Windows Isn't Seeing Hard Drive

[kevinturcotte]

I have Vista installed on my 500 GB drive. I just formatted my 160 GB drive, and the BIOS sees it, as does the Device Manager, but I can't actually access it under My Computer. Any ideas?

[Doug Brott]

That seems odd .. Are you sure it is formatted with the right file system? Since you just formatted it, maybe try again?

Can you go to the drive at all (even if you can't see the file system?)

[kevinturcotte]

I can't access the drive at all. I formatted it NTFS. I could reformat it, but it's a nightmare lol I'm just not understanding why the Device Manager can see it, but it still can't be accessed or used.
I downloaded Seagate's SeaTools for Hard drives, and that sees it as well.

[CoriBright]

Right click on My Computer select Manage. Click on Disk Management. If it's on the right hand side, give it a drive letter.

[kevinturcotte]

It doesn't show up in the upper portion, though it does show up as Disk 0 in the lower portion.

[STEVEN-H]

It doesn't show up in the upper portion, though it does show up as Disk 0 in the lower portion.

Right click your drive 0 mark as active.

[kevinturcotte]

That isn't selectable.

[CoriBright]

When you click on it in the lower portion, what does it say about it?

[markrubi]

It appears the drive does not have an active partition

Try this

http://support.trittontechnologies.com/tutorials/format-hdd.swf

[kevinturcotte]

I was clicking on the left hand box that actually said Disc 0, and wasn't getting anything. Then I clicked on the right hand part, and it allowed me to make it active, and is formatting it now.
I originally formatted it with Darik's Boot N Nuke, which is how I ALWAYS format my drives. After formatting, I've just always booted into Windows and it saw the drive and took care everything on it's own. Strange that it didn't do it this time.
It's at 30% now. I'll repost when it finishes.

[markrubi]

I was clicking on the left hand box that actually said Disc 0, and wasn't getting anything. Then I clicked on the right hand part, and it allowed me to make it active, and is formatting it now.
I originally formatted it with Darik's Boot N Nuke, which is how I ALWAYS format my drives. After formatting, I've just always booted into Windows and it saw the drive and took care everything on it's own. Strange that it didn't do it this time.
It's at 30% now. I'll repost when it finishes.

Yep that SWF file shows you where to click. Did you watch it or just figure it out? You will be in bidness soon.

[kevinturcotte]

I had it going before I watched the video. And that did it! Thanks for the help!!!