Drive letter assignment

  • Thread starter Thread starter Stephan
  • Start date Start date
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Stephan

Hi all,
I have on
IDE 0
master: 160gb seagate drive 30g main partition 10g partition for temp stuff, 120 g partition for data all formatted NFST
slave: 100mb ZIP drive

IDE 1
master: CDw/r drive
slave: DVD ROM

I just installed 2002 XP pro W/ servicepack 1

when all was said and done,
the zip drive turned out to be C:
and the "home: drive E: (30G partition)
the 10G partition assigned (F:)
and the 120G partition (G:)


is this normal?
I don't like it because most software / drivers
assume drive c: is where the os is installed.
can I change it, or do I need to unplug most hardware, then
start over?

thanx
Stephan
 
Drive Letters Change Unexpectedly When You Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;326683&Product=winxp

You'll have to physically disconnect whatever drive is shown as the current C: drive,
perform a "clean install", then reconnect that drive.

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except for you mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

1. Open your BIOS and set your CD Drive as the first bootable device.

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

7. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Hi all,
I have on
IDE 0
master: 160gb seagate drive 30g main partition 10g partition for temp stuff, 120 g partition for data all
formatted NFST
slave: 100mb ZIP drive

IDE 1
master: CDw/r drive
slave: DVD ROM

I just installed 2002 XP pro W/ servicepack 1

when all was said and done,
the zip drive turned out to be C:
and the "home: drive E: (30G partition)
the 10G partition assigned (F:)
and the 120G partition (G:)


is this normal?
I don't like it because most software / drivers
assume drive c: is where the os is installed.
can I change it, or do I need to unplug most hardware, then
start over?

thanx
Stephan
 
It's normal for a Zip drive to hijack the C: designation as it's own - every single time. Any knowledgeable person disconnects the Zip drive before installing the O/S, then reconnects it again after the install has been completed and everything is to their liking!

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

Hi all,
I have on
IDE 0
master: 160gb seagate drive 30g main partition 10g partition for temp stuff, 120 g partition for data all formatted NFST
slave: 100mb ZIP drive

IDE 1
master: CDw/r drive
slave: DVD ROM

I just installed 2002 XP pro W/ servicepack 1

when all was said and done,
the zip drive turned out to be C:
and the "home: drive E: (30G partition)
the 10G partition assigned (F:)
and the 120G partition (G:)


is this normal?
I don't like it because most software / drivers
assume drive c: is where the os is installed.
can I change it, or do I need to unplug most hardware, then
start over?

thanx
Stephan
 
Thats quite a informative answer the xp mvp typed,whatever a mvp think
they are (nt)...You can go to run,type:diskmgmt.ms
No drives can be changed if they are used as a paging file,you have to deselec
it in virtual-memory in system properties first.If they arent being used its ok,L.clic
the drive or partition,action,all,change.C: usually wont let you change to or from,bu
in youre case give it a try.
 
thanks.
brand new to XP,
never saw this kind of action in 98...

It's normal for a Zip drive to hijack the C: designation as it's own - every single time.
--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)
 
gave it a try. It wasn't happy to reassign the installation drive.
thanks for suggesting it, anyway.
stephan

Thats quite a informative answer the xp mvp typed,whatever a mvp thinks
they are (nt)...You can go to run,type:diskmgmt.msc
No drives can be changed if they are used as a paging file,you have to
deselect
it in virtual-memory in system properties first.If they arent being used
its ok,L.click
the drive or partition,action,all,change.C: usually wont let you change to
or from,but
in youre case give it a try.
 
You have found that you can't do that. As I said in my post, you have to
disconnect the Zip drive BEFORE installing Windows XP. You are in for a bit
of work when you redo your system from scratch!

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)
 
there are 2 files that prevent changing the boot drive letter, page file and hibernate file , you might try this.
a process I perform MONTHLY and has never failed to work.
if you do happen to have difficulty, let me know and can probably help you over it.

- Change Disk Drive Letters

First you must remember that you CANNOT change the letter for the

boot drive if it contains the PAGEFILE.SYS (swap file) and/or HIBERFILE.SYS(hibernate file).

To move pagefile.sys use Control Panel | System | Advanced tab | Settings

under Performance | Advanced tab again | Virtual Memory and CHANGE

button. set the drive you want to move FROM to NO Paging File and click on SET.

set the drive you want to move TO and click SET.

To turn off page file, same as above, but select No Paging file and then click the SET button

To disable hiberfile.sys use Control Panel | Power Options Hibernate tab.

THEN REBOOT and Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Computer Management | Disk

Management under Storage, then RIGHT click on the drive letter to change

and select the Change Letter option.

The drive letter you want to use MUST be available and not assigned to another drive.

THEN following the first procedure set the PAGEFILE.SYS back to the

drive it was on originally.

XP automatically adjusts the registry for the drive letter changes.



(e-mail address removed)



Hi all,
I have on
IDE 0
master: 160gb seagate drive 30g main partition 10g partition for temp stuff, 120 g partition for data all formatted NFST
slave: 100mb ZIP drive

IDE 1
master: CDw/r drive
slave: DVD ROM

I just installed 2002 XP pro W/ servicepack 1

when all was said and done,
the zip drive turned out to be C:
and the "home: drive E: (30G partition)
the 10G partition assigned (F:)
and the 120G partition (G:)


is this normal?
I don't like it because most software / drivers
assume drive c: is where the os is installed.
can I change it, or do I need to unplug most hardware, then
start over?

thanx
Stephan
 
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