I screwed up an install of XP Home edition, no C drive

[~Aart]

HI,

I installed XP home on a neighbor's computer over the week end and left a
USB flash drive plugged into the USB port by mistake. It was there because
I was getting him printer drivers. Anyway,
During the install where it partitions things it showed a 128 meg drive but
I thought it was just a hidden partition Dell uses for restore or something
so I ignored it, and continued with the install using the remaining 20 gigs
of space. When it was finished, Windows was installed on the "F" drive.
That's when I noticed the USB drive was plugged in. oops.
So I figure no problem, just reassign the hd drive the letter "C" and were
off to the races. Not a chance. It keeps telling me it likes the letter
"F" and is going to keep it forever and I can use "C" for whatever I want,
but I'm not ever gonna be able to use it for the operating system. It's
really being testy about this and refuses to let me re-assign the drive
letter via the computer maintenance screens.

Is there away around this? I woulda just reformatted and started over but
like a dummy I activated the OS thinking all was according to hoyle.
Meanwhile, everything is working properly, but I'm afraid he will run into
an install package that will be looking to the "C" drive and not fine it,
bork, bork, etc.

Thanks in advance for any ideas on this.

Aart

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

One cannot change the boot partition letter without
performing a "clean install" of Windows XP.

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

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.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

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]

Note: If you are unable to activate Windows XP again via the internet,
then select the option to "activate by telephone".


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

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


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

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

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


| HI,
|
| I installed XP home on a neighbor's computer over the week end and left a
| USB flash drive plugged into the USB port by mistake. It was there because
| I was getting him printer drivers. Anyway,
| During the install where it partitions things it showed a 128 meg drive but
| I thought it was just a hidden partition Dell uses for restore or something
| so I ignored it, and continued with the install using the remaining 20 gigs
| of space. When it was finished, Windows was installed on the "F" drive.
| That's when I noticed the USB drive was plugged in. oops.
| So I figure no problem, just reassign the hd drive the letter "C" and were
| off to the races. Not a chance. It keeps telling me it likes the letter
| "F" and is going to keep it forever and I can use "C" for whatever I want,
| but I'm not ever gonna be able to use it for the operating system. It's
| really being testy about this and refuses to let me re-assign the drive
| letter via the computer maintenance screens.
|
| Is there away around this? I woulda just reformatted and started over but
| like a dummy I activated the OS thinking all was according to hoyle.
| Meanwhile, everything is working properly, but I'm afraid he will run into
| an install package that will be looking to the "C" drive and not fine it,
| bork, bork, etc.
|
| Thanks in advance for any ideas on this.
|
| Aart
|
|

 

[hustedj]

do a clean install and you should be back in action

Thanks

 

[Donald McDaniel]

do a clean install and you should be back in action

Thanks

This time, DONT FORGET to take the USB key out, and while you're at it,
disconnect PHYSICALLY all external drives, both USB or Firewire, and as
Carey has said, disconnect PHYSICALLY all INTERNAL Zip drives.

--
Donald L McDaniel
Post all replies to the Newsgroup,
so that all may be informed.
Remove the obvious to reply by email.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

[~Aart]

Hi Guys!

Thanks for the tips. I'll follow them from now on.

Aart