Vista - How change drive letters back after Vista install

10-21-2008

When I installed Vista, it changed the drive letters such that partition it
was installed on was the "C" drive. Normally, this would be the G partition,
and that is where I wanted it. It won't let me change my drive letters back
the way I want them. Is there any way to install Vista on what would
normally be the G partition without it renaming it to C? I have XP64 on C,
XP32 on E, but when I boot to Vista my drive letters are all different and
it is an annoynance to switch to a different OS and have my drive letters
changed.

10-22-2008

"Zoot" <zoot@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:02D2558E-20B5-4079-A2BE-0FCB91B31476@xxxxxx

Quote:

> When I installed Vista, it changed the drive letters such that partition
> it was installed on was the "C" drive. Normally, this would be the G
> partition, and that is where I wanted it. It won't let me change my drive
> letters back the way I want them. Is there any way to install Vista on
> what would normally be the G partition without it renaming it to C? I have
> XP64 on C, XP32 on E, but when I boot to Vista my drive letters are all
> different and it is an annoynance to switch to a different OS and have my
> drive letters changed.

I think it's the way Vista does things. XP will still see its drive as C
when you boot up, not sure if it's a requirement for Vista to have it's
drive seen as C as well. Nothing is going to hurt the system anyways or the
OS that they are installed on said partition/drives. Only one I can think
of is installing programs on one drive that shares with all three OS's but
then you only need to change that drive and reinstall stuff again and put
said drive/partition as Z or another latter drive letter.

Vista is on G, it just shows up on the desktop as C. Nothing has been
changed, it's just the way Vista handles things really.

--
Skipai

10-22-2008

"Zoot" <zoot@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:02D2558E-20B5-4079-A2BE-0FCB91B31476@xxxxxx

Quote:

> When I installed Vista, it changed the drive letters such that partition
> it was installed on was the "C" drive. Normally, this would be the G
> partition, and that is where I wanted it. It won't let me change my drive
> letters back the way I want them. Is there any way to install Vista on
> what would normally be the G partition without it renaming it to C? I have
> XP64 on C, XP32 on E, but when I boot to Vista my drive letters are all
> different and it is an annoynance to switch to a different OS and have my
> drive letters changed.

Supposedly changing the drive letter is technically possible, albeit a
labour of Hercules. Word has it that there would be thousands of items in
the registry to change etc. etc. I would venture any attempt would result in
mistakes and a shaky unstable system. IMHO, just forgo it [as dirve letters
don't mean much in themselves] or re-do your computer with a clean install
[if you really want it changed].

Saucy

10-22-2008

Saucy <saucylemon@xxxxxx> wrote:

Quote:

>
> "Zoot" <zoot@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:02D2558E-20B5-4079-A2BE-0FCB91B31476@xxxxxx

Quote:

> > When I installed Vista, it changed the drive letters such that
> > partition it was installed on was the "C" drive. Normally, this
> > would be the G partition, and that is where I wanted it. It won't
> > let me change my drive letters back the way I want them. Is there
> > any way to install Vista on what would normally be the G partition
> > without it renaming it to C? I have XP64 on C, XP32 on E, but when I
> > boot to Vista my drive letters are all different and it is an
> > annoynance to switch to a different OS and have my drive letters
> > changed.

>
>
> Supposedly changing the drive letter is technically possible, albeit a
> labour of Hercules. Word has it that there would be thousands of items in
> the registry to change etc. etc. I would venture any attempt would
> result in mistakes and a shaky unstable system. IMHO, just forgo it [as
> dirve letters don't mean much in themselves] or re-do your computer
> with a clean install [if you really want it changed].

I really do not know why he wants it as G:, but if he really wants it like
that, he could always use...

SUBST G: C:\

...in a logon script.

He can then hide C: in My Computer by editing the registry in the same way
that TweakUI would do when hiding a drive, which would not take long to find
out about.

ss.

SCSIraidGURU · 10-22-2008

Don't change the boot/system partition drive letter. It will cause all sorts of issues and you could make it so Vista will not boot properly. You can change non-boot partition drive letters only in disk management.

10-22-2008

"Skipaiotter" <skipaiotter.fishbones@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:6m84d9Ff1s2tU1@xxxxxx

Quote:

>
> "Zoot" <zoot@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:02D2558E-20B5-4079-A2BE-0FCB91B31476@xxxxxx

Quote:

>> When I installed Vista, it changed the drive letters such that partition
>> it was installed on was the "C" drive. Normally, this would be the G
>> partition, and that is where I wanted it. It won't let me change my drive
>> letters back the way I want them. Is there any way to install Vista on
>> what would normally be the G partition without it renaming it to C? I
>> have XP64 on C, XP32 on E, but when I boot to Vista my drive letters are
>> all different and it is an annoynance to switch to a different OS and
>> have my drive letters changed.

>
> I think it's the way Vista does things. XP will still see its drive as C
> when you boot up, not sure if it's a requirement for Vista to have it's
> drive seen as C as well. Nothing is going to hurt the system anyways or
> the OS that they are installed on said partition/drives. Only one I can
> think of is installing programs on one drive that shares with all three
> OS's but then you only need to change that drive and reinstall stuff again
> and put said drive/partition as Z or another latter drive letter.
>
> Vista is on G, it just shows up on the desktop as C. Nothing has been
> changed, it's just the way Vista handles things really.

I know it doesn't hurt anything - it just annoys me. Win2000/2003 and XP
don't do this. It seems to be something new with Vista.

I keep certain files on D:, others on F:, and still others on E:. When I
boot to Vista, it has changed the drive letters around and won't let me
change them the way Win2000/XP32/XP64 see them.

10-23-2008

"Zoot" <zoot@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:02D2558E-20B5-4079-A2BE-0FCB91B31476@xxxxxx

Quote:

> When I installed Vista, it changed the drive letters such that partition
> it was installed on was the "C" drive. Normally, this would be the G
> partition,

Why?

10-23-2008

On Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:36:24 -0700, "Zoot" <zoot@xxxxxx>
wrote:

Quote:

>When I installed Vista, it changed the drive letters such that partition it
>was installed on was the "C" drive. Normally, this would be the G partition,
>and that is where I wanted it. It won't let me change my drive letters back
>the way I want them. Is there any way to install Vista on what would
>normally be the G partition without it renaming it to C? I have XP64 on C,
>XP32 on E, but when I boot to Vista my drive letters are all different and
>it is an annoynance to switch to a different OS and have my drive letters
>changed.

Try the procedure described in the last post at
<http://www.vistax64.com/vista-installation-setup/131636-vista-64-dual-boot-changing-drive-letter.html>.

10-23-2008

"andy" <bogusaddress@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:j291g4ta0h04ooqh2gbhk6lcenl1711bih@xxxxxx

Quote:

> On Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:36:24 -0700, "Zoot" <zoot@xxxxxx>
> wrote:
>

Quote:

>>When I installed Vista, it changed the drive letters such that partition
>>it
>>was installed on was the "C" drive. Normally, this would be the G
>>partition,
>>and that is where I wanted it. It won't let me change my drive letters
>>back
>>the way I want them. Is there any way to install Vista on what would
>>normally be the G partition without it renaming it to C? I have XP64 on C,
>>XP32 on E, but when I boot to Vista my drive letters are all different and
>>it is an annoynance to switch to a different OS and have my drive letters
>>changed.

Quote:

> Try the procedure described in the last post at
> <http://www.vistax64.com/vista-installation-setup/131636-vista-64-dual-boot-changing-drive-letter.html>.

Ahh...that is *exactly* what I needed! I'll try it and post my results
here...

10-23-2008

"Gordon" <gordonbparker@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%23xqg82QNJHA.740@xxxxxx

Quote:

> "Zoot" <zoot@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:02D2558E-20B5-4079-A2BE-0FCB91B31476@xxxxxx

Quote:

>> When I installed Vista, it changed the drive letters such that partition
>> it was installed on was the "C" drive. Normally, this would be the G
>> partition,

>
> Why?

Why? No prior Microsoft OS does this. All other version of Windows retain
the natural drive letter ordering. I'm guessing because Microsoft made an
arbitrary decision to change Vista to do this. Why? Because they can. Why?
Because there are not enough people like me that complain about it. Why?
Because to Microsoft, all you drive letters belong to us and we will do what
we damn well want to whether you like it or not. Why? Because they are
Microsoft.

10-21-2008	#1 (permalink)
Zoot n/a posts	How change drive letters back after Vista install When I installed Vista, it changed the drive letters such that partition it was installed on was the "C" drive. Normally, this would be the G partition, and that is where I wanted it. It won't let me change my drive letters back the way I want them. Is there any way to install Vista on what would normally be the G partition without it renaming it to C? I have XP64 on C, XP32 on E, but when I boot to Vista my drive letters are all different and it is an annoynance to switch to a different OS and have my drive letters changed.
My System Specs

10-22-2008	#2 (permalink)
Skipaiotter n/a posts	Re: How change drive letters back after Vista install "Zoot" <zoot@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:02D2558E-20B5-4079-A2BE-0FCB91B31476@xxxxxx Quote: > When I installed Vista, it changed the drive letters such that partition > it was installed on was the "C" drive. Normally, this would be the G > partition, and that is where I wanted it. It won't let me change my drive > letters back the way I want them. Is there any way to install Vista on > what would normally be the G partition without it renaming it to C? I have > XP64 on C, XP32 on E, but when I boot to Vista my drive letters are all > different and it is an annoynance to switch to a different OS and have my > drive letters changed. I think it's the way Vista does things. XP will still see its drive as C when you boot up, not sure if it's a requirement for Vista to have it's drive seen as C as well. Nothing is going to hurt the system anyways or the OS that they are installed on said partition/drives. Only one I can think of is installing programs on one drive that shares with all three OS's but then you only need to change that drive and reinstall stuff again and put said drive/partition as Z or another latter drive letter. Vista is on G, it just shows up on the desktop as C. Nothing has been changed, it's just the way Vista handles things really. -- Skipai
My System Specs

10-22-2008	#3 (permalink)
Saucy n/a posts	Re: How change drive letters back after Vista install "Zoot" <zoot@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:02D2558E-20B5-4079-A2BE-0FCB91B31476@xxxxxx Quote: > When I installed Vista, it changed the drive letters such that partition > it was installed on was the "C" drive. Normally, this would be the G > partition, and that is where I wanted it. It won't let me change my drive > letters back the way I want them. Is there any way to install Vista on > what would normally be the G partition without it renaming it to C? I have > XP64 on C, XP32 on E, but when I boot to Vista my drive letters are all > different and it is an annoynance to switch to a different OS and have my > drive letters changed. Supposedly changing the drive letter is technically possible, albeit a labour of Hercules. Word has it that there would be thousands of items in the registry to change etc. etc. I would venture any attempt would result in mistakes and a shaky unstable system. IMHO, just forgo it [as dirve letters don't mean much in themselves] or re-do your computer with a clean install [if you really want it changed]. Saucy
My System Specs

10-22-2008	#4 (permalink)
Synapse Syndrome n/a posts	Re: How change drive letters back after Vista install Saucy <saucylemon@xxxxxx> wrote: Quote: > > "Zoot" <zoot@xxxxxx> wrote in message > news:02D2558E-20B5-4079-A2BE-0FCB91B31476@xxxxxx Quote: > > When I installed Vista, it changed the drive letters such that > > partition it was installed on was the "C" drive. Normally, this > > would be the G partition, and that is where I wanted it. It won't > > let me change my drive letters back the way I want them. Is there > > any way to install Vista on what would normally be the G partition > > without it renaming it to C? I have XP64 on C, XP32 on E, but when I > > boot to Vista my drive letters are all different and it is an > > annoynance to switch to a different OS and have my drive letters > > changed. > > > Supposedly changing the drive letter is technically possible, albeit a > labour of Hercules. Word has it that there would be thousands of items in > the registry to change etc. etc. I would venture any attempt would > result in mistakes and a shaky unstable system. IMHO, just forgo it [as > dirve letters don't mean much in themselves] or re-do your computer > with a clean install [if you really want it changed]. I really do not know why he wants it as G:, but if he really wants it like that, he could always use... SUBST G: C:\ ...in a logon script. He can then hide C: in My Computer by editing the registry in the same way that TweakUI would do when hiding a drive, which would not take long to find out about. ss.
My System Specs

10-22-2008	#5 (permalink)
SCSIraidGURU Vista x64 Ultimate 1,823 posts	Re: How change drive letters back after Vista install Don't change the boot/system partition drive letter. It will cause all sorts of issues and you could make it so Vista will not boot properly. You can change non-boot partition drive letters only in disk management.
My System Specs

10-22-2008	#6 (permalink)
Zoot n/a posts	Re: How change drive letters back after Vista install "Skipaiotter" <skipaiotter.fishbones@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:6m84d9Ff1s2tU1@xxxxxx Quote: > > "Zoot" <zoot@xxxxxx> wrote in message > news:02D2558E-20B5-4079-A2BE-0FCB91B31476@xxxxxx Quote: >> When I installed Vista, it changed the drive letters such that partition >> it was installed on was the "C" drive. Normally, this would be the G >> partition, and that is where I wanted it. It won't let me change my drive >> letters back the way I want them. Is there any way to install Vista on >> what would normally be the G partition without it renaming it to C? I >> have XP64 on C, XP32 on E, but when I boot to Vista my drive letters are >> all different and it is an annoynance to switch to a different OS and >> have my drive letters changed. > > I think it's the way Vista does things. XP will still see its drive as C > when you boot up, not sure if it's a requirement for Vista to have it's > drive seen as C as well. Nothing is going to hurt the system anyways or > the OS that they are installed on said partition/drives. Only one I can > think of is installing programs on one drive that shares with all three > OS's but then you only need to change that drive and reinstall stuff again > and put said drive/partition as Z or another latter drive letter. > > Vista is on G, it just shows up on the desktop as C. Nothing has been > changed, it's just the way Vista handles things really. I know it doesn't hurt anything - it just annoys me. Win2000/2003 and XP don't do this. It seems to be something new with Vista. I keep certain files on D:, others on F:, and still others on E:. When I boot to Vista, it has changed the drive letters around and won't let me change them the way Win2000/XP32/XP64 see them.
My System Specs

10-23-2008	#7 (permalink)
Gordon n/a posts	Re: How change drive letters back after Vista install "Zoot" <zoot@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:02D2558E-20B5-4079-A2BE-0FCB91B31476@xxxxxx Quote: > When I installed Vista, it changed the drive letters such that partition > it was installed on was the "C" drive. Normally, this would be the G > partition, Why?
My System Specs

10-23-2008	#8 (permalink)
andy n/a posts	Re: How change drive letters back after Vista install On Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:36:24 -0700, "Zoot" <zoot@xxxxxx> wrote: Quote: >When I installed Vista, it changed the drive letters such that partition it >was installed on was the "C" drive. Normally, this would be the G partition, >and that is where I wanted it. It won't let me change my drive letters back >the way I want them. Is there any way to install Vista on what would >normally be the G partition without it renaming it to C? I have XP64 on C, >XP32 on E, but when I boot to Vista my drive letters are all different and >it is an annoynance to switch to a different OS and have my drive letters >changed. Try the procedure described in the last post at <http://www.vistax64.com/vista-installation-setup/131636-vista-64-dual-boot-changing-drive-letter.html>.
My System Specs

10-23-2008	#9 (permalink)
Zootal n/a posts	Re: How change drive letters back after Vista install "andy" <bogusaddress@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:j291g4ta0h04ooqh2gbhk6lcenl1711bih@xxxxxx Quote: > On Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:36:24 -0700, "Zoot" <zoot@xxxxxx> > wrote: > Quote: >>When I installed Vista, it changed the drive letters such that partition >>it >>was installed on was the "C" drive. Normally, this would be the G >>partition, >>and that is where I wanted it. It won't let me change my drive letters >>back >>the way I want them. Is there any way to install Vista on what would >>normally be the G partition without it renaming it to C? I have XP64 on C, >>XP32 on E, but when I boot to Vista my drive letters are all different and >>it is an annoynance to switch to a different OS and have my drive letters >>changed. Quote: > Try the procedure described in the last post at > <http://www.vistax64.com/vista-installation-setup/131636-vista-64-dual-boot-changing-drive-letter.html>. Ahh...that is exactly what I needed! I'll try it and post my results here...
My System Specs

10-23-2008	#10 (permalink)
Zootal n/a posts	Re: How change drive letters back after Vista install "Gordon" <gordonbparker@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:%23xqg82QNJHA.740@xxxxxx Quote: > "Zoot" <zoot@xxxxxx> wrote in message > news:02D2558E-20B5-4079-A2BE-0FCB91B31476@xxxxxx Quote: >> When I installed Vista, it changed the drive letters such that partition >> it was installed on was the "C" drive. Normally, this would be the G >> partition, > > Why? Why? No prior Microsoft OS does this. All other version of Windows retain the natural drive letter ordering. I'm guessing because Microsoft made an arbitrary decision to change Vista to do this. Why? Because they can. Why? Because there are not enough people like me that complain about it. Why? Because to Microsoft, all you drive letters belong to us and we will do what we damn well want to whether you like it or not. Why? Because they are Microsoft.
My System Specs

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