Hard Drive Mappings on XP Pro Machine

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Hard Drive Mapping after new HD install.

Windows XP Pro SP2
512MB Ram
AMD Athlon64 3000+
Abit Guru Motherboard
Nvidia FX5200 Graphics Card
Onboard Giga Bit Lan Adapter
DSL - Wirespeed Modem
3COM - Network 4 port workgroup hub

* There are questions and or statements below in between each HD stats
section.*
Hard Drive List and Specs:

1)WDC WD800JB-00JJA0 - 80GB

Disk -- Disk 1 - NTFS
Type - Basic
Status - Online Healthy (System)
Partition Style - Master Boot Record (MBR)
Capacity - 76316 MB
Unallocated space - 0 MB
Reserved space - 0 MB
Volumes ----------------------------------------- Capacity
DRV1_VOL1(C:) ------------------------------ 40013 MB
DRV1_VOL2(E:) ------------------------------ 36303 MB

As you can see above I ended up with drive letters C: and E: instead of
drive C: and D: on the PRIMARY BOOT DRIVE.
WHY?

2)WDC WD800JB-00JJC0 - 80GB

Disk - Disk 2 - NTFS
Type - Basic
Status - Online
Partition Style - Master Boot Record (MBR)
Capacity - 76317 MB
Unallocated space - 0 MB
Reserved space - 0 MB
Volumes ---------------------------------------- Capacity
Video Main (J:) -------------------------------- 76317 MB

This is just a backup video drive to save mini-DV captured video to.



3)WDC WD1600JD-00HBB0 - 160GB SATA

Disk - Disk 0 - NTFS
Type - Basic
Status - Online Healthy (Active)
Partition Style - Master Boot Record (MBR)
Capacity - 152626 MB
Unallocated Space: 0 MB
Reserved Space - 0 MB
Volumes ------------------------------------------ Capacity
DRV1_VOL1(D:) ------------------------------- 38696 MB
DRV1_VOL2(F:) ------------------------------- 38515 MB
DRV1_VOL3(G:) ------------------------------- 75415 MB

This drive was installed just as a data drive in case of a CRASH and it's a
little faster that the other IDE drives.
But notice the drive mapping, Why did it create such a gap and interlaced
the drive letters with the primary 80GB
IDE drive? It's marked as active is why I assume it did the mappings the way
it did.
My main question here is, Can I re-mark the drive as not active without
repartitioning the entire drive, and will that fix
the drive letter mapping?


4)IC25N007 ATDA04-0 USB Device - Ext. USB Enclosure w 2.5mm HD Travelstar

Disk - 3
Type - Basic - FAT32
Status - Online Healthy
Partition Style - Master Boot Record (MBR)
Capacity - 4.35gb + 981mb
Unallocated space - 0 MB
Reserved space - 0 MB
Volumes ------------------------------------------ Capacity
DATA(N:) ----------------------------------------- 6150 MB
DED BACKUP(X:) ----------------------------- 981 MB

This is just a backup drive used for fast backups and restores for personal
data.

Final Statement and Questions:

Does it really matter if the drive letters are interlaced the way they are
between the SATA drive and the Primary 80gb
IDE drive? If not then I would really perfer not to screw with it. It works
fine. I have seen this happen before when installing
2 IDE drive's when both have a primary partition on them. I just wanted to
be able to unplug the SATA drive if I wanted
to without it playing havoc on my drive letter mappings. Some program
installations were done using the drive letter (D:)
and if unplugged (SATA) then I would have to use the management console to
remap letters so those programs will still
work.


Thanks In Advance for your help, Sid Saxon
 
Hard Drive Mapping after new HD install.

Windows XP Pro SP2
512MB Ram
AMD Athlon64 3000+
Abit Guru Motherboard
Nvidia FX5200 Graphics Card
Onboard Giga Bit Lan Adapter
DSL - Wirespeed Modem
3COM - Network 4 port workgroup hub

* There are questions and or statements below in between each HD stats
section.*
Hard Drive List and Specs:

1)WDC WD800JB-00JJA0 - 80GB

Disk -- Disk 1 - NTFS
Type - Basic
Status - Online Healthy (System)
Partition Style - Master Boot Record (MBR)
Capacity - 76316 MB
Unallocated space - 0 MB
Reserved space - 0 MB
Volumes ----------------------------------------- Capacity
DRV1_VOL1(C:) ------------------------------ 40013 MB
DRV1_VOL2(E:) ------------------------------ 36303 MB

As you can see above I ended up with drive letters C: and E: instead of
drive C: and D: on the PRIMARY BOOT DRIVE.
WHY?
Click to expand...

<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/c12621675.mspx#ELNAC>
Managing Volumes During Windows XP Professional Setup
Creating Volumes During Windows XP Professional Setup

Setup assigns drive letters by using the following method:

1. Scans all fixed hard disks as they are enumerated. Assigns drive
letters starting with any active primary partition (if one exists);
otherwise, scans the first primary partition on each disk. Assigns the
next available letter, starting with C.

2. Scans all fixed hard disks and removable disks, and assigns drive
letters to all logical drives in an extended partition or the
removable disks as enumerated. Assigns the next available letter,
starting with C.

3. Scans all fixed hard disks, and assigns drive letters to all
remaining primary partitions. Assigns the next available letter,
starting with C.

4. Scans floppy drives, and assigns the next available drive letter,
starting with A.

5. Scans CD-ROM drives, and assigns the next available letter,
starting with D.
2)WDC WD800JB-00JJC0 - 80GB

Disk - Disk 2 - NTFS
Type - Basic
Status - Online
Partition Style - Master Boot Record (MBR)
Capacity - 76317 MB
Unallocated space - 0 MB
Reserved space - 0 MB
Volumes ---------------------------------------- Capacity
Video Main (J:) -------------------------------- 76317 MB

This is just a backup video drive to save mini-DV captured video to.



3)WDC WD1600JD-00HBB0 - 160GB SATA

Disk - Disk 0 - NTFS
Type - Basic
Status - Online Healthy (Active)
Partition Style - Master Boot Record (MBR)
Capacity - 152626 MB
Unallocated Space: 0 MB
Reserved Space - 0 MB
Volumes ------------------------------------------ Capacity
DRV1_VOL1(D:) ------------------------------- 38696 MB
DRV1_VOL2(F:) ------------------------------- 38515 MB
DRV1_VOL3(G:) ------------------------------- 75415 MB

This drive was installed just as a data drive in case of a CRASH and it's a
little faster that the other IDE drives.
But notice the drive mapping, Why did it create such a gap and interlaced
the drive letters with the primary 80GB
IDE drive? It's marked as active is why I assume it did the mappings the way
it did.
Click to expand...

Don't think it matters if it's active, just that it's primary.
My main question here is, Can I re-mark the drive as not active without
repartitioning the entire drive, and will that fix
the drive letter mapping?
Click to expand...

Disk Management allows you to change drive letters for any partition
that is not boot nor system.
4)IC25N007 ATDA04-0 USB Device - Ext. USB Enclosure w 2.5mm HD Travelstar

Disk - 3
Type - Basic - FAT32
Status - Online Healthy
Partition Style - Master Boot Record (MBR)
Capacity - 4.35gb + 981mb
Unallocated space - 0 MB
Reserved space - 0 MB
Volumes ------------------------------------------ Capacity
DATA(N:) ----------------------------------------- 6150 MB
DED BACKUP(X:) ----------------------------- 981 MB

This is just a backup drive used for fast backups and restores for personal
data.

Final Statement and Questions:

Does it really matter if the drive letters are interlaced the way they are
between the SATA drive and the Primary 80gb
IDE drive?
Click to expand...

No. Strictly personal preference.
 
Thanks Andy.

Andy said:
<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/c12621675.mspx#ELNAC>
Managing Volumes During Windows XP Professional Setup
Creating Volumes During Windows XP Professional Setup

Setup assigns drive letters by using the following method:

1. Scans all fixed hard disks as they are enumerated. Assigns drive
letters starting with any active primary partition (if one exists);
otherwise, scans the first primary partition on each disk. Assigns the
next available letter, starting with C.

2. Scans all fixed hard disks and removable disks, and assigns drive
letters to all logical drives in an extended partition or the
removable disks as enumerated. Assigns the next available letter,
starting with C.

3. Scans all fixed hard disks, and assigns drive letters to all
remaining primary partitions. Assigns the next available letter,
starting with C.

4. Scans floppy drives, and assigns the next available drive letter,
starting with A.

5. Scans CD-ROM drives, and assigns the next available letter,
starting with D.


Don't think it matters if it's active, just that it's primary.


Disk Management allows you to change drive letters for any partition
that is not boot nor system.


No. Strictly personal preference.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Brian, I appreciate the help. as always!

Brian A said:
If you want you can simply change the drive letter to show as you wish with a few
letter shuffles.
Right click MyComputer and click Manage in the popup list.
Click Disk Management.
Right click a drive/partition and select "Change drive letter".


--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
Click to expand...
 
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