Change floppy drive assignment from B: to A:

  • Thread starter Thread starter M Skabialka
  • Start date Start date
M

M Skabialka

I built myself a computer a couple of years ago and have Vista Ultimate on
it. Recently I went to create a floppy disk for maintenance on another
computer and found that the floppy drive (which I haven't used before) is
labeled as the B drive. How do I change that back to A? Right now I am
using
subst a: "b:"
which works for now but would rather set it permanently.
 
Hi, M.

As I recall, we always had to swap the FDD ribbon cable to change the floppy
drive letters.

My current (15 years old!) floppy drive is a combination unit with both 3.5"
and 5.25" drives in a half-height (remember that term?) case with only a
single cable for both drives. But in the olden days we had to use two
cables or a single cable with two physical connectors, usually split with a
few wires twisted between the first and second connectors. If you can't
remember - or can't find a reference - post back and we'll find what you
need.

Since the letter B: was practically never used, I've assigned it to one of
my USB flash drives and use it for B:\Backup of some of my data weekly. I
can use Disk Management to change that letter, but Disk Management doesn't
work for floppy drives. They are hard-wired.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100
 
Start Regedit and find:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices.

Under that you will see a \DosDevices\B:
Select the entry and press F2 (or Rt click and choose rename)
Rename to \DosDevices\A: (i.e change the B to an A)
Reboot and you should be good.

As always if you make a mistake in the registry your system could become
unusable so use caution. I would backup that key or at least have a restore
point that you could use.
 
M said:
I built myself a computer a couple of years ago and have Vista Ultimate on
it. Recently I went to create a floppy disk for maintenance on another
computer and found that the floppy drive (which I haven't used before) is
labeled as the B drive. How do I change that back to A? Right now I am
using
subst a: "b:"
which works for now but would rather set it permanently.
Click to expand...

My commandline tool ReMount can do this.
remount b: a:

http://www.uwe-sieber.de/drivetools_e.html#remount


Uwe
 
M said:
I built myself a computer a couple of years ago and have Vista Ultimate on
it. Recently I went to create a floppy disk for maintenance on another
computer and found that the floppy drive (which I haven't used before) is
labeled as the B drive. How do I change that back to A? Right now I am
using
subst a: "b:"
which works for now but would rather set it permanently.
Click to expand...

My commandline tool ReMount can do this.
remount b: a:

http://www.uwe-sieber.de/drivetools_e.html#remount


Uwe
 
I'll try this..

PaulB said:
Start Regedit and find:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices.

Under that you will see a \DosDevices\B:
Select the entry and press F2 (or Rt click and choose rename)
Rename to \DosDevices\A: (i.e change the B to an A)
Reboot and you should be good.

As always if you make a mistake in the registry your system could become
unusable so use caution. I would backup that key or at least have a
restore
point that you could use.
Click to expand...
 
It is actually very easy.
1. Go to the start menu and search for computer management
2.Click on Computer management
3.Click continue if you have UAC on.
4. In computer management go to storage
5. click on disk management(local)
6.Right click the floppy drive bar and click Change drive letter and path
7. click change
8, select A and hit ok
You have now changed your floppuy drive letter
 
Hi, Jesse.
6.Right click the floppy drive bar and click Change drive letter and path
Click to expand...

Did you actually try this?

I've been using Disk Management since Windows 2000 and I don't recall EVER
seeing a FLOPPY drive there.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100
 
There isn't a floppy drive in Disk Management on my Vista Ultimate computer
either, which is why I posed the question here!
Mich
 
Hi, Mich.

Have you found a solution yet? Can you tell us about it?

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100
 
Actaully I haven't rebooted yet - I'm in the middle of a game I don't want
to lose my progress in the level!! Will post when I reboot!
 
M Skabialka said:
There isn't a floppy drive in Disk Management on my Vista Ultimate
computer either, which is why I posed the question here!
Mich
Click to expand...

Have you checked your BIOS settings? Some have a Swap Floppy Drive Letter
option

Tom Lake
 
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