permission to delete files

use DOS based software to simply delete/reformat the partition !! (Paragon is good)

It's as simple as that No worries about owner/permissions

send me your address and I'll send you a CD already prepared

You will have to check the SN but I think something like

Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for DOS

http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=502&sid=2〈=en

is what's needed.

Make a bootable floppy as described on that page or download

http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=502&sid=30〈=en

to make a bootable CD. You will need burning software such as Nero or the free ImgBurn

Boot up PC from Bootdisk

MAKE SURE THAT YOU SELECT THE CORRECT DRIVE

Run Quicktest to make sure HDD is OK

Use the Write Zeros option to wipe any and all data off the drive.

The drive should now be back to Factory Supplied Condition

Remove floppy

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Boot from Windows 7 and partition and format 2nd drive

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There is some FREE easy to install partioning software from Easus
that will make life easier and if you were to install that before
anything else it will show you how your drives are currently partitioned.

You could even see if it can do it without running the WD Boot disk or
if Windows 7 stops it?

http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm

I think you'd be wise to get somebody local to sort it out for you. Yell.com should yeald a few companies.

Perhaps if you updated your profile to show your location, there might even be another forum member local to you that could help.

Good luck, it can be sorted, and I'm sure it will be.

I agree with Peter it would be better with someone else looking at it if possible. What concerns me is why the person that did the new setup didn't delete Vista off the 2nd HDD? Possibly he thought he could do it from Win 7 and then found he couldn't or maybe he had dual booting in mind, although he should have realised that you wouldn't want that.

It won't do any harm to get the WD Boot Disk and just test the disk it might be faulty, then the safest thing to do would be open the case and disconnect the power and IDE or SATA cable from the 2nd HDD then boot the PC and see if Windows 7 gives any warning about not being able to find any files etc. If not I can't see any reason why the 2nd HDD can't be re-formatted.

Peter. I live on an island off the south coast. Getting quality in the computer industry is difficult. If I thought I could trust those claiming to be computer technicians here, I would not have sought help on this forum.
The 'd' drive is working fine. I have access to it and can load photos on it. I, too cannot see any reason why I cannot have access to this drive to either remove the files or to reformat it.
The computer simply tells me every time that I need permission to carry out the proceedure.
I simply need to delete this permision command. I have followed most of the suggestions offered that I felt competent to carry out but still no success. again, some of the suggestions is beyond my comprehension. At 77 years old and counting, that is understandable.
I am so grateful for all the advice. I feel like a dummy that I cannot grasp so much of the advice.
NEVER MIND. I can use that drive. It is just my bloody mindedness that I am determined that this machine with no inteligence is going to beat me, but let it rest for now, my good friends.
I will win and I will let you know when.
regards thoramay.

Can you delete files, say photographs that you copy to the drive?
In other words is it just the D:Windows directory that you can't delete?

Understood.

If you have any friends or family who are more confident at installing software utilities than yourself, perhaps you could ask them to install TightVNC. With that installed, I can connect to your machine and deal with the problem. Rest assured it is perfectly safe, you will be able to watch what I am doing, and it can be removed afterwards for your peace of mind.

Installing it is actually very simple. Clicking this link will download it. You simply save it somewhere then run it, or run it as soon as it has downloaded. Either way, just follow any of the instructions that appear.

If you prefer, I can install it for you, but you'll need to sign in to Windows Live Messenger and request remote assistance from me, having first added me as a contact using my email address which I'll include in the PM I'll send you.

After it is installed, you will need instructions on how to actually make it work such that I can connect, unless I set it up for you via Windows Live Messenger, in which case, I'll do everything that is needed. I'll PM you with my phone number and I'll be happy to talk you through it all.

TightVNC is remote control software that allows me (or anybody else of your choosing) to see what is on your screen, and to work on the machine as if I was sitting in front of it.

Like you, I don't like being beaten either. It's probably too late to deal with this tonight, but I'm free tomorrow. I'll leave it for you to contact me, or not, as you wish.

Thoramay

I have a programme like that on my PC Laptop which was , in his life time my husband's. I use a Mac and just don't understand PCs.

My friend in London now looks after the PC for me using a remote log in . It's wonderful - I can watch him doing everything , installing updates , checking for spyware , cleaning up the computer which was in a pretty poor state as my husband had been ill for 16 months.

The only reason I keep the PC is that when my daughter comes up from London for a visit she has to stay in touch with her Office with a Citrix application , which as yet can't be used on Macs.

Believe me , knowing that the PC can be kept safe and working properly is actually wonderful . I can tell you it's taken a huge weight off my shoulders .

Peter. You are so kind I don't know how to thank you for your willingness to help, but let me give you an update.
A friend has visited me who has a very good technician on the mainland.
My friend has downloaded a programme called crossloop that does the same as your programme and allows remote control. It was facinating to watch what happened.
This mainland technician has spent the last hour trying to remove those files and has failed.
He now advises me that somewhere in the Vista files is a programme that is preventing the removal of the files. He is guessing that there is not all the vista files on this drive, and being fragmented, it is not possible to remove them without removing the hard drive and reformatting using a different programme other than a windows one.
It is all beyond me. My friend is going to take the drive to someone else!! who will attempt to reformat it. I don't hold my breath on this one.
Lets see what happens.
regards thoramay.

Thanks for the update. Glad to know you are on the road to getting it sorted.

I suppose I'll have to paint the fence instead

Reformatting the drive will be a simple matter. The WD Boot floppy would wipe everything off it and let you do whatever you want after.

Windows seems to be very funny regarding recognising drives I've just tried putting one from a Network/Router box into TWO external separate USB enclosures on the PC and XP Pro claims the partitions are unrecognised even though they are only FAT32 I've put it in the PC as the 2nd drive and it showed up straight away