P-7811fx 2nd Hdd ???'s Help Please !!!

HELLO

I just got my 2nd hdd from fedex an hour or so ago... Just a few questions before I do surgery...

The mechanical part of installing the 2nd hdd seems simple as I'm assuming it is a 15 minute surgery... Unplug, pull battery, remove some screws, stay grounded, push in 2nd hdd, replace screws right ??? If I'm good to this point I have a few questions...

1. will windows vista hpx64 recognize the added hdd ??? If not, what do I have to do to tell windows and how do I do it ???

2. Can a new to computing non-geek set this up for raid0 and if so how involved is this process ???

Is it possible to find a tutorial somewhere on this step by step process ???

3. Is it the opinion of you experts that a non-geek can pull off this mod or is there a good chance that I'll get myself in a bad spot ???


My 2nd hdd is a matching seagate momentus 7200.2 200gb...

Thanks in advance for any opinions/help...

NOTAGEEK

 

Just stick the thing in there and put the screws in. You're good to go after that. You can set up a raid 0, but I can't remember what bios supports it. I can say that you will probably need a bios upgrade though. Here is a helpful guide to flashing your bios. I've never set up a raid before, but I'm assuming you can just do it through the bios w/ few problems.

 

Yeah check the stickied bios thread to find someone who successfully got the raid to work.

I learned a couple of things when i installed my new HDD in a non-raid configuration(320@7200 WD):

-You can change partitions on-the-fly using disk management(LOL before i figured this out, i was trying to boot an old copy of partition magic from my usb drive... CAN YOU IMAGINE?!)

-Make sure you format it to NTFS. I tried to copy my 27GB disk image to my new HDD and found out the hard way FAT32 has a filesize limit of 4GB..

 

Should take less than 15 minutes

4 little screws on the back (They dont come all the way out) and pop off the cover.

You'll have to remove the HDD that's already in there so you can steal 2 mini screws from the bracket, to hold your 2nd HDD in the other bracket (Unless u have extra mini screws that will work)

Put the first HDD back in its original spot, and put the 2nd HDD in the second spot. Vista will recognize it and install drivers automatically. It is then up to you to format it using Disk Management and decide how you want to format and partition the drive.

 

Oh, and I should warn you about the freezing. It happens for reasons unknown when you install a second hdd. Go into control panel and then power options, then click on change plan settings. Once there, go into advanced settings, and find the hard disk box. Expand it, and set the hard disks to never turn off. If you don't do this, your computer will freeze up for a second or two whenever either hdd turns on after turning off. Really annoying if you play games or watch movies.

 

good point gamadaya, it took me about two weeks to figure out why my computer would lock up in the middle of a movie for no reason, ever since i changed that I've had no problems

 

it's gonna format the drives so make sure u backed everything up and used the gateway recovery for drivers and what not...

 

Stuck it in there---and good to go to a point !!! I have no idea how to upgrade a bios... I tried reading through the "bios" thread and might have understood more if it was written in a labguage from some other galaxy... I don't have a clue on flashing a bios...

Cool---what is disc management ??? format it ??? ntfs ???

With you and did it but your last sentence---that is where i get lost !!!

Got this done... I think...

It did not format anything---at least i don't think it did... Good thing too I think as I have zero idea how to back up anything... I don't know what the Gateway recovery for drivers is... if it is a disc I didn't get any with this notebook...



I'm not kidding---I am new to computing and possibly should have left this 2nd hdd install up to someone that knows what they are doing... J had a hunch I was going to open a can of worms... Thanks...

NOTAGEEK

 

Click the Start menu in the lower left
Right click on Computer
Go to Manage
When a window pops up click Disk Management
You should see a 2nd disk there, probably Disk1 (Your first is usually Disk0)
It should say Unallocated Space
Right click on it and go to New Partition and/or (I don't remember) Format
Choose NTFS when asked

 

No it will not format the drive that is already in use. It will just install drivers it will not format it automatically.

You only need drivers if you are choosing to install a new operating system on the new drive.

 

Notageek,

Did you make the recovery discs? If not please download this guide
and burn recovery discs , how to do it you will find on 88 page. Before
you do anything make the discs and backup your files on DVDs or any
external drive. You should find how to add the second drive in this
manual, too.

Guide: http://support.gateway.com/s/Manuals/Mobile/8513155.pdf

Cheers...

 

ok---i did that and i see disc 0 and disc1 so i assume the install part was a success... i am seeing disc 1 has 186.31 unallocated... i am still trying to decide if i should try doing the raid0 thing or not...

do you mean i only need to format if i want to install another OS on drive 1 ??? this could be my objective as i have a WIN7 trial disc and got a key for it yesterday... but---if i put the WIN7 on disc1 do i still have the raid0 option ???

ok---now this helps me allot... i think i can do this backup thing or at least try to now... it sure would be helpful if gateway would provide these backup disc(s) and also a printed manual for reference...

i am still undecided as to if i should attempt this raid0 thing or not... i have this link on raid0 and it seems comprehensive enough,but technically i just don't understand enough about it... here is the link... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raid0

i want to thank all here at NBR for the help and sharing the expertise... i just don't want to turn this notebook into an expensive doorstop...

NOTAGEEK

 

OK, My suggestion is. Hold for now with setting RAID 0, if you don't have enough experience. Don't get me wrong, but you can mess everything up very quickly, but fixing this will be big pain.
I think, your better option would be to format the new disk and using it as the second drive to keep your files, over there. You can always return to your plans and set up RAID 0 later, when you will got more experience. Try to read as much as possible about formatting disks, setting RAIDs and backing files and making images of your partitions and whole disks as well.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/393/1

Even if you would to go straight to setting both disks to RAID, you still have to make recovery discs with your system and with drivers and applications. without these ones you won't be able to make any system installation.

Now very shortly about dual booting Vista with Windows7, you can do this in two ways. Repartition the first drive and put third partition on the original drive ( drive 0), or you can make two partitions on the new one and install Windows7 on one partition there ( drive1). The same before you do anything read as much as possible.

http://apcmag.com/the_definitive_dualbooting_guide_linux_vista_and_xp_stepbystep.htm

http://pcworld.about.com/od/harddrives/How-to-Set-Up-RAID-on-Your-PC.htm

http://support.asus.com/technicaldocuments/ITE8212F.pdf

Cheers...

 

MARTEE---Thank you for your help and suggestions... I have no trouble admitting that I have much to learn... I also appreciate your expertise, direction, and the time you and others here have taken to guide me...

I agree that I am now at the point to learn more before I go any further...

After all what little experience I do have has all been with xp pro, and in xp my most used program by far is "system restore"... lol...

Thanks again..

NOTAGEEK

 

You will have to format the drive if you want to actively use the space on it. If you are using the drive simply for storage/space, you format it FROM your vista installation. Your vista drive will not change other than drivers being installed for the new drive and a new disk being recognized once you format it (So you can use it).

 

OK THANKS---I am assuming this is done from the disc mamagement place you told me about in an earlier post ??? I'll go there and give it a shot... Thanks...

 

Well I keep on striking out trying to make backup recovery discs (2 requierd) by getting an ERROR CODE 350 BURNING FAILED !!! This error message comes up after the disc copies for 13 minutes and copies 100%... The message comes up AFTER the copy process but BEFORE the verify process... I have now wasted 5 dvd's trying this as the dvd's are -R RECORDABLE but i doubt if they are re-recordable ??? Anybody have any ideas about this error code 350 ??? Thanks...

NOTAGEEK

 

Hello,

If I got you right, you have DVD - R discs. I don't trust in these ones.
Please, try to burn your discs using DVD + R ones. Also as I remember the
RW ones will not work.

cheers...

 

MARTEE---I sent you a rep---you are helping me more than you might realize... I have been off and on with Gateways online chat "help" and have come to the conclusion that since i am not even close to IT qualified i maybe shouldn't have went with Gateway... The real time help there suxxx...

I tried +R DVD's last night and got the error 350 message, so this AM i bought a pack of -R DVD's and got the same message (ERROR CODE 350 BURNING FAILED) !!!

Gateway chat had me try restarting in the "safe mode" and try re-burning from there... When i tried that i couldn't even start the burn cuzz i got the error message EMPOWERING TECHNOLOGY IS NOT ENABLED !!! whatever that means...

Back to Gateway chat---This time i'm told to uninstall driver(s) and my cd/dvd from the device manager!!! I went to device manager and there is no yellow warning sign next to the drive or the tsst corp cd/dvdw ts-l633p driver... I figured it is time to stop and do nothing for the time being... Gateway assures me that if i remove the drive and driver then restart i should be all fixed up... Should i trust this info ???

Gateway refused to take control and fix this issue remotely and then had the "nuts" to tell me i could order the recovery disc(s) from him (matt) for 20-30 bux...

UPSIDE: I'm starting to learn more about computing but don't really enjoy the "crash" course... Thanks...

NOTAGEEK

 

Thanks very much, I will try to help you if I can.

Well, I don't know what to think about Gateway chat, and that is really strange you can't burn discs.

I think, yes it can be possible that uninstalling driver can be helpful somehow, because Windows will have to reinstall driver by itself.

I' m not sure what you did in the Device Manager, so let's go there once more. Right click Computer then Manage and Device Manager. Click two
time DVD/CD-ROM, right click your DVD RW device, click Properties, in General tab check if device is working properly, then click Driver tab, next click Update Driver and select Search Automatically, the driver should be
up to date or will be updated by Windows.
Close all windows restart PC and again try to burn disc.

If it won't work you will have to uninstall driver. You will find this option on
the bottom of the Driver tab. Just click Uninstall tab and restart PC. Windows should install it again.

Now I've got to go, till tomorrow.

Cheers...

 

I got this done about an hour ago with 1 small glitch... When i tried to format it wouldn't let me cuzz the drive was not yet initalized... After looking around for a few minutes i found out how to initalize the drive and then i was able to format... Windows assigned drive f to this drive by default so i just went with it... It took what seemed to be about an hour to format the drive---i don't know if this is normal or not but the formatting was successful... I was asked if i wanted to make the drive/format active so i did---hopefully this was the right decision...

I still couldn't pull off the burn and got the ERROR 350 BURN NOT SUCCESSFUL again so last night i uninstalled the driver for the cd/dvd... I was amazed that after re-booting that windows actually did re-install the driver...

DOWNSIDE: It didn't help---still got the ERROR CODE 350 !!!

Back to the Gateway real time live chat/help the whole time thinking that on sat night the 3rd string team would be working !!! Yep---I got hooked up with Jithu in india and the extent to his/her training is to tell me to re-install or do a full recovery... Yeah right---that's just what i don't need to do as i'm thinking i can't even burn recovery discs and just 1 false move and i won't have an OS OR RECOVERY DISCS...

My thinking is that there has to be a work around for this but i might be wrong...

Friday i got a 64 bit vista anytime upgrade disc in the mail knowing i had no backup recovery dvd's i got the anytime upgrade off ebay... i'm not sure if this could be my only option for a work around, but if it would help i sure wish i could at least burn the recovery drivers...

I have been looking at reg repair software also, but the more i read about that the more i feel i could get myself in more of a mess with it---especially with my limited experience...

THE SAGA CONTINUES !!! Thanks...

NOTAGEEK

 

I have to ask what driver letters show assigned. My 2nd HDD was auto assigned E:\, but yours was F:\, do you havev a USB/ESATA drive or something? possibly this could cause an issue..............

 

Hello Notageek,


I'm not sure what's going on and what this error code 350 means, I didn't
experience something like this before. But you can try maybe other DVD
brands like TDK, Philips, or Verbatim. My only advice is to use DVD+R discs,
because they don't make errors like DVD-R ones do.

I can ask you to try burn whatever you have just to see whether the DVD
drive is working ok or not. Put the disc into the burner, if Auto Play
window pop out just close it, then select any folder or file, right click
it and select Send to > DVD RW drive ( I guess the letter will be E: in your
lappy). Vista will ask you if you want to format the disc, click yes.
After formating, once again right click your file and send it to E:. After
burning click Computer, select the Drive E:, right click and click Eject.
Windows will finalize the disc and eject it. Put the disc back to drive and in
auto play window click Open, you should see your file there. If your selected
flie is on the disc the DVD drive is working OK.

Yes that's true you can safely recover your system using recovery option.
Please read about this on 93 page in your guide. The Recovery partition
on drive D: is just for returning your system on drive C: to the factory
condition. The whole system will be looking like you just opened the box
first time, when you brought your notebook home. But if you have any
important files, copy them to your second hard drive, I suppose it's
the F: drive, right?

When you decide to do this after setting the system go and burn your
recovery discs immediately.

Cheers...

 

Hello Tanware,

I think the Windows auto assigned F: letter, after Notageek formated
the second disk. That's the new one.

He still have DVD drive as the E:, I guess.

Perhaps you have any idea what to do, because He can't make his
recovery discs. Any idea?

Cheers...

 

I don't know the reasoning, but when Gateway installed the original hdd (drive 0) they partitioned it to be drive c: OS and drive d: DATA... at least when i look at it that is my assumption ??? My drive e: is the cd/dvd...

Thanks Martee---Most of what you are saying above i don't know how to do... I can see what you think i should troubleshoot, but don't have the know how... Right now, first thing to do i guess is to go buy another brand of +r dvd's... The brand i have here are Memorex and being in a small rural town i don't have many choices but i'll see if wal=mart has another brand... Thanks...

NOTAGEEK

 

Well, get other brand of DVDs and try again.
Shoot... what you don't know, so I will try to explain in more detail

 

I got some maxell +r dvd's but had one more memorex +r dvd so i tried to copy the recovery drivers and i got the same error 350 but i opened then closed the drive door and it read the disc and showed lots of files...

Then i took a maxell blank and messed around and finally burned files to that disc successfully so i now know that i can burn to disc and i don't think it's a drive problem...

Next the major test... I tried to burn the recovery back up (2 dvd's required) it went along until it said 100% burned and then gave me the error message 350 BURN FAIED... I opened and closed the drive door and it read the disc and showed 9 files... When i checked properties there was zero space left on the disc... I'm thinking that possibly the reason for the error 350 msg is that in order to verify the burn a small file to verify needs to be written to the disc but can't since there is zero room left on the dvd so the error msg gets triggered... Also, because of the error msg it keeps telling me to insert a blank dvd to restart the process... Because of this error msg i can't try to burn dvd #2 as it just wants me to start over...

My plan now is to get with Gateway live help/chat tomorrow when the 1st string team is working and ask if they can give me a direct link to the recovery process... Perhaps my file for recovery is corrupted... I don't have the needed knowledge to go further, so at this point i give up until i get with live help tomorrow... Thanks...

NOTAGEEK

 

That's great news, at least you have got the disc with drivers and applications that you will need when you decide to go ahead and
set the raid0 in the future.

I 'm curious what Gateway will tell you tomorrow. I hope they will
find way to finally burn the backup set of discs without any problem.

I was sniffing around and found for you guide about setting the
fresh system, might be interesting to you.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=327669

Cheers...

 

Ha Ha lol---me set up raid0 ??? Well maybe but i think it wil be awhile... Just having a functional machine is my priority right now... As for the Gateway live help I'm curious too---I just can't believe that i am the only one that has ever had this problem... Maybe by the luck of the draw i can get hooked up with someone that will help...

That link/guide is terrific i would almost bet i can understand about 25% of what i read there---I must be learning something cuzz last week i would only understand a little here and there...

I'll keep you posted (along with the 1 or 2 lurkers that might be following this thread for laughs) when i talk to gateway... Thanks...

NOTAGEEK

 

Tell ya what bro.. don't waste your time with Gateway's online live chat. Call up Gateway, and the first person you speak with will be their general level 1 support. They may be able to troubleshoot it right there on the spot, give them the 15 minutes to try. But, don't stop with them if they can't handle it. Ask them to speak with "Level 2 Technical Support" - Those are the folks who know what they're talking about, for the most part. Think of level 1 tech support as the front man to weed out phone calls like - "How do I turn the power on?" Level 2 are the folks who figure out why the power won't turn on, even though it's plugged in, battery charged, and power button is being pressed repeatedly. Just stay away from online chat. Oh, and the phone assistance, even level 2, is free.

EDIT: Call 408-876-6001. It's a direct line, and if I remember right it has a lot less computer voice prompts.

 

Thanks for the input... I can't agree more that Gateway's online help/chat is a total waste of time... I appreciate the heads up on the phone number and the mechanics of that system... I, being new to both computing and gateway---and not knowing better initially called the toll free number on the "Gateway main screen"... Talk about being put into a loop to nowhere !!! The main objective of that phone number seems to be to eventually steer you into a "PAY FOR HELP" number... I am looking forward to trying this "408" number for possible assistance...

I am pretty much convinced that the 7811 was maybe the wrong choice for someone with limited experience such as myself... I expected something more user friendly, with printed documentation, backup disc(s), and "decent" tech support...

I am looking forward to eventually having a good performing reliable notebook here and still think it will be soon... I'll try phoning in today and am hoping to have most of these problems resolved... Thanks...

NOTAGEEK

 

Hello Notageek,

I'm really sorry for you, but I'm unable to help with this recovery discs.
As I remember you were told you can order them from Gateway, so go and do
this, because you should enjoy your new machine and not fighting with it.

I know these discs will cost, but I guess this will be cheaper solution then
wasting your time and money on phones and media. Overall you will finally
have yet another recovery option just in case if something goes wrong.

Cheers...

 

Thanks Martee---I really appreciate all the time you have given trying to help with this situation I have here... I know I have that option of giving in to the "Gateway hustle" and buying the recovery disc(s) from them... I am looking at that as a last resort, but just might end up without a choice...

I am really pizzed off with this "extortion" and feel they should have provided the discs in the first place or just try to make me a satisfied customer and mail me what i need !!! I intend to remain stubborn at least until after i talk to them on the phone today...

Should i end up having to pay for the recovery system as the live chat over there suggested i will do so... I will also follow up with an email after this dust settles and tell gateway just how i feel about the way they do business... One thing for sure---i don't think i will be in the mood to tell anyone to get a gateway !!!

Eventually, i will be able to look back at this fiasco and think back to when I was just starting to learn about computers... Thanks...

NOTAGEEK

 

This system really is a good quality, and great performance for the cost. Don't let this small issue turn you off. I'm sure they willhelp you resolve it expeditiously. A couple pointers on the phone call you make -

Don't admit that you are a novice when speaking to level one techs. They are novices with a script to read based on the problem you explain.

If level one recommends re-installing Vista, don't do it. If that is the resolution offered, immediately turn it down and ask for level 2 tech support.

If push comes to shove with level two, and they can't resolve it for whatever reason, they may offer to sell the DVDs. Ask if there is an .ISO format for download, for free.

Best of luck, let us know!

 

Thanks for your help in this matter... Unfortunately i hung up with call in help 15 or so minutes b4 you sent this msg... yep---i did admit to my lack of skill level---yep they wanted me to go to the hdd to do the re-install and i told her i didn't have the skill... At that point i was offered to pay the 20 buxx for the factory recovery system---so i went for it...

What I did find out is that the recovery is a ONE TIME SHOT !!! My first attempt and ERROR 350 BURN FAILED was my only shot at burning a recovery system SUCCESSFULLY and Gateway live chat is not allowed to divulge that---they are only trained to apologize for any problems that i was having... UNBELIEVABLE !!!

Upside: Very professional compared to the live chat "feeling"... Also, now that i have the right phone num i won't have to deal with live "help" anymore... Thiis is now a thing of the past and I can move on from here...

Downside: I still got scammed out of 20 buxx... Live and learn... Thanks...

NOTAGEEK

 

Hi Notageek,

It's good to know you finally ordered the discs. I know how you feel,
but as E-wrecked told you, do not give up, the P7811FX is the beast,
it's one of most powerful notebooks.

And you can be sure that in not too distant future I wish to get one.
I bought my 6850 six months ago so it's not the time for next one, yet.
That's my second Gateway and I'm sure I will stay with this brand in
the future.

I'm sure you will enjoy this machine, so be optimistic. If you will
have any problems, (because everyone might have) post here and I'm
positive you'll get help.

Cheers...

 

HI MARTEE---

Thanks to you, e-wrecked, and everyone else here who helped me along on this issue...

If i had only known that the recovery was only a one time thing allot of frustration and wasted dvd's could have been avoided... i now know to avoid live help too...

Like lots of things there is a learning curve here... I have to do lots of reading and get more knowledge about windows and computing in general... NBR seems to be a great place to learn and eventually "give back" when i can help someone else...

One thing for sure is if i can keep the passion going i'll learn a little at a time and never be a geek squad member but at least i'll be more comfortable with this machine...

Thanks again Martee and NBR...

NOTAGEEK