Ellen:
You can hire a consultant, and spend a few hundred dollars for a program; or, you can just go to your checkbook and send me all of your money.
In addition, here is what I suggest. The size or location of the drive is somewhat different issue from the organization of the drive. There are a number of ways to organize; using various strategies or programs. The best way to do it is in advance, which, of course, no one does. So, you may have a bunch of files with names that are meaningless, etc.
First, I would put everything that is unorganized into one folder: the "Unorganized Folder." Then, open the folder, go to View, Choose details, check "Date Created," and any other item that helps you find files. Then, go to Tools, Folder Options, View Tab, then hit the button, "Apply to All Folders." This way, the Date Created, or other identifier will be present in all folders within this folder.
I, for example, can often remember about when a file was created, then sort by Date Created, in Windows Explorer. Or, you can sort by File Type, as you may know it is an MP3, or Text file, etc. You can, if it makes sense, drag and drop the files into new folders according to file type, or however you wish. Or, all sound files could be in one folder, which can be searched by date, or type of file, etc.
Now your searches are narrower, and faster. To go beyond, if a lot of the files are graphics files, download Picasa, free, from Google. It will find, and help you organize ALL of your graphics files.
Then, my suggestion is to download the free Copernic search tool. It will search any where you wish on your HDD or HDDs, according to what you specify. (favorites, email, files, etc.) The trick with Copernic is to not allow it to operate in real time. Like all the rest, it wants your computer power. therefore, have it update when you are doing your Tai Chi, or making Spaghetti sauce from scratch, or are otherwise away from your computer.
The only way you will destroy your new drive is if you fail to follow the manufacturer's instructions, or drop it on concrete. Don't let it get jarred when running, and it will last as long as it should. If the existing EHDD is plugged in, the computer will assign a letter to the new one.
As time goes on, you will probably appreciate these ideas more and more, as you will revise your filing system from time to time.
in your neighborhood, and the only one with two external HDDs. 
~~Robert
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----- Original Message -----
From: ellenzunino
To: KABC-ComputerShow
yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 3:15 PM
Subject: [KABC-ComputerShow] Organizing Hard Drive
Hi again. I bought an external 40 GB HD a couple of years ago to store
backup files and large graphic and video files to free-up disk space
on my laptop. Well, it's getting full and I now have a brand new 160
GB external drive. The problem is that looking up files in the first
drive takes forever because they're just "there" in the order they
were put in. I'd like to organize the new drive so I could locate a
jpeg or video without having to look through a bunch of gig's of
stuff. I have no idea how. Can I do it in XP? Do I need another
program? A reference book? Since I already have one external drive
designated "E" will the new drive automatically be "F"? What's the
probability that I'll destroy the new drive in the process? I'm
thinking it would be easier to just pay to have someone do it but then
I wouldn't learn anything new about how these wonderful machines work.
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