2nd Harddrive problems

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wizzierdgirl

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Jul 4, 2013
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i have a second harddrive plugged in, its running and the status is healthy, but it wont show up on my computer.
i went into the computer management window, and went to the storage management to format the drive.. but it wont let me.
it gives me the error: "windows cannot format the system partition on this disk"

the drive is also labeled as "system reserved"

right clicking the drive gives me the only following options:
change drive letter and paths
format
shrink volume
delete volume
properties
help

just need this drive to be empty and used for data, like music, videos, etc.
please helppp.
 
Solution
RealBeast
You should first be sure that there is another active boot drive, to be 100% sure you can just shutdown, unplug that drive and startup -- as long as it starts up okay you can do whatever you want to the second drive.

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wizzierdgirl

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Jul 4, 2013
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just tried the "delete volume" option and it gives me another error: " windows cannot delete the active system partition on this disk"

:??:
 
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RealBeast

RealBeast

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Sep 13, 2010
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I would use diskpart. Open an elevated command prompt window (right click command prompt and run as admin).

Then type:
diskpart
list disk
select disk n (where n is the problem drive -- be very careful to make the correct choice)
clean
create partition primary

HERE is a guide to diskpart syntax.
 
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G

Guest

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its a "system reserve", so you cant format it...What you try to do is from your original windows, install new windows on that second drive with diferrent drive letter, after you installed . turn off your pc and turn on again using your original windows. there in disc management, you can see your second drive. maybe you can format that drive. just try it or try others suggestions.
 
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wizzierdgirl

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Jul 4, 2013
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tried that and gives me:
"virtual disk service error:
clean is not allowed on the disk containing the current boot, system, pagefile, crashdump, or hibernation volume"

 
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RealBeast

RealBeast

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Sep 13, 2010
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You should be able to boot from a Windows install disk, run the command prompt from there, and use diskpart to clean the drive.

After the select disk # then use
list partition
select partition n (the partition you are trying to delete)
inactive

This will set the drive status from active to inactive and allow operations. I always do it using an installer disk, but it may also work from just an elevated command prompt in your regular boot. Once inactive, all the disk management operations should work on it.
 
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wizzierdgirl

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Jul 4, 2013
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okay so since its not showing up on my computer then that means im not booting from it in any way right? which means i wont lose windows or drivers or anything like that?
 
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RealBeast

RealBeast

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Sep 13, 2010
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You should first be sure that there is another active boot drive, to be 100% sure you can just shutdown, unplug that drive and startup -- as long as it starts up okay you can do whatever you want to the second drive.

 
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