I re-installed WinXP on D:, with multi-boot enabled to allow the OS to reside on D:, and the boot files (Boot.ini. NTLDR, etc.) on C:(along with the original install of XP). (This is my wife's computer (Dell), and since I face certain death if I screwed up I elected to create another instance of XP and migrate stuff to it. She had insisted that it was going "slow" and needed a "reformat").I've used multiboot before and it works fine. Today I installed a new second HD as slave.The original (Dell build) used cable-select, so I configured the slave the same, and ensured the IDE connectors were correct. After initialisng in XP amd formatting, I can see the new partitions OK. However, I can't see C:in My Computer; and also can't make a desktop shortcut to it. I can see it in Disk Management, also in Partition Magic, and since boot.ini and other bootup files are on C:, it must be working. Any ideas? I first noted this when booting up with the HD, prior to initialisation. Thanks for any help, Bruce.

First, is the second hardrive on the same cable as the first hardrive? I personally don't like the cable select position and always set my drives MASTER or SLAVE.Since you can boot to either XP installation, can you see drive C: when you boot to the original installation?What are the partitions assigned to your second hardrive? If you disconnect the second hardrive can you see drive C:?W. Sieffert

Thanks for your reply.Yes, the same cable is used. Personally I have never used CS before on the systems that I build, but chose to retain that HD configuration as that's how the first (primary) HD was configured. Do I need a seperate (different) IDE cable if I am not using CS?I can see C: if I boot to the original OS on C:, yes.On the second HD I have one primary, two logical on an extended partition. However, I noted the absence of C: in My Computer prior to assigning these partitions, also prior to initializing the new HD in XP (but after installing the second HD and the hardware being detected by XP).And I will certainly try disconnecting the second HD completely from the IDE cable, I have not yet done this.How is your flying going these days? I can't believe that the time has passed that required my instrument rating currency ( 6 approaches, holds and navigation by navaids; currency is in preceding 6 months). I did mine last Saturday in an FTD at my club, and with my CFII being able to factor in some bad weather and 0 visibility right down to minimums, along with some instrument and glideslope failures, made for quite an interesting session! FS9 is perfect for practicing this too (although the FAA does not recognize it, of course).Bruce.

Hi Bruce,Sorry for the delay in response, son's HS graduation, work, etc.!You can only have one drive C:. Your original drive assigned C: to the first partition and so on if you had other partitions, e.g., D:, E:.Installing the second drive, partitioning, and formatting should have resulted in the next available letter, e.g., D:, E:, J:, M:, and so forth to be used.If you have both drives installed, either on the one cable or two, then the OS should determine the drive letters.The cable select (C/S) function may work perfectly well. I just prefer to assign the master (M) and slave (S) assignments. In any case the drive at the very end of the drive cable will be the master, if cable select is used. The drive in the middle will be slave if cable select is used.My main computer's HD started to fail. I installed a new 80GB hardrive in its place with partitions of C: through H:. I needed to transfer files from the old drive to the new drive. I installed the old drive as a slave. The OS reassigned the old drive letters to from C: through H: to K: through P:. I made the transfers and uninstalled the drive.FLYING:I haven't started the Instrument Training. Working full-time at Air Orlando. I took my daughter for a $420 lunch to KVNC (Venice Muni) in a C182 G1000 last week. I would like to fly to PA in June, weather permitting (yes, I know if I just had the instrument ticket!!! LOL!!!).We have an FAA certified MOTUS flight simulator at Air Orlando. Visit our website http://www.flyairorlando.com/ and the manufacturers website http://www.flightmotion.com/ . One of my jobs is maintaining the flight simulator and upgrading it for the future.W. Sieffert