External 200 gb WD setup

[freptide]

Can I just install in external housing and partition and format with WD tools on floppy or do I need to install in a system to do this? Im just wondering if my computer will see all 200GB. Whats the best way to do it? Thanks

[glc]

No, the WD floppy won't be able to see it, it has no USB drivers. It has to be partitioned and formatted in Windows disk management. Win2K SP4 or XP SP1 required. I know the Socket 478 Intel D850 boards can see drives over 137gb, I'm not sure about the Socket 423's. I also don't know about the A7M266.

[freptide]

So I just put it into the External case straight out of the box? WOuld windows still see it? I have SP1 WIndows XP PRo.

[Cricket]

Yes, Windows Disk Management will see the external hard drive. You just have to partition and format it so Windows can start to use it. I started using external housings last year and really like the convenience and portability. I had a bunch of old 5400 RPM HDDs lying around (didn't want to install them into any of my computers) and now use these for backing up my files. Just put a 80GB HDD into a external housing for my digital pics. Really should get something bigger later...digital pics sure take up a lot of space .

Cricket

[freptide]

Cool, so I dont have to use the western digital floppy disk? Anyways Ill give it a shot and if I need help youll know! I got it for a little over 100 bucks with shipping (200 GB) sweet! I only use WD hard drives. Ive never had a problem with them. This one also has the 8mb cache. Im going to trade out my 40gb thats in the housing i have now. I guess I could get another but im cheap. I like the kingwins w/fan that are stackable. Thanks guys!

[old dog 2]

Originally Posted by Cricket Yes, Windows Disk Management will see the external hard drive. Cricket

Do I understand you right? If I put a new HD in a external case and plug it in to the usb port windows (XP or 2K) will see it. Then all I need to do is use the format command to format it?

[Thebranded]

expanding on glc and crickets comments.

access Windows Disk Management via control panel, admin tools, computer tools, and then click on disk management under storage.

make sure hte extenal HDD is pluged in before this.

external HDD should be listed as unallocated space, right click and select partition, follow the prompts and your done.

thats how i do it.

btw you dont have to use any format command.

[freptide]

I got it to work the long way. I chose extended part. at the beginning. It the n failed format. Put it in my Amd and installed xp then put it back into enclosure and chose Primary partition. This time I had a fan blasting air on it since the Bytecc gets hot. The windows disk management makes it easy to partition. I have exactly 186.31 GB. I wonder what they give you for a 160 GB? Its nice and quiet. I only use Western Digital. I had an IBM drive that was getting loud and eventually failed awhile back. Btw I did use the format option in Admin tools. How else can it set up for NTFS? ALso when I tried to install on my AMD i could only see 136 or less. My intel 850 did see the 186 GB like Glc said. Im still using SP1 since they tend to load more junk with each Sevice pack. The 200GB WD w/ 8mb cache is a great drive!!

[old dog 2]

You people are the greatest! I printed out your instructions and today I did a 200g external HD. Everything went like you said.