Windows 7: Windows 7 doesn't like me...

Hello,
Is this normal? After clean reinstalling numerous times due to programs incompatibilities
and being unable to delete fully the offending programs. I put a minimal fully operative system on Windows 7 Backup with System Image. Also created repair disk. Actually used it once, went fine.
Needed to do this again, my computer has the system disk as C:, D: is the DVD and E: is the backup hard drive with the system image. I booted to the Repair disk and Windows had reassigned my drives to C: System, D: Backup Hard drive and E: the DVD. It indicated it couldn't find the the System Image and dumped me without an operating system. Luckily I had made some trial tests with Macrium and managed to get back up and running.
Is this normal behavior of windows in reassigning the drive letters?
Am I just ignorant and missed something important that is known to everyone but me?
Thanks for any information.
glennc

No, that's pretty normal. It generally is determined by the order in which the hard drives are plugged in to the computer and partition order and which way Windows sees it. For example, SATA-1 is generally before SATA-2 and if SATA 1 has partitions, Partition 1 would come before Partition 2. Though other factors do come into play at times and sometimes, and I hate to use this phrase, but it's just Windows being Windows.

Although not what I would call "normal" behaviour, the standard is to place the optical drives immediately after the system drive with further Hard Drives after this.

I always manually assign drive names and letters to all by drives (other than the C: system), this has so far been retained by Windows 7. This is also the case with removable drives (usb thumb drives, card readers and USB optical and HDD)

Hello Darician,
Thanks for responding. I have had problems with this before as C: is SATAO, E: is SATA1 and the D: the DVD is SATA2 physically. For some reason beyond my knowledge it always put E: as disk 1, C: as disk 2. Strange. Appreciate your knowledge.
glennc

Hello Barman58,
I didn't know that it normally puts the optical drive after the system drive. That at least partially explains it. As they are connected as I said in Darician's reply.
I am afraid of manually changing drive letters, like I said, I don't think Windows 7 likes me and is waiting for me to do something for it to fault on. At least now I have a fully running system and its two predecessor's System Images by Macrium. I believe I can get back to hear with a rather lengthy but relatively easy System Image Restore. So far the System Restores have been of no help. K SERA SERA!
Thanks for replying.
glennc