Will Dual Hard Drives in an HP dv9700t Laptop Function as a Single Drive Automatically when Delivered from the Factory

I recently purchased a new HP dv9700t laptop with dual hardrives.

The full configuration is:

- HP Pavilion dv9700t Entertainment CTO NB
- Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
- Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T9300 (2.50 GHz, 6 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
- 17.0" WSXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1680 x 1050)
- 3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
- 50% OFF 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS!!
- FREE Upgrade to HP Imprint (Radiance) + Fingerprint Reader + Webcam + Microphone
- Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth(TM)
- 240GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (120GB x 2)
- LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
- No TV Tuner w/remote control
- High Capacity 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
- System Recovery DVD with Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
- Microsoft(R) Works 9.0

They show up as a C & D Drive on windows explorer.

The HP sales person told me they would function as one drive. When the first one is filled then data will automatically start storing on the 2nd one.

I have put a bunch of movies on the first and it is getting within 5 Gigs of capacity. The drive status indicator bar has also turned red.

Does anyone have a similiarily configured machine and know how the hard drives will function?

Will data automatically store on the 2nd drive when the first gets full or will I have to transfer files manually?

I assume I can access data on drive D just as I do on drive C?

If manual transfer is necessary then can anyone point me to how to link the hard drives together so they will function automatically as one, if that is possible?

Any insights will be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks,

Canyon

 

When it is separate partitions like that, you have to transfer yourself. It does not automatically do it.

There is something called RAID (redundant array of independent discs) technology that combines drives at the motherboard level (so the OS thinks its actually one disc), but it requires a specific chip on the motherboard and BIOS-level stuff to work. I'm not sure if your laptop supports RAID.

 

I get what your saying but.....to get what you want would take hardware and software changes its a good bit of work.....if this is what u actually want just google raid there are plenty of how to's the easiest way to remedy your issue is just move or save to the 2nd drive i have duals in mine and i save pictures, movies and music on the 2nd and whatever else on the 1st and if your goal is to just save as much as you can then buy a couple 1 or 2 tb hard drives and you will be all set

 

Thanks Greg for the info.

I actually talked to two HP sales people before I bought the laptop and one after. The first two said it was a Raid configuration and the third said it wasn't. I really didn't know what Raid was. I just wanted to know if both would function as one hard drive. I wonder if these representatives are mostly clueless or have been encouraged to lie?

I haven't used two drive before. Is the second drive used only for data storage? If I wanted to store all my movies and videos on drive two I can access and view them directly through Windows Media Center for instance? All I need to do is to tell WMC (through the Library) which folder to look in on the second drive?

Thanks

 

Thanks bmwnick,

You answered my question while I was composing a reply to Greg. I don't think it would be worth the work to go through the raid reconfiguration, if even possible. I will just save my videos and pictures on the 2nd drive. As long as I can access them directly through WMC or from a picture viewer I will be satisfied.