drive letters in XP

Dom · Mar 25, 2003, 05:39 AM

Well I just did a fresh install of WinXP Home Ed. for my 9700 Pro. Since I installed Windows my drive letters are now mixed-up.

C is now F, D is now C, E is now D and F is now E. So, anyway, how can I fix this?

Thanks, Dom.

PangingJr · Mar 25, 2003, 07:03 AM

you can use "Disk Management" snap-in to modify drive-letter assignments but you may not change the drive letter of the system or boot volume/partitions with the snap-in.

Zardon · Mar 25, 2003, 07:18 AM

start/run/diskmgmt.msc alter them in there.

~~Crash Override~~ · Mar 25, 2003, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dom
Well I just did a fresh install of WinXP Home Ed. for my 9700 Pro. Since I installed Windows my drive letters are now mixed-up.

C is now F, D is now C, E is now D and F is now E. So, anyway, how can I fix this?

Thanks, Dom.

i know its too late to do this now but what I tend to do on installs of windows (since I dual boot)

is use my xp cd to do all the disk partitioning and formatting so that way I can assign certain drives certain letters so that they will be final and remembered when I do my 98 and XP installs

***craig5320*** · Mar 25, 2003, 07:23 AM

I always disconnect all drives 'cept the one i'm formatted and putting windows on, that way it can only be C and I'm not gonna wipe my po.. personal files. Then reconnect them after,

DriveEuro · Mar 25, 2003, 08:03 AM

You cannot modify the drive letter of a boot or system volume. I had that problem last week. Bugged the hell outta me. I said, "fuck it" and reinstalled and all my drive letter (C-G) are good now.

Dom · Mar 25, 2003, 01:29 PM

I got it setup as C=F, D=G, E=H and F=I.

PangingJr · Mar 25, 2003, 04:57 PM

okay and at anytime if you like to change system/boot partition from F: to C:
then use this it'll work the same on XP

HOW TO: Change the System/Boot Drive Letter in Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;223188

thiss just incase..
Unable to Log on if the Boot Partition Drive Letter Has Changed
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;249321

-={420}=- · Mar 26, 2003, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by panging
HOW TO: Change the System/Boot Drive Letter in Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;223188

This is the method that worked for me. The disk management thingie wouldn't let me change the drives that were in use, but this registry setting is what worked for me.

PangingJr · Mar 26, 2003, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by -={420}=-
This is the method that worked for me. The disk management thingie wouldn't let me change the drives that were in use, but this registry setting is what worked for me.

FYI..
if you've found drive letters change unexpectedly when you install windows..
you can use the method (HOW TO: Change the System/Boot Drive Letter in Windows) to change the system/boot drive letter.
as for any others drives on the system you can modify its by using the Disk Management snap-in and the following for troubleshooting...

Quote:

Quote from MS KB Article - 307844

When you attempt to change an existing drive letter, you receive the following error message:

The volume volume_label drive_letter is currently in use.
If you continue, the new drive letter will be assigned; but you can still use the old drive letter to access the volume until you restart your computer. The old drive letter will not be available for assignment until you restart.

Warning: Changing the drive letter of a volume might cause programs to no longer run.
This error message can occur if there are files in use on the drive, partition, or volume. This includes files that are accessed by other people on the network. To resolve this behavior, use one of the following methods:

Click No when you receive the error message. Quit all programs that are using the files on the volume, and then change the drive letter (right-click the volume, click Change Drive Letter and Paths, and then click Change).
Click Yes to proceed with the drive letter change.
When you attempt to remove an existing drive letter, you receive the following error message:

The volume volume_label drive_letter is currently in use.
If you continue, the drive letter will be freed; however, it will still be available for use until you restart your computer.

Warning: Changing the drive letter of a volume might cause programs to no longer run.
This error message can occur if there are files in use on the drive, partition, or volume. This includes files that are accessed by other people on the network. To resolve this behavior, use one of the following methods:

Click No when you receive the error message. Quit all programs that are using the files on the volume, and then remove the drive letter (right-click the volume, click Change Drive Letter and Paths, and then click Remove).
Click Yes to remove the drive letter the next time you start your computer.

Dom · Mar 26, 2003, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by panging
okay and at anytime if you like to change system/boot partition from F: to C:
then use this it'll work the same on XP

HOW TO: Change the System/Boot Drive Letter in Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;223188

thiss just incase..
Unable to Log on if the Boot Partition Drive Letter Has Changed
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;249321

I'm gonna go try this now, thanks.

PangingJr · Mar 26, 2003, 09:47 AM

you may or may not know this "Many MS-DOS-based and Windows-based programs make references to a specific drive letter (for example, environment variables). If you modify the drive letter, these programs may not function correctly" anyway if its happened just reinstall the program.

Dom · Mar 26, 2003, 11:58 AM

Well I changed the drive letter from F: to C:, & restarted, but then I could know longer log into Windows. Trying info from the other article that panging posted, the only thing I could do was to try and create a new MBR but that didn't work. I tried running a repair on Windows and was then able to log on, however none of my programs would run. So now I am formating and installing Windows to finaly resolve this problem.

PangingJr · Mar 26, 2003, 12:42 PM

oh well sorry to hear that. "Windows" is my favorite natural disaster!

Mar 25, 2003, 05:39 AM	#1
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	drive letters in XP Well I just did a fresh install of WinXP Home Ed. for my 9700 Pro. Since I installed Windows my drive letters are now mixed-up. C is now F, D is now C, E is now D and F is now E. So, anyway, how can I fix this? Thanks, Dom.

Mar 25, 2003, 07:03 AM	#2
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	re you can use "Disk Management" snap-in to modify drive-letter assignments but you may not change the drive letter of the system or boot volume/partitions with the snap-in.

Mar 25, 2003, 07:18 AM	#3
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	for speed start/run/diskmgmt.msc alter them in there.

Mar 25, 2003, 07:23 AM	#5
*craig5320* HH Administrator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 8,579 Rep Power: 445 System Specs	I always disconnect all drives 'cept the one i'm formatted and putting windows on, that way it can only be C and I'm not gonna wipe my po.. personal files. Then reconnect them after, __________________ HardwareHeaven on Facebook

Mar 25, 2003, 08:03 AM	#6
DriveEuro HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gurnee Illinois Posts: 4,677 Rep Power: 0	You cannot modify the drive letter of a boot or system volume. I had that problem last week. Bugged the hell outta me. I said, "fuck it" and reinstalled and all my drive letter (C-G) are good now. __________________ [color=orange]ASUS P4P800 Deluxe [color=black]-[/color] 2.4C --> 3300mhz [color=black]-[/color] Mushkin PC3200 at 220 5-2-2-2 (cpu limited) [color=black]-[/color] BBAti 9800Pro at 430/375 [/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]01[/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]03[/color] 16001200 12801024

Mar 25, 2003, 01:29 PM	Thread Starter #7
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	I'm just gonna leave it I got it setup as C=F, D=G, E=H and F=I.

Mar 25, 2003, 04:57 PM	#8
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	re okay and at anytime if you like to change system/boot partition from F: to C: then use this it'll work the same on XP HOW TO: Change the System/Boot Drive Letter in Windows http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;223188 thiss just incase.. Unable to Log on if the Boot Partition Drive Letter Has Changed http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;249321

Mar 26, 2003, 09:47 AM	#12
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	re you may or may not know this "Many MS-DOS-based and Windows-based programs make references to a specific drive letter (for example, environment variables). If you modify the drive letter, these programs may not function correctly" anyway if its happened just reinstall the program.

Mar 26, 2003, 11:58 AM	Thread Starter #13
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	Well I changed the drive letter from F: to C:, & restarted, but then I could know longer log into Windows. Trying info from the other article that panging posted, the only thing I could do was to try and create a new MBR but that didn't work. I tried running a repair on Windows and was then able to log on, however none of my programs would run. So now I am formating and installing Windows to finaly resolve this problem.

Mar 26, 2003, 12:42 PM	#14
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	re oh well sorry to hear that. "Windows" is my favorite natural disaster!