Desk top can not see laptop hardrive information

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Desk top can not see laptop hardrive information

Wendy_Potts

7:31 am on Aug 27, 2007 (gmt 0)

I am going to reload my laptop's original set-up disk because my windows XP Home program is corrupt. I would like to transfer my files to my desk top (Windows XP Home OS) using an external hard drive case that connects via USB. The desk top can only see the information I have On the laptops hard drive partition. The desk top does not see the laptop's main partition (containing all of my files and the windows program). I have already right clicked the drive and told it to share. Is there security issues I need to address with the laptop's ability to allow other computers to see the information? I have limmited access to the hard drive via the laptop (because of the windows issues) but I still can manipulate some of the settings.

bill

9:39 am on Aug 27, 2007 (gmt 0)

Welcome to WebmasterWorld Wendy_Potts.

Do you happen to have the Windows Firewall active on the laptop and/or desktop? I would suggest that you turn that off while you're attempting to network these machines.

Do both machines belong to the same workgroup? How are you connecting the machines? Do you have a router or switch?

Wendy_Potts

7:12 pm on Aug 27, 2007 (gmt 0)

Thanks for the suggestion Bill but, yes I did turn the firewall off. Also I am not networking the two machines. I removed the laptop hard drive, placed it into an external case and connected it to my desk top via USB.

bill

1:24 am on Aug 28, 2007 (gmt 0)

Is the drive partitioned? Could you move the data to the visible part of the drive and transfer it that way?

How is the drive formatted? NTFS? FAT?

Wendy_Potts

6:16 am on Aug 28, 2007 (gmt 0)

Both drives are formatted NTSF. I can see the "D" drive information on my lap top hard drive when I connect it to my desk top. I can not see the "C" drive or main area of my laptop hard drive. My laptop does not function well enough to be able to handle moving files at all. Thus the removal of my laptop hard drive and connecting it to my desk top. I need to know if my laptop hard drive has a security toggle that needs to be triggered before another computer can see its contents. I think

bill

7:33 am on Aug 28, 2007 (gmt 0)

So you're saying that the HDD in the USB enclosure is partitioned into 2 separate areas, both formatted with NTFS?

Can you see the disk in Disk Management? It's possible you need to allocate the "missing" partition a drive letter for it to become available.

I need to know if my laptop hard drive has a security toggle that needs to be triggered before another computer can see its contents. I think

Did you have permissions or security set on the OS partition when it was in your laptop? Did you encrypt the folders of the drive?

Wendy_Potts

2:22 pm on Aug 28, 2007 (gmt 0)

Yes, all of the hard drive and partitions are NTSF.
The HDD in the USB enclosure is partitioned.
The desk top only makes the partitioned portion available allocating it a drive letter "K".
I do not know how to allocate a drive letter to the main portion of the HDD if I do not see it.
I did not encrypt any files.
What permissions do I need to address in the OS. I can replace the HDD into my laptop and make any adjustments.

bill

12:18 am on Aug 29, 2007 (gmt 0)

I don't have a copy of XP Home handy, but in XP Pro go here:

Control Panel � Administrative Tools � Computer Management � Disk Management

That's where you can assign a disk letter to a drive.