Hardware problem: Hard disk not being detected

HeadBanger

Hello

I just bought a new Western Digital 250 GB SATA hard drive to complement my meager 20gb IDE hard drive. The problem is, BIOS detects it. I can see it in the Device Manager under the Disk Drives. But 'My Computer' does not show it. Here is what my bios looks like:

IDE Channel 1 Master - 20 gb hard disk ( main HD )
IDE Channel 1 Slave
IDE Channel 1 Master - CD/CVDW
IDE Channel 1 Slave
IDE Channel 1 Master
IDE Channel 1 Master - WD 250 gb Hard disk.

What should i do to have my HD detected by 'My Computer' ?

If you guys need more info or screen shots or anything, i will provide them quickly.

Whappo

Have you partitoned and formatted the drive? Have you assigned a drive letter?

HeadBanger

I thought that happens automatically once the drive is connected. No?

Also, do i HAVE to partition the drive? This is supposed to be my secondary storage device. i want it as a whole 1 250 drive. Plus, when i bought my disk, all i got was JUST the disk. no cds or anything with it. I assumed it is plug and play.

Where do i assign it a drive letter?

devilsclaw

some drives come preformated but not all. so it is possible you need to format it..

best way to do this is
RIGHT click on My Computer
Click Manage
Goto Disk Management
FIND THE CORRECT DRIVE
see if it has a partition is it does not
Right click and create a partition and then format it.
if it does have a partition then right click on it and change the drive letter

HeadBanger

Thanks devilsclaw. It is formatting right now and a letter has been assigned to it

Thanks again.