A computer has two mechanical hard drives. The second drive (D:) is used for data storage. When trying to save an email attachment to the local hard drive, the user notices that the D: drive is not an option. What should the technician do to see if the drive is recognized by the operating system?

To determine if the second mechanical hard drive (D:) is recognized by the operating system, the technician should take the following steps:

1. Use File Explorer: The simplest and first step is to check if the drive is visible in File Explorer. Here’s how to do it:
   • Open File Explorer by pressing Windows Key + E or clicking on the File Explorer icon on the taskbar.
   • Look under “This PC” or “Computer” (depending on the Windows version) to see if the D: drive is listed. If it is listed, it indicates the operating system recognizes the drive. If it’s not listed, there could be an issue with the drive or its connection.
2. Use the Disk Management Control Panel: If the drive is not visible in File Explorer, the next step is to check Disk Management. This tool provides a detailed view of all storage devices connected to the system:
   • Right-click on the Start button and select “Disk Management,” or press Windows Key + X and select “Disk Management.”
   • In Disk Management, look for the second mechanical hard drive. It should appear with its capacity and partitions. If it’s there but doesn’t have a drive letter, you can assign one. If it’s not showing up at all, this could indicate a hardware connection issue or a drive failure.

The other options provided are not relevant for checking the status of a hard drive:

• Swap the Data Cables of the Mechanical Drive and the SSD: This step is more intrusive and should be considered only if there’s a suspicion of a faulty cable or port. It involves physically changing the connections, which should be done cautiously and generally only after software checks (like the ones above) have been completed.
• Open a Web Browser and Type http://127.0.0.1: This address is a loopback address for the local host, typically used in network testing and does not provide information about hard drives.
• Bring Up a Command Prompt and Type ipconfig: The ipconfig command is used for displaying network configuration information and is not relevant for checking local hard drive status.

In summary, the technician should first use File Explorer and then the Disk Management tool to check if the D: drive is recognized by the operating system.