rephrasing the question...does primary WinXP have to be "C:\" ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jetstar88
  • Start date Start date
J

jetstar88

My earlier post was kind of asking the same thing, but no one
responded, so maybe it was worded poorly.

I'd like to change my current configuration and am wondering if the
partition containing Windows XP (Pro) must be designated as "C:\" if
its a primary partition. I am able to use Partition Magic to change
the letter when its a logical partition, but Windows either fails to
boot at all, or ignores the change when its a Primary Partition. Even
with an install where Ntloader and Boot.ini files are on separate
partition...little "system" or "mini" partition...the separate Windows
drive can't be changed from "C".

Is it impossible. Would re-install fail too (not that I'm willing to
do that anyway), or is there a method to do this? I could almost swear
that when I originally installed it, XP had actually designated the
"mini" partition as "C" and the Windows partition (on separate disk)
as "D", and I changed it. Now, I have had a chnaged of heart, and
would rather it be the reverse ("C" for the mini, and "D" for
Windows). But maybe primary Windows can't be anything but "C" and my
memory is clouded?

Thanks for any input or ideas,

Larry
 
Jet Star --

Windows XP may be installed on either a primary or logical
partition. However, the boot files must reside on the primary
partition (C:). Once Windows XP is installed, all the registry
entries reference the partition it was installed on. Therefore,
the only real way of getting Windows XP on your C: partition
is to start over from scratch:

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

1. Open your BIOS and set your CD Drive as the first bootable device.
2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition(s), then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. After installing Windows XP, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

7. It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except for you mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.
After XP is installed, visit the support website of the manufacturer
of each hardware device to obtain the latest drivers or software
designed to work with Windows XP.



--
Nicholas

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| My earlier post was kind of asking the same thing, but no one
| responded, so maybe it was worded poorly.
|
| I'd like to change my current configuration and am wondering if the
| partition containing Windows XP (Pro) must be designated as "C:\" if
| its a primary partition. I am able to use Partition Magic to change
| the letter when its a logical partition, but Windows either fails to
| boot at all, or ignores the change when its a Primary Partition. Even
| with an install where Ntloader and Boot.ini files are on separate
| partition...little "system" or "mini" partition...the separate Windows
| drive can't be changed from "C".
|
| Is it impossible. Would re-install fail too (not that I'm willing to
| do that anyway), or is there a method to do this? I could almost swear
| that when I originally installed it, XP had actually designated the
| "mini" partition as "C" and the Windows partition (on separate disk)
| as "D", and I changed it. Now, I have had a chnaged of heart, and
| would rather it be the reverse ("C" for the mini, and "D" for
| Windows). But maybe primary Windows can't be anything but "C" and my
| memory is clouded?
|
| Thanks for any input or ideas,
|
| Larry
 
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