Hard drive installation

Hi all,

I have searched the threads because i know the info is there.... i just can't find it, so here is a problem that has been dealt with probably many times before.

Hard drive installation!

I have a laptop on vista with a 60 gig hd to which i want to add an ext usb Hitachi 120gb with its own PS.(had problems posted before on this but vendor assures me problem was because i installed unecessary software)

I also have a desktop on XP SP2 with an 80gb hd to which i want to add an internal seagate 40gb hd

The problem is identical with both.

I installed the drives as per instruction using correct jumper positions and ide connections where necessary and in both cases the drives; show on device manager and show in hardware tab when C drive is right clicked and properties selected.
The drives also show "New hardware found" when first connected/powered.

All seems well to that point but the drives do not show in "My Computer" and where they do show no options are available to further their installation.

I downloaded some free partition software (that claims to be able to install disks) but again althoough they found the drives they offered no options to cure the problem.

Any advice. I have read that windows admin tools have the necessary for installation of disks but i cant find it/them.

Or do i have to just fork out for partition software and if so whats best and gauranteed to work.

I did somehow manage to get the two drives showing in "My Computer" on the desktop but the new one dissappeared after using recovery console.

Many thanks in advance

go to control panel then administrative tools then computer management then storage then disk managment then format the new drive

or right click my computer>manage, then go to disk management and right click on the new drive and format.
Pretty much the same as above but i find it a lot quicker

Thanks people. simplicity when you know how.
You wouldn't want to know how many people who apparently know a lot about computers couldn't answer this one. Even the fella i bought it off suggested buying software. Then again he would wouldn't he.

Thanks again, both drives working great. This forum is worth its weight in gold to us amatuers.