HDD incorrectly labeled with new XP install

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Hi: Here's a good one. Upgraded to XP from W2K last night. Went with a new
install not upgrade. Floppy is "A", CD is "D" but the HDD instead of being
"C" is now "E". Formatted and reinstalled twice with same result each time.
When I plug in my USB Flash drive it's labeled "C". What's going on? I'm
stumped.
Thanks,
Mike
 
Don't why it's happening but you can easily re-assign drive letters.

Click on <Start><Control Panel><Administrative Tools><Computer Management
(local)><Disk Management>

Regards.

Bill Ridgeway
Computer Solutions
 
You won't be able to reassign system/boot drive letter, that might send
the pc in a continous reboot loop when you restart the pc or you may get
other error messages that may prevent you from rebooting the computer.

John
 
See here for an overview of how drive letters are assigned during XP Setup:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/c12621675.mspx#ELNAC

The same information is here in a Windows 2000 explanation, pretty well
all the same for XP, just explained a bit differently:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/234048/

The problem you describe sometimes happen when you create and format
more than one partition with the Windows Setup program. One way around
the problem is usually to exit the setup program after you create the
partition(s) then restart the setup operation. If the USB flash drive
is mistakenly detected as a fixed drive then remove the device for the
Windows installation then install it only after Windows is installed, if
needed unplug the cable that go from the motherboard to the USB port.

John
 
Hi Bill: I did what you suggested, then clicked "Action", "All Tasks",
"Change Drive letter & paths" it gave me "Windows cannot modify the drive
letter of your system volume or boot volume". Am I doing something wrong?
Mike
 
John: Appreciate the links. I'll definitely read them. The funny thing
though is during installation it did not ask me to partition the drive. It
found the drive and just asked to format it. I used the quick NTFS format
(did the full format on the previous attempted install) and then it proceded
to install the S/W. But you have given me the idea to erase the current
partition and partition it anew. Since my previous OS was W2K and my drive
was "C" I felt there was no need to go through the partitioning again but I
now will. Truthfully, I was ready to physically pull the drive and check the
jumper settings. I'll re-partition first. Thanks for your help.
Mike
 
You may as well completely flatten the installation and start again from
scratch, it's the only suitable way of fixing the boot volume letter
assignment. Read the instructions carefully at the drive/partition
screen and you will see that you will be offered the option to delete
the partition(s) then recreate it/them. Exit the installation after you
recreate the partition and reboot the computer and start again. Do a
proper full format and install on the newly formatted C drive, that
usually prevents these unexpected drive letter assignments. The problem
that you experienced is not unusual in these type of circumstances or
when a previous operating system is detected by the setup program.

If you chose to forgo the reinstallation then you will have to live with
Windows on drive D and cuss at it every time you use the computer ;-)

John
 
Hi John: Thank you so much for your help and insight. That's exactly what I
was doing (cussing) when this happened. To have to keep a watch & change the
drive letter everytime you install a piece of new S/W is not what I wanted to
do. I'm in the process of erasing the disk now and will be re-installing XP
with a new partition. I will follow your directions closely. Thanks again.
Mike
 
You're welcome.

John
Hi John: Thank you so much for your help and insight. That's exactly what I
was doing (cussing) when this happened. To have to keep a watch & change the
drive letter everytime you install a piece of new S/W is not what I wanted to
do. I'm in the process of erasing the disk now and will be re-installing XP
with a new partition. I will follow your directions closely. Thanks again.
Mike

:
Click to expand...
 
Michael

Disconnect your USB drive when installing the OS or it will happen again..
 
Thanks Mike I did along with my USB external HDD, my Iomega drive, printers
etc. I've also been in touch with MS and I disconnected everything but the
mouse, keyboard & monitor. So far it's looking good. I deleted the
partition & recreated it and XP installation is calling it drive "C". Will
see once it's finished and I open "My Computer"
Mike
 
Hi All: I'd like to thank everyone, John, Bill, & Mike for your help.
Everything worked out and I now have a Local Drive "C".
Mike
 
Back
Top