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.

Thanks for the comeback, algi. All the files on the 'd' drive are dated 2007, so I think it is ok to presume that they are Vista files.
The drives are Western Digital. I have been on their site. Will check again for that boot disk.
regards Thoramay.

The business that built this machine no longer exists. hence my need to seek alternative support.
My competence in using computers is to access the internet, our forum, basic wordprocessing and basic photo manipulation.
I have discovered that the password was 'password' and that my machine is no longer under a protected mode.
It still does not solve my problem.
I have followed all the advice to the best of my ability, which is not much. I am just afraid that I will compound the problem.
Time to call in a local expert, I think. Had just hoped that there was a simple solution. Obviously not.
I am not competent to install ANY programmes, Sorry Peter. I am just grateful for all your attempts to help me.
regards thoramay.

Peter. I have just been into user account but could not find any reference to turn user account on or off.
What I have now discovered is that the machine is pass word protected and keeps asking me to type this in to change the account user on the drive.
Getting well out of my depth here.
Cannot find where the partitioning details are. Can I ask a stupid question. Why would two drives need to be partitioned? Cannot they operate as seperate entities.
What affect will it have if I remove the 'd' drive.
Can you explain why the properties and windows files are on the 'd' drive when I would imagine that the operating system would have been placed on the 'c' drive.
regards thoramay.

This machine was built for me as a media centre some five years ago, hence under windows viata.
I have now redeemed this machine for use as a photographic processing centre. I have had one drive re formatted and windows 7 put on it.
There are residual files for windows vista on the 'D' drive.
The drive is big enough for these files to remain there...but..I am not happy that I cannot remove them. all the other files that were on this drive did not present a problem. I guess it is windows vista that has protected them.
The final solution will be to remove the drive and reformat it with a specialist programme.
regards thoramay

Matt you have a pm.

Thanks for the additional information. This is not a partitioned drive, as I originally stated. It is a seperate drive. Not sure why there were two drives put in this machine but it has its uses as a photographic set up allowing me to back up to the second drive.
Will follow your advice and hopefully succeed. Not very competent with the computers as must be obvious.
regards thoramay.

Peter. I have followed your instructions and renamed to ' owner user'.
when I try to remove the files it tells me I need the permission of the owner user. I do not understand why this will still not let me delete those files. Is there any possibility of there being a password? I cannot see any evidence of such.

We have tried to reformat the drive but cannot even do this. My beleif that this was a partitioned drive is wrong. There are two seperate drives in the computer. I could just leave those files there except that it bugs me that this has me beaten.
Thanks for your time and interest.
thoramay.

Problem. The computer was built for me. I suspect that this person is being treated as the administrator. The computer tells me I need the administrators permission. I need to get beyond this instruction and I cannot reason how to do this. I have also a guest account on this computer that asked for a password. I have no idea what password could have been entered by the builder of the computer. All sounds simple, but it has me beaten
regards thoramay.

I have a partitioned drive on my computer. I have just had one partition reformatted and Windows 7 installed on this partition. The other partition has the residual files of windows Vista that I wish to delete.
The computer tells me I need permission to do so. I am unable to discover where that permission resides on the computer. Can anyone help with advice, please.