Drive Letter Reassignment

Foe · 25-September-05, 08:19 AM

Where to begin...

Changed mobo and video card in my primary PC, and I got trouble a plenty. So I will try to tackel these issues one at a time, with your help.

First problem:
I have two drives. My original C drive got changed to my D drive and my D got changed to D(please don't ask how), and now I need to change it back.

Have tried the usual:
1. Open the Control Panel
2. Select Classic View (if not already setup that way)
3. Click Administrative Tools Folder
4. Double-click the Computer Management icon
5. Computer Management window will open. Click storage in the left page.
6. Double-click Disk Management
7. Right-click the drive you want to change
8. Select Change Drive Letter and Paths
9. Click the Change Button
10. Select the drive letter to which you want to assign it
11. Note the warning and agree if you accept the risks
12. Close out the disk management

But it did not work. It will not let me rename either drive. Even tried renaming to a lower letter then going back to C & D, but it is not having any of it.

Help?

Fu3lman · 25-September-05, 09:10 AM

you need to physically remove the secondary hard drive, boot up the system and allow windows to free up that drive letter, change your primary to that drive letter (most of the time, it does so automatically) and then power off the system and put the secondary hdd back in...

and to simplify the process a step or two further, you can simply right click on My Computer and click Manage to get to Computer Management

Foe · 25-September-05, 11:14 AM

Thanks for the reply Fu3l
Unfortunately, that did not work. Had to reload windows, yet again to reassign the drive letters.

Now the problem is that I can see all my programs loaded in the Program Files folder, but that is as far as it goes. I truly don't want to re-install them all over again. Any solution or ideas on that?

HoJo · 25-September-05, 11:49 AM

Windows will not let you change the letter assignment of your boot drive. At least I've never heard of a way to do it.

Fu3lman · 25-September-05, 12:07 PM

it can be done, and i have done it before

it has A LOT to do with the drives location on the IDE cable (master, slave) and the drive set as bootable, this kind of problem usually occurs when someone adds or removes hard drives from an ide chain after installing windows

it will take some messing with, but i assure you it can be done, and it will involve taking drives off the ide cable, booting up, assigning letters, and possibly even changing the drives IDE priority (master, slave)...it will take a bit of luck, and it works better for some people than it does for others, but i promise it can be done (for PATA drives, at least, i dont see why there would be any difference)...

might i recommend you put the hard drives on seperate ide channels completely, this will actually speed things up overall (drives not sharing bandwidth) and further prevent the whole "c being d" bs...

=========================

about the new problem, if you reloaded windows, and you are having trouble "running" your programs, there is good reason....when you installed those programs, they embedded necessary information into things like the windows registry and startup, and installed required libraries and other files into the windows system folders...

now that you have reinstalled windows, those files are no longer there, the application is expecting windows to do some of the work, or provide some of the information, and windows is just like "hey, i have never seen this program before in my life"...

your solution to that would be to just reinstall the application WITHOUT uninstalling the old one, many times, your old application folder will still contain saved settings, skins, profiles, etc, and even after reinstalling, they will still work, the only reason you are re-istalling in the first place is to make windows fully aware of the program, and capable of running it in the first place...

THRiLL KiLL · 25-September-05, 01:52 PM

fullman hit it on the nose...

unplug your second drive.

reinstall windows (over exisiting... dont format)

reboot... verify that it is now c:

replug in drive d:

Foe · 25-September-05, 02:08 PM

Thanks again Fu3l. I don't mind reloading the programs so much (4th XP reload was a charm), but I would really like to be able to access my files for Firefox and Thunderbird. Things like my email addresses, bookmarks, etc.

Think I will check the Mozilla forums to see if there is a way to do that.But if anyone knows please let me know.

Fu3lman · 25-September-05, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foe


	Thanks again Fu3l. I don't mind reloading the programs so much (4th XP reload was a charm), but I would really like to be able to access my files for Firefox and Thunderbird. Things like my email addresses, bookmarks, etc. Think I will check the Mozilla forums to see if there is a way to do that.But if anyone knows please let me know.

if you can still open them at all, go to bookmarks, then manage, and in the file menu, export them to your desktop, then once you reinstall firefox and whatnot, import them....

not sure how that would help you if you already formatted and whatnot...

billb · 26-September-05, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foe


	Thanks again Fu3l. I don't mind reloading the programs so much (4th XP reload was a charm), but I would really like to be able to access my files for Firefox and Thunderbird. Things like my email addresses, bookmarks, etc. Think I will check the Mozilla forums to see if there is a way to do that.But if anyone knows please let me know.

You're screwed! Yes you have to reinstall everything. Some will save settings etc. , some won't, A new install of Forefox will save everything be just like it was. Good luck.

Hibiki · 26-September-05, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billb


	You're screwed! Yes you have to reinstall everything. Some will save settings etc. , some won't, A new install of Forefox will save everything be just like it was. Good luck.

How the hell did you think that post was useful?!

As for Foe, try copying the program folders for your browsers, the information you want saved might be in there somewhere. I'm not sure it'll work, but you could reinstall the browser software and then overwrite them with your backup to restore your information while registering the program with Windows.

As for the drive letter problem, have you tried Window's System Restore option?

WrathOfSocrus · 26-September-05, 03:23 AM

I have installed Windows over an existing installation a few times to avoid having to reinstall every little bit. If you change partitions/format a drive you will lose all information. I'm sure it is in there and could be found, but the file structure is lost and cannot be recovered by normal means. I can only give 2 pieces of advice:

1- a little trick I learned about XP is it is a bit adaptive to change. If the mobo you are swapping to has the same northbridge as the mobo you are coming from, it should be a snap. Simply replace the mobo and hook it back up as if nothing happened. Windows will find new hardware, and after installing the proper mobo drivers, you should have no further problems. I have swapped between old PIII's and slot A Athlons, but I think I got lucky there. The drivers were already in windows and it was true plug and play with old hardware.

2- one phrase you can never hear enough times: BACK-UP! A hard drive is an FRU (Field Replacable Unit). Other than fans and optical drives, your hard drive is one of the few moving parts inside your case (unless of course you don't use a case, which is another matter entirely). Any moving part is destined to fail, and if you can't afford to lose certain information, it is IMPERATIVE to use a solid state, non moving memory device to make a back-up on. With the relative inexpesiveness of USB thumb drives and blank CD's, its plain crazy to not back-up anything important. Even if it is semi important, if your hard drive is the only holder of a piece of info, say goodbye.

That said, I have some old drives from Samsung and Seagate that have never let me down. Just because they rule and give superior reliabilty in my findings doesn't make me slack on my back-up routines. Just because I have sent more Western Digital hard drives to their graves than I can count doesn't change it either. There are numerous places where you can learn about how to back-up, different schemes and types of media to use. I know that hearing this wont bring back any files, but hopefully it is a lesson to learn only once. Make a back-up maintenance schedule for all of your rigs, and adhere to it like your rig depends on it.

Foe · 26-September-05, 07:08 AM

Thanks to all for the help.

Basically it turned out I had to reinstall everything and statr over.As for the Thunderbird and Firefox issues I still am working on that. Especially my address book, and email folders.

billb · 26-September-05, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hibiki


	How the hell did you think that post was useful?! ... but you could reinstall the browser software and then overwrite them with your backup to restore your information while registering the program with Windows. As for the drive letter problem, have you tried Window's System Restore option?

Come on! He doesn't have a back-up. Once the disk is wiped (partitioned) the only choice is a reinstall of everything...like I said... like he had to do.

If a repartition was not done, then Firefox WIIL save everything he had when he
does an install of Firefox...also a good time to update to the latest version.

When using an old HD (and why wouldn't you upgrade to SAta II?) it's best to try and boot of the disk first, If that doesn't work, next is a windows reinstall (onto the same partition, not creating a new partition). Last is a new install with a new partition (or on a repartition of the existing primary boot partition.) And, as always, it's BEST to do the last first...then you have a clean install on a fresh partition. All three of these options have advantages/disadvantages and chances for success that I won't go into here, except to say that the last option ALWAYS works, but requires a reinstall of everything (including the driver update you did to get that CD, DVD, monitor, network card etc. working that you have forgotten you did)
Software backups are useless except for data and installation programs (if you don,t have the original disk or have not copied the install programs you're screwed)..

Foe · 26-September-05, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billb


	Come on! He doesn't have a back-up. Once the disk is wiped (partitioned) the only choice is a reinstall of everything...like I said... like he had to do. If a repartition was not done, then Firefox WIIL save everything he had when he does an install of Firefox...also a good time to update to the latest version. When using an old HD (and why wouldn't you upgrade to SAta II?) it's best to try and boot of the disk first, If that doesn't work, next is a windows reinstall (onto the same partition, not creating a new partition). Last is a new install with a new partition (or on a repartition of the existing primary boot partition.) And, as always, it's BEST to do the last first...then you have a clean install on a fresh partition. All three of these options have advantages/disadvantages and chances for success that I won't go into here, except to say that the last option ALWAYS works, but requires a reinstall of everything (including the driver update you did to get that CD, DVD, monitor, network card etc. working that you have forgotten you did) Software backups are useless except for data and installation programs (if you don,t have the original disk or have not copied the install programs you're screwed)..

billb
Thanks for your help I think, but I have solved the problems for the most part. Two things I did want to clear up for you though.
1) I am a she, not a he.
2) Yes I own all my programs, and have the original discs.

WrathOfSocrus · 26-September-05, 04:28 PM

When I was refering to back-ups, I meant either filesthat have been created on that rig, or any patches or whatnot that may be difficult/impossible to replace. All installation disks should be kept in the same safe place as your data back-ups. It is also recommended that you keep sensitive back-ups at an off-site location. But that is really for buisness usage. At home, if catastrophy that large were to occur, I doubt you would be worried about your bookmarks and signatures that were backed up . . .

Foe · 26-September-05, 05:25 PM

Actually I have and use Norton Ghost. But in this instance it did not work. Also have a second drive to store things, as well as a second PC. Unfortunately I had not done a complete setup of my email since the fall/winter of last year.

No matter now. It is all done and over. Except I am still trying to extract my email folders from my files, and have been unsuccesful in finding a way to do that.

billb · 27-September-05, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foe


	billb Thanks for your help I think, but I have solved the problems for the most part. Two things I did want to clear up for you though. 1) I am a she, not a he. 2) Yes I own all my programs, and have the original discs.

My sincerest appologies. I should have known from the picture!

I hope your experiences of the past few days can be chalked up to "a learning experience". You are far beyond "Computers 101". Perhaps a li

25-September-05, 08:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
Foe Apex Tech God Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: East Coast, U.S.A. Posts: 2,852	Drive Letter Reassignment Where to begin... Changed mobo and video card in my primary PC, and I got trouble a plenty. So I will try to tackel these issues one at a time, with your help. First problem: I have two drives. My original C drive got changed to my D drive and my D got changed to D(please don't ask how), and now I need to change it back. Have tried the usual: 1. Open the Control Panel 2. Select Classic View (if not already setup that way) 3. Click Administrative Tools Folder 4. Double-click the Computer Management icon 5. Computer Management window will open. Click storage in the left page. 6. Double-click Disk Management 7. Right-click the drive you want to change 8. Select Change Drive Letter and Paths 9. Click the Change Button 10. Select the drive letter to which you want to assign it 11. Note the warning and agree if you accept the risks 12. Close out the disk management But it did not work. It will not let me rename either drive. Even tried renaming to a lower letter then going back to C & D, but it is not having any of it. Help?

25-September-05, 09:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
Fu3lman Light My Fire Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: closer than u think... Flames: 26,134 Posts: 3,241	you need to physically remove the secondary hard drive, boot up the system and allow windows to free up that drive letter, change your primary to that drive letter (most of the time, it does so automatically) and then power off the system and put the secondary hdd back in... and to simplify the process a step or two further, you can simply right click on My Computer and click Manage to get to Computer Management __________________

25-September-05, 11:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
Foe Apex Tech God Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: East Coast, U.S.A. Posts: 2,852	Think I'm gonna cry now Thanks for the reply Fu3l Unfortunately, that did not work. Had to reload windows, yet again to reassign the drive letters. Now the problem is that I can see all my programs loaded in the Program Files folder, but that is as far as it goes. I truly don't want to re-install them all over again. Any solution or ideas on that?

25-September-05, 11:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
HoJo Review Pimp, but still Jo's Ho Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV Most modded city in the world Posts: 4,141	Windows will not let you change the letter assignment of your boot drive. At least I've never heard of a way to do it. __________________

25-September-05, 12:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
Fu3lman Light My Fire Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: closer than u think... Flames: 26,134 Posts: 3,241	it can be done, and i have done it before it has A LOT to do with the drives location on the IDE cable (master, slave) and the drive set as bootable, this kind of problem usually occurs when someone adds or removes hard drives from an ide chain after installing windows it will take some messing with, but i assure you it can be done, and it will involve taking drives off the ide cable, booting up, assigning letters, and possibly even changing the drives IDE priority (master, slave)...it will take a bit of luck, and it works better for some people than it does for others, but i promise it can be done (for PATA drives, at least, i dont see why there would be any difference)... might i recommend you put the hard drives on seperate ide channels completely, this will actually speed things up overall (drives not sharing bandwidth) and further prevent the whole "c being d" bs... ========================= about the new problem, if you reloaded windows, and you are having trouble "running" your programs, there is good reason....when you installed those programs, they embedded necessary information into things like the windows registry and startup, and installed required libraries and other files into the windows system folders... now that you have reinstalled windows, those files are no longer there, the application is expecting windows to do some of the work, or provide some of the information, and windows is just like "hey, i have never seen this program before in my life"... your solution to that would be to just reinstall the application WITHOUT uninstalling the old one, many times, your old application folder will still contain saved settings, skins, profiles, etc, and even after reinstalling, they will still work, the only reason you are re-istalling in the first place is to make windows fully aware of the program, and capable of running it in the first place... __________________ Last edited by Fu3lman; 25-September-05 at 12:15 PM.

25-September-05, 01:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
THRiLL KiLL PcApEX's PuNK ROckER Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 4,589 Blog Entries: 2	fullman hit it on the nose... unplug your second drive. reinstall windows (over exisiting... dont format) reboot... verify that it is now c: replug in drive d: __________________ www.xmb-psp.com

25-September-05, 02:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
Foe Apex Tech God Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: East Coast, U.S.A. Posts: 2,852	Thanks again Fu3l. I don't mind reloading the programs so much (4th XP reload was a charm), but I would really like to be able to access my files for Firefox and Thunderbird. Things like my email addresses, bookmarks, etc. Think I will check the Mozilla forums to see if there is a way to do that.But if anyone knows please let me know.

26-September-05, 03:23 AM	#11 (permalink)
WrathOfSocrus Apex Tech Fanatic Join Date: May 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 527	I have installed Windows over an existing installation a few times to avoid having to reinstall every little bit. If you change partitions/format a drive you will lose all information. I'm sure it is in there and could be found, but the file structure is lost and cannot be recovered by normal means. I can only give 2 pieces of advice: 1- a little trick I learned about XP is it is a bit adaptive to change. If the mobo you are swapping to has the same northbridge as the mobo you are coming from, it should be a snap. Simply replace the mobo and hook it back up as if nothing happened. Windows will find new hardware, and after installing the proper mobo drivers, you should have no further problems. I have swapped between old PIII's and slot A Athlons, but I think I got lucky there. The drivers were already in windows and it was true plug and play with old hardware. 2- one phrase you can never hear enough times: BACK-UP! A hard drive is an FRU (Field Replacable Unit). Other than fans and optical drives, your hard drive is one of the few moving parts inside your case (unless of course you don't use a case, which is another matter entirely). Any moving part is destined to fail, and if you can't afford to lose certain information, it is IMPERATIVE to use a solid state, non moving memory device to make a back-up on. With the relative inexpesiveness of USB thumb drives and blank CD's, its plain crazy to not back-up anything important. Even if it is semi important, if your hard drive is the only holder of a piece of info, say goodbye. That said, I have some old drives from Samsung and Seagate that have never let me down. Just because they rule and give superior reliabilty in my findings doesn't make me slack on my back-up routines. Just because I have sent more Western Digital hard drives to their graves than I can count doesn't change it either. There are numerous places where you can learn about how to back-up, different schemes and types of media to use. I know that hearing this wont bring back any files, but hopefully it is a lesson to learn only once. Make a back-up maintenance schedule for all of your rigs, and adhere to it like your rig depends on it. __________________

26-September-05, 07:08 AM	#12 (permalink)
Foe Apex Tech God Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: East Coast, U.S.A. Posts: 2,852	Thanks to all for the help. Basically it turned out I had to reinstall everything and statr over.As for the Thunderbird and Firefox issues I still am working on that. Especially my address book, and email folders.

26-September-05, 04:28 PM	#15 (permalink)
WrathOfSocrus Apex Tech Fanatic Join Date: May 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 527	When I was refering to back-ups, I meant either filesthat have been created on that rig, or any patches or whatnot that may be difficult/impossible to replace. All installation disks should be kept in the same safe place as your data back-ups. It is also recommended that you keep sensitive back-ups at an off-site location. But that is really for buisness usage. At home, if catastrophy that large were to occur, I doubt you would be worried about your bookmarks and signatures that were backed up . . . __________________

26-September-05, 05:25 PM	#16 (permalink)
Foe Apex Tech God Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: East Coast, U.S.A. Posts: 2,852	Actually I have and use Norton Ghost. But in this instance it did not work. Also have a second drive to store things, as well as a second PC. Unfortunately I had not done a complete setup of my email since the fall/winter of last year. No matter now. It is all done and over. Except I am still trying to extract my email folders from my files, and have been unsuccesful in finding a way to do that.