change drive from E to C?

  • Thread starter Thread starter lenny
  • Start date Start date
L

lenny

Hi,
I have just installed a new HD onto my computer and installed XP Pro onto
it. I then added it to the computer with a Cdrive that is already installed
and as a result my new drive is now Local Disk E. I have taken the old drive
out of the machine but the new drive is still E. How can I change it to C?
Cheers
 
You'll need to reinstall the operating system. (probably easiest without the
old drive connected) The original drive still contains the system partition.

To do a clean install, boot the Windows XP install CD-Rom. Setup inspects
your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to install the Setup
and driver files. When the Windows XP Professional screen appears, press
ENTER to set up Windows XP Professional.

(Note: If your drive controller is not natively supported then you'll want
to boot the Windows XP CD-Rom. Then *F6* very early and very important (at
setup is inspecting your system) in the setup to prevent drive controller
detection, and select S to specify additional drivers. Then later you'll be
prompted to insert the manufacturer supplied Windows XP driver for your
drive controller in drive "A")

Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to accept the terms of
the license agreement and continue the installation.

When the Windows XP Professional Setup screen appears, all the existing
partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard
disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partitions Press D to delete an
existing partition, If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must
then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System
partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this
step for each of the existing partitions When all the partitions are deleted
press F3 to exit setup, (to avoid unexpected drive letter assignments with
your new install) then restart the pc then when you get to this point in
setup again select the unpartitioned space, and then press C to create a new
partition and specify the size (if required). Windows will by default use
all available space.

Be sure to apply SP2 or at least these two below to your new install before
connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...be-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Hi,
| I have just installed a new HD onto my computer and installed XP Pro onto
| it. I then added it to the computer with a Cdrive that is already
installed
| and as a result my new drive is now Local Disk E. I have taken the old
drive
| out of the machine but the new drive is still E. How can I change it to C?
| Cheers
|
|
 
lenny said:
Hi,
I have just installed a new HD onto my computer and installed XP Pro onto
it. I then added it to the computer with a Cdrive that is already
installed and as a result my new drive is now Local Disk E. I have taken
the old drive out of the machine but the new drive is still E. How can I
change it to C?
Cheers
Click to expand...

One trick that may work.

Disconnect the existing C drive. Set the new drive to "master" connect it
and see if it takes over as C.
Next change the old C drive to slave and connect it. It should come up as
"E"
 
No, that won't work.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| One trick that may work.
|
| Disconnect the existing C drive. Set the new drive to "master" connect it
| and see if it takes over as C.
| Next change the old C drive to slave and connect it. It should come up as
| "E"
|
|
 
vernon said:
One trick that may work.

Disconnect the existing C drive. Set the new drive to "master" connect it
and see if it takes over as C.
Next change the old C drive to slave and connect it. It should come up as
"E"
Click to expand...


The fact that the OP said that he took out the old drive "but the new drive
is still E" means that he was able to get the new drive to be the boot drive.
Fiddling with the jumpers would just re-adjust the *default* HD boot order.
But by having the original head of that boot order (i.e. the old drive) removed,
the BIOS automatically reverted to using the next HD in the HD boot order,
i.e. the Slave new drive, with no jumper fiddling necessary. Reversing the
jumpers would only be necessary if the OP wanted to boot using the new
drive with both drives connected and he didn't want to re-adjust the HD
boot order in the BIOS.

*TimDaniels*
 
Dave Patrick said:
No, that won't work.
Click to expand...

I wont tell all the computers where it has worked.
--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| One trick that may work.
|
| Disconnect the existing C drive. Set the new drive to "master" connect
it
| and see if it takes over as C.
| Next change the old C drive to slave and connect it. It should come up
as
| "E"
|
|
Click to expand...
 
Not on any of the NT'ish operating systems. These articles may help you.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=234048
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=51978
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=225025

Also;
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223188/

(this is to restore only and doesn't happen by swapping the drive controller
channels)

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| I wont tell all the computers where it has worked.
 
Hi,
I have just installed a new HD onto my computer and installed
XP Pro onto
it. I then added it to the computer with a Cdrive that is
already installed
and as a result my new drive is now Local Disk E. I have taken
the old drive
out of the machine but the new drive is still E. How can I
change it to C?
Cheers
Click to expand...

Reinstalling windows is the only way to change the system drive
letter.
 
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