Drive Names

R

Ro

I installed XP Pro directly from the cd to a fresh
unformatted hard drive (partitioned and formatted during
the install). Somehow, the system got a little confused
and decided to make my cd drive "D:", my flash card
reader "C:", and my hard drive partitions "E:" & "F:"

Why did the system do this strange drive labeling? If I
were to go into system management and change the drive
letters around, what problems could occure?
 
C

Carey Frisch [MVP]

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/

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


|I installed XP Pro directly from the cd to a fresh
| unformatted hard drive (partitioned and formatted during
| the install). Somehow, the system got a little confused
| and decided to make my cd drive "D:", my flash card
| reader "C:", and my hard drive partitions "E:" & "F:"
|
| Why did the system do this strange drive labeling? If I
| were to go into system management and change the drive
| letters around, what problems could occure?
|
 

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