Drive Letters

G

Guest

Don't ask how I did it:

Have 80 GB hard drive. Somehow partitioned drive so that I have drive C:\ (part1drive1) set at 3.5 GB.
D:\ is my CD\DVD drive.
E:\ is the rest of 80 GB hard drive. All of my programs, etc are on E:\.
How do I either get rid of 3.5 GB section all together or have the E:\ section be recognized as my C:\ drive.
 
C

Carey Frisch [MVP]

First of all, 3.5GB is too small a partition for Windows XP. I suggest
having at least a 8GB partition for the O/S in order to accomodate
future services packs and updates.

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 the monitor, 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/

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


| Don't ask how I did it:
|
| Have 80 GB hard drive. Somehow partitioned drive so that I have drive C:\ (part1drive1) set at 3.5 GB.
| D:\ is my CD\DVD drive.
| E:\ is the rest of 80 GB hard drive. All of my programs, etc are on E:\.
| How do I either get rid of 3.5 GB section all together or have the E:\ section be recognized as my C:\
drive.
 
G

Guest

Thanks for quick response.

There is only one physical drive. C:\ was originally setup for Win 98. Think it is XP now. I really want to avoid reformat. All software and work are done on E:\. Just want it to be C:\

If reformatting is the only answer, do you have any advice as to how to avoid having to re-install all software, including O/S?
 

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