..........so when choosing where to put programmes, photos etc, how do I choose which one to use, and how would I tell it which one to put stuff into?

Each one has about 295GB free space, one seems to be unused so far.........

TIA, Alcazar

 

Most programs like to be in the C drive whilst you can always store your files, photos etc on the other drive..loads of space so no need to worry

 

lol, i always fit 2 hard drives, i keep a smaller one for windows, and use the larger second one for junk

 

OK, thanks.

I've already transferred over all the stuff from my old computer that I wanted, so how would I NOW get it out of the C drive into the other?

Alcazar

 

goto "my computer" and pick your second drive

 

I always partition the first into two and then install Windows on a smallish C:, all programs and photos and the larger d: and then use E: for ghost images.

 

Stick the pagefile on the non system drive. Should improve performance a little.

 

He asks how to move files between drives - how technically advanced is he ? how appropriate is an answer on where to put pagefile, particularly without instructions.......

 

FPMSL

 

To move page file

for XP

Move Page Files In Windows Xp - Video

For Vista

Move and Optimize Windows Vista’s Paging File — MAXIMUMpcguides

 

Is it really two drives or two partitions?

Surprised if you'd fit 2 x 300Gb when a single 600Gb drive would be cheaper....

Unless of course you're using RAID but then either striped or duplicated it would only appear as one drive to windoze.

My money is on a 600Gb drive partitioned into two.

Never really seen the point of this, why not just have one large C: partition, otherwise inevitably you'll end up running out of space on one of the partitions.

 

LOL, in answer to that, I'd say, "not very"

So..........next question, how do I know if I have two separate hard drives, or one large one split into two?

It was advertised as having "640GB hard drive".

When I open "Computer" I'm told that I have 2 hard drives, one called Acer C: which has 222Gb free of 295, and a little Windows flag on it, the other called Data D: with 295 of 295 free, and no flag.

Alcazar

 

As well as the AD which basically tells you it has one HDD Go into system from control panel and look at device manager, disk drives. There will be one listed, but that's how you know for sure.

Or you could right click computer then manage, disk management and look at the discs available in the bottom pane, this also shows how the partitions have been set.

 

Most likely one 640Gb drive partitioned into two.

To confirm go Control Panel -> System -> Select the Hardware Tab -> Device Manager

Then expand the section labelled Disk Drives. That will tell you what hard drives you have.

 

I suppose you've got warranty on it so can't simply open the case and look?

 

If it has warranty u cant simply open it, as you may break a warranty seal sticker, invalidating the warranty And no point really when you can tell what it has from within the OS.

 

Always make me laugh when I see warranty stickers on a desktop PC.....

So if you want to fit a TV card, wireless network adapter, or other peripheral, for which the PC is designed to accept as there are spare card slots inside, then you'd be invalidating you warranty? Don't think so

Must be hard for the manufacturers though as you can do alot of damage fiddling aaround inside if you don't know what you are doing

 

Yes you would be, unless you ring them first to confirm the change, which they don't usually have an issue with. Why do you think they put those stupid little stickers on for in the 1st place? Exactly for the reason you just mentioned, ppl add stuff, it goes wrong, they send it back, then the company says oh well the stickers have been ripped, can't help you sorry

 

OK, been through that, there IS one drive, 640GB, partitioned into two, with part of the first one hived off too.

Alcazar

 

Cool, with that, leave the pagefile as is, fixing the size (min and max set to the same) can help reduce fragmentation, but not the end of the world