160 gb
    Internet Speed
    dsl 100mbs
I would recommend backing up your data to the external drive. Shutting down. Unplugging the external drive. Reinstalling Vista on a clean setup. Boot up with the DVD and remove the partitions from your internal drive. Shutting down. Turn on and install starting fresh.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    pair of Intel E5430 quad core 2.66 GHz Xeons
    Motherboard
    Supermicro X7DWA-N server board
    Memory
    16GB DDR667
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA 8800 GTS 640 MB video card
    Hard Drives
    SAS RAID
Thank you
i hope i am using this forum correctly. i am new. anyway i had followed that procedure the last time i reinstalled, so maybe i will wait and see what happens in the future. Western Digital tech had told me it would continue to be a problem but maybe he was wrong. or not aware of vista improvements. thanks again for the very speedy reply.
fran
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    intel celeron d 3.46 ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus P5gc-mx
    Memory
    4.0 gb
    Hard Drives
    internal 80 gb sata
    external wd 160 gb
    Internet Speed
    dsl 100mbs
Back
Top