Raven - I have one of my posts that got eaten by goblins - and one of your posts that is missing from this thread. I will paste them both here - for the sake of keeping the integrity of the thread. Let me know if this is what was missing that you posted (or did more disappear) Here's my missing post: Damcoy - I'm always forgetting to do a google search. Raven - it was an OEM drive from Dell - no instructions. I vaguely recall that I'd want to format in NTFS and not FAT32 - though I don't recall what each of those are. When i first booted up my pc it did see the new hard drive - but I haven't known how to find it again. It seems to be suggesting that it's being labelled as a canon something or other. I don't know what that means to go into the boot menu at start up to see how it's listed. It did not give me an option of which to boot to - of course there's no operating drive on the second drive (at least I guess there's not since I didn't put one there). I also don't know how to back up my existing drive - which is part of what I want the second drive for. I'd like to back up my programs (and drivers? how would I do that) - perhaps on one partition. And have one or more partitions for files - like video, picture, music, data (word files, emails, etc, saved pages from the web?). So again, how do I go into the boot menu and see how they're listed? There is a difference in size - the second drive is 1/5TB =- the first is 500 GB. How could I mess up my existing original drive? by reformatting it? seems i have to have a place to back it up to before i back it up - I guess I could back it up on my external 640GB hard drive. Thanks. Lynn. ------------------------------- And here's the one from you that was emailed to me: I would use an imaging program and make a full copy of your existing drive to your external hard drive so that you have it should something go wrong. There are good free imaging programs, for those with vista and windows 7 there is now a built in imaging feature. On my computer as soon as it starts to boot up it flashes up and says to enter the boot menu hit esc, I just keep tapping it so I am sure I hit it at the right time, your computer may be different this is not uniform on all computers. Once you get into that area you will see the drives listed, you can choose which one to boot to and what order. I would do some research on what you are wanting to accomplish. I did a lot of reading and researching before I did mine and it really paid off. One thing I had not expected was for the SATA cable to come loose from the mother board after it was all set up, scared the you know what out of me! Luckily I have a see through case and saw the cable dangling. (http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/copywipe.php ) CopyWipe free imaging program (http://dottech.org/featured/6194 ) 8 free software to image/backup/ghost your computer (free alternatives to Acronis True Image, Norton Ghost, etc.). ---------------------------------------------------- It lookslike some of your post didn't get copied and pasted intact - but it's mostly there. Or was there more than this? Thanks. Lynn. PS - I'm on my way out for the evening (and tomorrow's a day trip that could turn into all day) - so I don't know if I can get to this in the next day or two - as eager as I am to do so)

I started out in kitchens and found my way over here. If I have a general question I definitely post here first. I feel I "know" the posters and always get great advice. For cooking questions I head to the cooking forum here at GW. Those people really know about cooking! Plus, it is an active forum. Now that my DD is a senior and preparing for college, I participate in one specialized small forum and lurk at College Confidential. I only lurk at CC because I have always ben able to find answers by searching previous posts. It is a very busy forum! Back when DH was traveling a lot I used a travel-related forum that was so helpful with maximizing loyalty points, and managing the whole loyalty concept all together. Oh! And the DIS!! For planning a trip to a Disney Resort worldwide, there is no better resource. I've been "hanging out" there for YEARS, learned loads of "insider" tips, and planned many hassle-free vacations. It is a *very* busy forum, with about 40 different boards - like resorts, dining, restaurant reviews, Disney for teens... or singles... or babies... or with disabilities... etc! It is an excellent resource. And I think that is about it for the forums I frequent. But again, for personal quandaries, I only come here. Nicole

Very true, kfhl - many air fresheners work by using nasal anesthetics to keep you from smelling whatever you're trying to cover up. Now that I have very few things that are chemically scented in the house, walking past the aisle of air fresheners actually burns my nose. We use natural beeswax candles if we want to use one - but that's usually saved for power outages. As far as the free and clear products are concerned...you can't be certain that it is safe for allergy sufferers. My husband is actually allergic to many components of commercially produced free/clear products - including a chemical that is frequently added to such products to 'remove' the other strong smells in the product to create a 'fragrance free' item - in lieu of adding a 'fragrance'.

Hello All, I have some sad news to share with you all. After Ruby stopped eating last week, we were asked to make an appointment with a surgeon to do an exploratory abdominal surgery. We took her in yesterday, June 1st, the surgeon opened her up and called with in five minutes, saying that the tumor had spread to majority of her intestines and was inoperable. He also mentioned that it seemed to have metastasized as the lymph nodes are swollen. His suggestion was to put her out of her misery. Having seen Ruby go through a very rough weekend, where she was constantly vomiting and suffered from Diarrhea , we decided to put her to sleep. She was a wonderful friend and companion and will be dearly missed. The kids and the family are having a rough time digesting the news...as we were never told she had cancer..all the biopsies were negative...and she was being treated for ulcer..and all of sudden she deteriorated in a week. She never lost any weight..may be a pound or so..but that's it. All her vitals were perfect. The blood tests were impeccable. Yet she was so sick..Poor thing she suffered a great deal. Please pray for my Ruby's peace. Does any one how to post Ruby's picture here? Copy n paste apparently does not work. Here are some quotes that reflect how we feel about Ruby: "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." ―Will Rogers "I said "good bye, I love you", When I saw that look in your eyes It was the type of look you give someone When you know these are your last goodbyes. You were just a dog some might say But I know theyre all wrong You were more than a dog You were my best friend, and Now dear friend it is going to be long, Before I can hold you in my arms once again. It is hard to put in words how you made me feel But when I heard your foot steps charging to me, There is nothing in the world that couldve made me more happy You were so small, yet You had more energy than any dog I had ever met You were so strong.. and Ill never forget, All the fun times we shared together You were with me for so short of a time But you taught me so much I never knew I could love anyone the way I loved you All I had to do was touch Your soft fur and I knew everything would be ok I dont know what I will do without you I feel like theres a huge hole in me Once so filled with joy and glee Now so empty and cold, I'm sure your spirit is still with me and I hope you know I will have and better dog and There will always be a place in my heart for you.. Wherever you are, I hope you are happy And have a nice fuzzy bed to sleep in You can be free now.. no more leashes.. I will see you again.. When my time comes I will look forward to seeing you And we can be together once more I will never forget you.. You are forever a part of me As I am a part of you Dont worry though.. Im not going to be blue All Ill have to do is whisper your name to myself And look for ward to the day.. when I will once again get to hold you" -Christina Rae Almeida