[quiq]

I have have a new SATA hard drive that I want to use to backup all the files and media from my primary IDE drive...I dont use this SATA drive to boot my computer or anything, I dont have windows installed on it or anything...I bought it for backing up the stuff from my older primary drive.

Once I transfer all the files I have to my SATA, Can that SATA drive be taken out, and installed onto a different computer if needed later on as a backup drive, and be able to transfer the files onto the master drive of a computer? Or would you need to reformat the drive clean before installing it to another computer? Because to get "MY COMPUTER" to recognize my new SATA I had to go into disk management and have the drive formated 100%

[Law]

Generally no, you do not have to format it again if it's already formated with either NTFS or FAT32, however you'll need a driver for Windows to recognize the SATA driver. I guess the steps would just be connecting it to the new machine, Windows will try to recognize it as a new hardware and ask for you to provide and install the driver.

[quiq]

OK, I just want to make sure I wont run into a situation where the files on it wont be accessible, and I have to reformat and lose all the files I backed up onto this drive.

[jeremy]

ntfs file system have drive/folder permissions so if youll connect it to another pc youll have to set em right in order to access the data , xp home doesnt support changing permissions only the pro edition does (but only after "use simple file sharing" is unchecked in folder options) then you have a *security* tab when you right click.. and goto properties , on the other hand theres a program called file security manager , for manging permissions on xp home
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Securit...-Manager.shtml , as for the driver it all depends on the mobo chipset, on modern chipsets theres no need for a driver (unless using sata raid) , but if the mobo chipset doesnt support sata compatability mode (emulates sata as ide so no driver is nessary) then installing the drive aint gonna be a *walk in the park* if that pc alredy have an sata hard drive then there wont be any issues as the driver has probably alredy been installed or the chipset supports the compatability mode , but if theres no other sata hard drive on that pc or windows wont detect the hard drive after youll connect it then youll have to make a repair install and then use the sata floppy driver (or use nlite to slipstream the driver if it got no floppy drive) , theres no data loss on a repair install it only replaces currupted/changed windows files , all other data will remain intact including the installed drivers/programs , you can make it easier by buying an sata to usb adapter , and if your gonna use it for casual backup better use backup software like good sync

[quiq]

wow, thanks guys

[titanwolf]

Yea these guys know there stuff

[Win2kpatcher]

You will be fine. I have used my 80GB SATA drive on about 9 differnt PC's and had no issues accessing/copying data from it to the primary hard drive installed on that system. Also I did not require any special drivers or setup anything special on any of these units running XP SP2. I simply plugged it in to an open SATA port and it detected as a new disk drive once the OS was booted got assigned a drive letter etc..then I was off copying data from it.

Also as mentioned only the first time when the drive is brand new will you ever have to initialize/format it. This is why by default when you plugged it in and booted up Windows it was not under "My Computer" as a new drive. Windows is pretty smart though right away when you clicked the Disk Management MMC it should have launched the "Initialize Disk Wizard" thus needing the format after.