How can I change the drive letter of my Windows system volume?

[Guest Robert Colgan]

I was doing a fresh install of Windows XP on my laptop, and I

accidentally left my flash drive in the computer. Now, my system

volume, which I want to be C:, is F:. I tried to change this using

Disk Management, but it says "Windows cannot modify the drive letter

of your system volume or boot volume." Is there some other way to do

this? I have the Windows install CD and a PartedMagic CD -- can I use

either of those to fix it?

[Guest Big Al]

Re: How can I change the drive letter of my Windows system volume?

 

Robert Colgan wrote:

> I was doing a fresh install of Windows XP on my laptop, and I

> accidentally left my flash drive in the computer. Now, my system

> volume, which I want to be C:, is F:. I tried to change this using

> Disk Management, but it says "Windows cannot modify the drive letter

> of your system volume or boot volume." Is there some other way to do

> this? I have the Windows install CD and a PartedMagic CD -- can I use

> either of those to fix it?

 

Since everything on your F: drive like windows with registry entries and

software etc are all configured for F:/..../.../.. folder paths, I'd

seriously doubt you can get much done.

 

Read: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223188

[Guest John John (MVP)]

Re: How can I change the drive letter of my Windows system volume?

 

Robert Colgan wrote:

> I was doing a fresh install of Windows XP on my laptop, and I

> accidentally left my flash drive in the computer. Now, my system

> volume, which I want to be C:, is F:. I tried to change this using

> Disk Management, but it says "Windows cannot modify the drive letter

> of your system volume or boot volume." Is there some other way to do

> this? I have the Windows install CD and a PartedMagic CD -- can I use

> either of those to fix it?

 

You can't, the Windows boot volume must alway retain the drive letter

assignment onto which it was installed. The only way to change the

drive letter is by reinstalling Windows.

 

John

[Guest John John (MVP)]

Re: How can I change the drive letter of my Windows system volume?

 

Big Al wrote:

> Robert Colgan wrote:

>

>> I was doing a fresh install of Windows XP on my laptop, and I

>> accidentally left my flash drive in the computer. Now, my system

>> volume, which I want to be C:, is F:. I tried to change this using

>> Disk Management, but it says "Windows cannot modify the drive letter

>> of your system volume or boot volume." Is there some other way to do

>> this? I have the Windows install CD and a PartedMagic CD -- can I use

>> either of those to fix it?

>

>

> Since everything on your F: drive like windows with registry entries and

> software etc are all configured for F:/..../.../.. folder paths, I'd

> seriously doubt you can get much done.

>

> Read: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223188

 

That article is only to be used to restore a drive letter to its

original assignment, it is not to be used to change the drive letter

onto which Windows was installed. As you correctly pointed out, the

Registry is full of pointers and references to the drive letter used at

installation time and changing the drive letter will break the Windows

installation.

 

John

[Guest Patrick Keenan]

Re: How can I change the drive letter of my Windows system volume?

 

"Robert Colgan" <RobertEColgan@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:f88b63b1-3838-474e-93b7-dd89ceae8844@m36g2000hse.googlegroups.com...

>I was doing a fresh install of Windows XP on my laptop, and I

> accidentally left my flash drive in the computer. Now, my system

> volume, which I want to be C:, is F:. I tried to change this using

> Disk Management, but it says "Windows cannot modify the drive letter

> of your system volume or boot volume." Is there some other way to do

> this? I have the Windows install CD and a PartedMagic CD -- can I use

> either of those to fix it?

 

The reliable way to do this is to start over and do it correctly, paying

close attention to the drive letter designation during the clean install.

 

You aren't nearly the first person to "accidentally" do this, and it's

better to just fix it properly now.

 

HTH

-pk

[Guest Robert Colgan]

Re: How can I change the drive letter of my Windows system volume?

 

On May 26, 11:11 pm, "Patrick Keenan" <t...@dev.null> wrote:

> "Robert Colgan" <RobertECol...@gmail.com> wrote in message

>

> news:f88b63b1-3838-474e-93b7-dd89ceae8844@m36g2000hse.googlegroups.com...

>

> >I was doing a fresh install of Windows XP on my laptop, and I

> > accidentally left my flash drive in the computer. Now, my system

> > volume, which I want to be C:, is F:. I tried to change this using

> > Disk Management, but it says "Windows cannot modify the drive letter

> > of your system volume or boot volume." Is there some other way to do

> > this? I have the Windows install CD and a PartedMagic CD -- can I use

> > either of those to fix it?

>

> The reliable way to do this is to start over and do it correctly, paying

> close attention to the drive letter designation during the clean install.

>

> You aren't nearly the first person to "accidentally" do this, and it's

> better to just fix it properly now.

>

> HTH

> -pk

 

Thanks; I just did it over.

[Guest Big Al]

Re: How can I change the drive letter of my Windows system volume?

 

John John (MVP) wrote:

> Big Al wrote:

>

>> Robert Colgan wrote:

>>

>>> I was doing a fresh install of Windows XP on my laptop, and I

>>> accidentally left my flash drive in the computer. Now, my system

>>> volume, which I want to be C:, is F:. I tried to change this using

>>> Disk Management, but it says "Windows cannot modify the drive letter

>>> of your system volume or boot volume." Is there some other way to do

>>> this? I have the Windows install CD and a PartedMagic CD -- can I use

>>> either of those to fix it?

>>

>>

>> Since everything on your F: drive like windows with registry entries

>> and software etc are all configured for F:/..../.../.. folder paths,

>> I'd seriously doubt you can get much done.

>>

>> Read: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223188

>

> That article is only to be used to restore a drive letter to its

> original assignment, it is not to be used to change the drive letter

> onto which Windows was installed. As you correctly pointed out, the

> Registry is full of pointers and references to the drive letter used at

> installation time and changing the drive letter will break the Windows

> installation.

>

> John

Yes, I read that. I wanted the OP to see that there is only one

possibly way/reason to do what he wants to do.