Installed Vista need data drive back!

Keyser Soze · 13 Jan 2009 at 13:33

I decided to go back to Vista x64 from XP.

I have 2 hard drives the C:Windows drive and one for data previously called F:

I unplugged the F: drive when I installed Vista to stop myself deleting all my stuff by mistake.

I have now plugged it back in and it displays in Device manager.

My question is how can I get it back as my F: Drive without formatting.

I have 300gb+ on there that I can't afford to lose.

Thanks

eXor · 13 Jan 2009 at 13:41

Take ownership of the drive.

Keyser Soze · 13 Jan 2009 at 13:49

Thanks but there is no owner/security section on properties.

I can only guess I have to enable the drive somehow in drive management as it doesn't seem to be recognised.

Andre · 13 Jan 2009 at 14:01

Lat me guess, Vista HP and XP Pro?

If so, the problem is Vista HP does not recognise dynamic discs - see This article by microsoft

You will have to go back to XP and backup all the data, then re-format as a basic disc

NathanE · 13 Jan 2009 at 14:02

Nightmare situation but why was it a dynamic disk in the first place :confused:

Keyser Soze · 13 Jan 2009 at 14:06

Andre said:
Lat me guess, Vista HP and XP Pro?

Yes and yes,

don't know why it was dynamic (in fact don't know the difference)

I originally added the second disk when Vista was installed.

Then went back to XP pro.

Is there definately no other way?

*cue swearing*

bledd · 13 Jan 2009 at 14:16

oh shush

vista didn't 'create' this problem

platypus · 13 Jan 2009 at 14:30

Does this help at all?

Backing up and formatting isn't the only solution. Try mine first.

Keyser Soze · 13 Jan 2009 at 14:43

Trying it now.

Keyser Soze · 13 Jan 2009 at 14:51

WOOHOO!!!

Worked perfectly, thanks platypus you saved me a day, (and whatever I would have broken in anger)

platypus · 13 Jan 2009 at 16:22

Glad to hear it worked

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