Reformatting hard drive - can I change the drive letter?

H

Hungerdunger

I need to reformat my Hard Drive and reinstall XP.

When I first installed XP I stupidly forgot to disconnect an internal Zip
drive with the result that the Zip was allocated c: and the Hard Drive was
allocated f:

I want to make sure this doesn't happen again, but if I use the Windows XP
Recovery Console on the CD isn't this just going to format f: and then
reload Windows onto it again or will I have the option of reassigning the
drive letter? Is there a better way of doing things to make sure I end up
with my Hard Drive becoming the c: drive again?
 
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.

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/athome/security/protect/default.mspx

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 - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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

:

| I need to reformat my Hard Drive and reinstall XP.
|
| When I first installed XP I stupidly forgot to disconnect an internal Zip
| drive with the result that the Zip was allocated c: and the Hard Drive was
| allocated f:
|
| I want to make sure this doesn't happen again, but if I use the Windows XP
| Recovery Console on the CD isn't this just going to format f: and then
| reload Windows onto it again or will I have the option of reassigning the
| drive letter? Is there a better way of doing things to make sure I end up
| with my Hard Drive becoming the c: drive again?
| --
| Hungerdunger
| To reply by email, remove the MARX from my address
 
B

ByTor

I need to reformat my Hard Drive and reinstall XP.

When I first installed XP I stupidly forgot to disconnect an internal Zip
drive with the result that the Zip was allocated c: and the Hard Drive was
allocated f:

I want to make sure this doesn't happen again, but if I use the Windows XP
Recovery Console on the CD isn't this just going to format f: and then
reload Windows onto it again or will I have the option of reassigning the
drive letter? Is there a better way of doing things to make sure I end up
with my Hard Drive becoming the c: drive again?

Just one of the stupidities of using Windozes way of installing that a
third party partitioner resolves allowing you to set the "active"
partition before install when dealing with numerous drives connected to
the machine...........
Disconnect your device and than install if the CD is all you have to
work with.......
--
*************************************************
The Tobes of Hades, lit by flickering torchlight
The netherworld is gathered in the glare
Prince By-Tor takes the cavern to the north light
The sign of Eth is rising in the air.
By-Tor, knight of darkness,
Centurion of evil, devil's prince.

http://www.thekidfrombrooklyn.com/
 
H

Hungerdunger

Carey Frisch said:
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.
Thanks for the reply and the advice.

I found out my mistake with the Zip Drive quite soon after installation, but
at the time didn't think it would be as annoying as it has proved to be. I
won't make the same mistake again!
 
D

Dennis Lazo

hmmm...well, our mistakes make us wiser...and we all have to go thru such
things in order for us to learn from them.

regards!
 
G

GTS

This is the result of a bug in the XP installation procedure. It fails to
properly identify and enumerate drives. It will do the same thing if media
card readers or USB drives are attached. There is no way you could
reasonably have anticipated it.
 

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