How do I rename hard drive F: to C:

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jim
  • Start date Start date
J

Jim

Recently installed a new drive but I did not remove old
C: drive first (old drive nfg)New drive formatted as F:
but now I can't rename it. The problem now is that I need
to install some software patches, but they will only
install on C: If possible, how do I rename F: to C:
 
"Jim" said in news:[email protected]:
Recently installed a new drive but I did not remove old
C: drive first (old drive nfg)New drive formatted as F:
but now I can't rename it. The problem now is that I need
to install some software patches, but they will only
install on C: If possible, how do I rename F: to C:
Click to expand...

Run diskmgmt.msc and reassign the drive letters. You cannot reassign one drive to a drive letter that is inuse, so you'll have to first reassign the other drive so you can usurp its old drive letter.
 
"*Vanguard*" said in news:[email protected]:
"Jim" said in news:[email protected]:

Run diskmgmt.msc and reassign the drive letters. You cannot reassign
one drive to a drive letter that is inuse, so you'll have to first
reassign the other drive so you can usurp its old drive letter.
Click to expand...

Forgot to mention. If you installed when the drive was F: but is now C:, applications may not run or you cannot find some data files. That's because their full path got recorded in their config files or in the registry. You'll have to search for their references and change F: to C:. Search the registry for "F:\" to find them. Do a file search to look for "F:\" to find the config files unless you can find them yourself, like maybe they are in the same path as where the application got installed.
 
why not use Partition Magic? first rename C to another drive (E, or G
whatever), then rename F to C
Patrick@Shanghai

"*Vanguard*" said in news:[email protected]:
"Jim" said in news:[email protected]:

Run diskmgmt.msc and reassign the drive letters. You cannot reassign
one drive to a drive letter that is inuse, so you'll have to first
reassign the other drive so you can usurp its old drive letter.
Click to expand...

Forgot to mention. If you installed when the drive was F: but is now C:,
applications may not run or you cannot find some data files. That's because
their full path got recorded in their config files or in the registry.
You'll have to search for their references and change F: to C:. Search the
registry for "F:\" to find them. Do a file search to look for "F:\" to find
the config files unless you can find them yourself, like maybe they are in
the same path as where the application got installed.
 
Jim said:
Recently installed a new drive but I did not remove old
C: drive first (old drive nfg)New drive formatted as F:
but now I can't rename it. The problem now is that I need
to install some software patches, but they will only
install on C: If possible, how do I rename F: to C:
Click to expand...


Once installed (as I understand it you have the system on this drive) it
is impracticable to change the letter - it is too pervasive in the
registry. You will have to start over, with the other drive
disconnected for the moment, and delete and remake the partition in the
course of a fresh install.

Another course you could consider is 'cloning' the original partition
onto the new drive - for that I use BootIT NG, from
http://www.BootitNG.com ($35 shareware - 30 day full functional trial)

Download, to its own folder, extract from the zip, run the bootitng to
make a boot floppy.

With the new drive plugged in as slave/secondary, boot the floppy,
Cancel Install, entering maintenance, then click on Partition work.
You would need to start by selecting HD1 - the new drive - on the left
and deleting the partition you made. Then select HD0; Highlight your
C:,Copy, then on left select HD1, highlight the Free Space now in it,
and Paste.

You might then consider a resize up a bit. Or leave some free space so
as later to make a new separate partition it

Now click on 'View MBR' and in it highlight the entry for this new C
partition and click the 'Set Active' Click 'Write Standard MBR' and
Apply.

Close out, swap the disks to make the new one the one that boots, and
reboot into XP.
 
"The Undertaker" said in news:[email protected]:
why not use Partition Magic? first rename C to another drive (E, or G
whatever), then rename F to C
Patrick@Shanghai
Click to expand...

I wasn't aware the OP was looking for a 3rd party solution. Are you saying the Disk Management MMC already provided in Windows XP won't let you reassign drive letters to drives? Well, I know that I've done it often and successfully, too, under Windows 2000 and I doubt Windows XP doesn't provide the same features if not more.

PartitionMagic has its DriveMapper utility that supposedly will do the searches for you regarding paths that change due to drive letter reassignments. Never used it ... yet. I suppose DriveMapper performs the changes for you in the registry but searching on "F:\" to change to "C:\" seems simple enough. I don't know if DriveMapper also searches through all the files to find references of "F:\" to change them to "C:\".
 
-----Original Message-----
Recently installed a new drive but I did not remove old
C: drive first (old drive nfg)New drive formatted as F:
but now I can't rename it. The problem now is that I need
to install some software patches, but they will only
install on C: If possible, how do I rename F: to C:
.
Click to expand...
I thought it is best that you disconnect all others drive
except the current F:/ drive.
Repartition the drive, format then reinstall windows
Note: It might be best to boot window up at least once
before you hook up the other drives.
 
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