I have just purchased a new high capacity hard drive that I wish to install in my PC. I think this question has been asked before but all seem to want to copy their existing drive onto the new drive. My request is simple. I just want to start brand new fresh and clean. Dont want to transfer anything. I think I may have hidden virii or trojans in my old drive that I just want to be shed of. My question is...how do I ensure that when I install the new drive it will be designated as c: I also have a d: drive that I use for music and data storage. Should I unplug the d drive while installing the new drive? I intend to install Vista Ultimate on the new drive. Also, microsoft authenticate this new installation of Vista given that it is on a brand new drive? I assume microsoft does some hardware checking to ensure any reinstallation is on the same and not a completely different computer. Any help (not in geek speak) would be most welcome. THANK YOU ALL!!
Just unplug the the old drive. Put in the new one. Make sure it is in master mode.
It should be in the manual that came with the drive.
Turn the computer on. It will say ne oprating found. Put in the vista disc and go.
You will be taken to a screen on where you want to put it. It will detect both drives.
Select c. Really to be on the safe side I would pull your d drive then put it back in when done. It is up to you.
Hope I was some help to you.
Thanks Jimmy
Forgot to mention, the new drive is SATA so I understand no jumper settings are necessary? At least thats what they told me at the store. And will my new installation of Vista be authenticated? Same CD I used for initial install on the old c: drive Im replacing.
As long as it is the copy you had in. The one that comes with the computer is called oem you can only use it on that computer. Retail you can use on any computer.
The only time you can not use oem is when you change the motherboard.
You are just doing a drive so no problems.
Thanks Jimmy, worked like a charm. One more question. Ive taken my original old drive out of the c: drive position and reinstalled it in the D: drive position. What I want to do is erase all the data, operating system programs off it and wipe it clean. I understand there are a number of pgms that do that but I heard that HDDerase is part of every hard drive but just turned off in bios. I would like to use it or any other erase program but am worried if the program will ask which drive I want erased first or just erase what ever drives it sees connected. Please advise. Thanks
You can format it useing windows itself. Just right your d drive click the propties and the box comes out choose the tools tab choose format. It might ask if you want quick of full. Choose full it may take a while depending on how big your drive is.
Glad it worked ok. Also glad to be of help to you.
