Problems using two win10 hard drives on same computer


  1. Posts : 84
    win10
       #1

    Problems using two win10 hard drives on same computer


    My computer is running slowly; taking about 2 minutes to start up, often running slowly when typing....

    I put an older image on a second hard drive, and it runs fine. However, Word documents, emails, Firefox , etc. do not have current data. I wanted to copy current info from the corrupted drive to the other, but the second drive is not recognized. I tried connecting it as the second internal hard drive and using an external USB hard drive enclosure without success. I only seem to have one choice, copy to a USB drive, exchange drives in the computer, and then copy from the USB drive back to the computer, a slow process.

    Is there a means of using both drives? Install Win 10 on two hard disks, same computer has a somewhat similar situation, with one answer saying no, and another answer implying the first answer is wrong.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 30,178
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       #2

    When you connect your drive internally does the drive show in Disk Management?

    (Windows key + X, Disk Management)

    If it does show then it needs to have a drive letter assigned. Right click on drive in Disk management, assign a letter.


    Ken
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 84
    win10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks for jogging my memory. Disk Management indicates the drive is offline due to a signature collision. If I remember correctly, I can right click Disk 1 and select Online and new drive letters will be assigned to Disk 1, but to be on the safe side, I am going to make an image file of the main drive. Hours are required, so will do so overnight.

    Jim
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 7,901
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       #4

    Your PC boot up may be slow if that second W10 drive has an active partition. Set any partitions on the second drive to inactive if you don't need to boot from that drive. You can use MiniTool Partition Wizard Free to do this.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 84
    win10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Problem solved!

    I right-clicked disk 1 and selected Online. New drive letters were assigned to disk 1, and File Explorer lists both drives. Actually, I use Directory Opus, which is roughly File Explorer on steroids.

    Steve C: Thanks for the tip, but don't think it would help. I needed to set the second drive to Active (using Disk Management) before I could access it.
    I am going to check out the Mini Partition Tool for future use.

    Jim
      My Computer


 

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