Vista - After creating new VHD, what do I do with PRECOMPACT D: Drive?

I wanted to introduce a common secondary harddrive for my guest machine.
Using VPC2007 Virtual Disk Wizard, I created a new drive as a dynamically
expanding disk, giving it a size limit of 1000 MB.

Next, I updated the Settings for the .VMC by adding the path to this new
..VHD for "Hard Disk 2" and started the guest VM.

Finally, after booting the Guest machine, I explore through My Computer and
I see the hoped for additional drive as the D: drive on the Guest system.
It's name is PRECOMPACT and it has 3 readonly files on it including
filler.txt and precompact.exe.

As it is now, I cannot put any data on this drive. Clearly something needs
to be done but I am not sure what. I have tried running the precompact.exe by
doubleclicking on it but that seems to only prepare the drive C for
compaction (nothing for drive D).

What should I do to utilize this new drive on the guest virtual machine?
Thanks.

On Thu, 9 Oct 2008 09:06:00 -0700, jjamjatra
<jjamjatra@xxxxxx> wrote:
Hmm, it' should like you're looking at the CD ROM drive with the
precompactor ISO mounted.

Be default, D: is assigned to the CD-ROM drive.
Before you can use a new hard drive, you need to go into Computer
Management and prepare it, i.e. partition, format and assign a drive
letter to it.

--
Cheers,
Steve Jain, Virtual Machine MVP
http://vpc.essjae.com/

>Finally, after booting the Guest machine, I explore through My Computer andThat's not your new drive, that's your CD drive and you apparently
have the Precompactor CD ISO attached to it.
You haven't partitioned the hard drive yet, that's what the problem
is. You don't say what OS you're using, but if it's XP or later, Go
to the Start Menu -> Contol Panel (or Settings if it's Vista) ->
Administrative Tools -> Computer Management -> Disk Management, and
you should then see the new drive on the bottom, right click on it,
and select something that says create partition (I don't have a blank
disk to see what it actually says.) After you create the partition,
you'll have to format, which is another menu item when you right click
on the drive.

--
Bob Comer



On Thu, 9 Oct 2008 09:06:00 -0700, jjamjatra
<jjamjatra@xxxxxx> wrote:

Thanks guys...that was it exactly. No it all makes sense to me.

You're welcome, glad you got it going!

--
Bob Comer


On Thu, 9 Oct 2008 12:48:32 -0700, jjamjatra
<jjamjatra@xxxxxx> wrote: