Help! Removable drives push Windows XP install to H:

P

PASSERBYremove

Installing Windows XP Pro + SP1 on an Asus sytem that has a "6-in-1"
memory card reader and (of course) a CD drive.

Hard disk was new and unformatted. It is set up as master on the first
IDE channel.

The CD Drive (actually a DVD-ROM) is set up as master on the second
IDE Channel

I asked for 2 partitions, putting the Windows directory on the 2nd.

Windows Setup decided
1 - to assign drive letters C: D: E: F: to the memory card reader
2 - to assign G: to the CD-Rom drive
3 - to assign H: and I: to the hard drive partitions!

I have never seen a Windows XP install behaving this way?
Any ideas?
I will redo the install but how does one avoid the problem
 
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 all 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. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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

8. 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.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]


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

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

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


| Installing Windows XP Pro + SP1 on an Asus sytem that has a "6-in-1"
| memory card reader and (of course) a CD drive.
|
| Hard disk was new and unformatted. It is set up as master on the first
| IDE channel.
|
| The CD Drive (actually a DVD-ROM) is set up as master on the second
| IDE Channel
|
| I asked for 2 partitions, putting the Windows directory on the 2nd.
|
| Windows Setup decided
| 1 - to assign drive letters C: D: E: F: to the memory card reader
| 2 - to assign G: to the CD-Rom drive
| 3 - to assign H: and I: to the hard drive partitions!
|
| I have never seen a Windows XP install behaving this way?
| Any ideas?
| I will redo the install but how does one avoid the problem
 
S

Steve Gear

Try not attaching the 6 in 1 reader until after XP has
been installed. Obviously it noticed these devices
during setup and assigned them in first order. This may
be due to having to load a third party driver for your
Hard Disk Controller.

Are you using SATA? Or IDE?

Either way, just leave it disconnected until you get to
the End of Setup and it should assign them correctly.
Then you can use Disk Management to assign them to
whatever drive you choose.
 
P

PASSERBYremove

Try not attaching the 6 in 1 reader until after XP has
been installed. Obviously it noticed these devices
during setup and assigned them in first order. This may
be due to having to load a third party driver for your
Hard Disk Controller.

Are you using SATA? Or IDE?

Using IDE. Clearly disconnecting the 6-in-1 reader is part of the
solution, as mentionned also by Carey

But why did Setup decide to place the CD-ROM before the hard disk?
I clearly can't disconnect the CD-ROM.
 

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