Computer

[RegandPat]

I would like to apologies about talking about computers but this is the only site that a get a problem solved.
It is only a small problem with my computer, I have fixed a second hard drive to the USB port so I can transfer data from my laptop to my desktop computer but when I switch on my machine with the second hard drive attached a message comes up with do I wont to open a file on the second drive, how do I not get this message ?
Reg

 

[Bri2]

Hi Reg & Pat,
What you need to check is the boot sequence in your bios settings. Depending on your computer, when you switch it on, you will have to tap the del or F8 or another key sequence to access the bios (Basic Input / Output System ).
Look in there for where your computer looks for the operating system such as Windows XP & etc. This may be set to USB then DVD then your computers HD. You can alter this setting to which ever suits you, I would suggest, HD, DVD, USB. Your computer will look directly at the computers HD first for the op system without searching the other drives. This may avoid the message your getting. Having said that, if you are pluging your external HD in after boot up, then your ops, i.e. windows will look at whats been pluged in and ask what you want to do with it. You may also get a message from your Anti virus to ask if you want it scanned. It isn't realy a problem to cancel the message and continue using the drive if it keeps on occuring. I don't normaly get that message if the external HD is switched on and connected before I switch on the computer. Its only if I put power to the external after bootup or plug it into the usb port.
Don't mess with your BIOS if you don't know what your doing, you could end up not being able to boot at all, just putup with the message and cancel it. The boot sequence of HD, DVD, USB isn't a problem to any one who knows how to boot a computer from a dvd drive or usb pen, they can easily access the bios to change the sequence to suit.There are other ways by editing the registry but I wouldn,t suggest that unless you know what your about. If your confident, just Google your problem and you will get more than one answer.
So don't worry about it if you can't get shut of the message, just cancel and continue using it or have it open explorer so you can see whats on the drive. Hope thats of help
Bri

 

[RegandPat]

Thanks for advise, I have 2 external drives and had them plugged in to a 4 port hub, I removed the hub and plugged both in to USB ports on the rear of the computer, switched off, restarted and no message popping up (great).
I have ony tried this once but if it happens again I will unplug drives and just use them when needed.
Thanks again Reg

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi Reg
what Bri has written is essentialy correct quirky things computers arn't they.
basically when a readable device is inseted into the computer be it hard drive, SD card, dongle, disc, or flash drive, the operating system looks for the device and the information wrote on it, thats when the message pops up asking what you wish to do with the info you can just cancel the message and carry on OR plug in the device before booting up in which case the the OP will recognise the device and assign it a new drive letter.at each boot, the drive letters are specific to your own computer listed in order of attachment some drive letters are fixed but others are renewed on every boot.depending on whats attached to the computer at that particular boot.so if your extra hard drive is in the usb it will look for it after all the other devices that are perminantly attached.
if you attach two hard drives they will both be recognised but assigned a different drive letter
hope this helps