Start>Computer Display Customizing Vista Discuss Start>Computer Display in the Windows Vista forums; I'm using 64-bit Vista Home Premium. I want to use an USB external drive. When I plug it in and go to 'Start>Computer', it shows Devices ...

[guns90]

I'm using 64-bit Vista Home Premium. I want to use an USB external drive. When I plug it in and go to 'Start>Computer', it shows Devices with Removeable Storage (3) and physically shows three devices; Drive D: (my master DVD drive), Drive E: (my slave DVD drive), and Drive F (which simply says 'Removeable Drive). However, when I right click on drive F, and then cklick on Poperties>Hardware, it lists both of my DVD drives, my printer, my external drive, and both of my hard drives.

When I click on Start>Computer....Can I make the system display all devices individually so that I can simply click on each one? Thanks

[felix8406]

Is the drive formatted, and if not, or if you don't know, is there data in it? If you need to format it and has data in it, copy the data to the hard drive before proceeding to options 1 or 2.

1. Right-click your eternal drive > Select Fortmat, NTFS and Quick format, then click Start.

If that doesn't work:

2. Click the Start button > Right-click "Computer" > Select Manage > Under Storage click Disk Management > Right-click your drive and select Format > Perform quick format

[guns90]

Hello Felix. The drive was formatted in linux. A program called gparted suppossedly removed all partitions.

I can't do step 1 because I cannot visibly see the external drive.

When I do step 2 and get to the computer management window, the window is divided into three sections; (Left) a Computer Management (local) legend, (Middle) (which is divided into an upper and lower section) Uppersection has Volume, Layout, Type,etc. and lists 5 simple basic types, but none are the size of my external drive, and a Lower section which lists Disks 0, 1, 2, 3, and both CD/DVD drives; however, if I right-click on anything dealing with the external drive, I get either a small window with options for 'properties or help' or another window for 'New simple volume, properties or Help'. The (right) section is an 'Actions' legend. There is no format option in any of these windows.

[felix8406]

Not being able to see what you are seeing, I don't want to provide you with the wrong solution, so if you are not 100% sure, do not proceed with these instructions. It appears your external hard drive is partition into two or more partitions, but not with Windows NTFs format. You’ll need to delete the partitions and reformat using Windows.

1. Open Computer > Rename all your main hard drives, if you have more than one (e.g. Drive C name it Main Drive or any other name you want). This will make it much easier to identify them when going into Disk Management.

2. Disconnect your external hard drive, go into Disk Management: Click the Start button > Right-click "Computer" > Select Manage > Under Storage click Disk Management, and identify every hard drive that shows. Close disk management.

3. Connect the external hard drive, go to Disk Management again. Note what has been added, this will be your external hard drive, it might have been portioned in two or more partition.

4. Remember what I mentioned previously, if you are not sure; do not proceed with these steps. But if you are sure you are seeing the external hard drive, right-click each of its partition (one at a time) and select Delete Volume. As you delete them, they’ll merge into each other.

5. Once you have deleted them, right click the drive again and select create New Simple Volume. I suggest you click next until you get to the Format Partition Windows. Once in this window, select Perform a quick format, click next and finish. Make sure you let the process complete.

6. Let us know how it goes.

By the way, Vista Home premium has a Snipping tool. Start > program > Accessories > Snipping tool. Use it to take a snip of your Disk Management window and post it here so we can see what you have and hopefully provide you with a better answer.

[guns90]

I just realized something that might be important. When I click on Computer, it is only showing one hard drive. I have two hard drives on this computer and both of them are working fine. My primary (master) SATA drive is running 64-bit VISTA. My secondary (slave) SATA drive is running 64-bit Ubuntu Linux. FYI, I use a program called GRUB at boot-up to choose my desired OS. Shouldn't VISTA show all components?

I told you before that I was computer stupid. More accurately, I'm program stupid. I understand the components of a computer, but I am really not famliar at all with Windows. Sorry for all the trouble, but I appreciate the help.

And by the way, I know that PrtScn would give a 'screenshot' in XP. Did they take that out of VISTA, or am I maybe having problems because I'm using 64 bit version?

[felix8406]

PrintScrn works with Vista. The snipping application is a tool previously designed for notebook PCs and now available in Vista, except Home Basic edition.

As far as Vista not showing the Ubuntu hard drive, that's a good thing, you wouldn't want to erase a hard drive by mistake. I don't thing you have issues with Vista; it's doing what is supposed to do. The fact that you used a Linux based OS to format the ext hard drive, causes Vista to not recognize it.

Did you try the steps I mentioned and were you able to format it?

[Snuffy]

http://www.pro-networks.org/forum/about78184.html

how to: dual-boot windows vista and linux

[guns90]

Felix, I really appreciate you hanging in there. I finally got it. There were no partitions in it. (The gparted program that I used in linux took care of them.) I just have to spend more time learning a new OS.

In all honesty, I really don't like Windows. In the past I had used 95, 97, 2000, and ME. When XP came out I just got tired of getting viruses and spending a fortune on 'anti-whatever-ware' to keep Windows running. I switched over to linux and have made that my OS of choice. I'm trying the VISTA route now because my children prefer it and it is supposed to be more secure than XP. We'll see.

I promise I'll try and understand this OS better. Thanks again. You're great!

[guns90]

Snuffy, thanks for the info. I have VISTA and Ubuntu dual booted on separate hard drives and everything is working fine like that. My problem is my ignorance of VISTA. I'll get past that though.....someday.

[felix8406]

Originally Posted by guns90

Felix, I really appreciate you hanging in there. I finally got it. There were no partitions in it. (The gparted program that I used in linux took care of them.) I'm trying the VISTA route now because my children prefer it and it is supposed to be more secure than XP. We'll see.
I promise I'll try and understand this OS better. Thanks again. You're great!

I'm really not too familiar with Linux, so I can't say much about it. I do understand that some issues with Vista and Windows in general, can be troublesome. Anyway, I'm glad you took care of your issue and you are very welcome. Just let us know how we can be of service again.

But hang around here and let us know how things are going and perhaps share some tips.