Changing OS Partition Drive Letter


  1. seekermeister
    Posts : 6,618
    W7x64 Pro, SuSe 12.1/** W7 x64 Pro, XP MCE
       New #1

    Changing OS Partition Drive Letter


    I don't understand how, but when I installed XP MCE, it was with all other drives disconnected. However, when I went to Disk Management, it's partition is labeled G:, while W7 is labeled L: when running MCE. I want to change G: to the usual C:. but Disk Management won't permit that, and when I tried something similar with Acronis Disk Director some time back, the OS would no longer boot, so I'm not anxious for a repeat performance.

    The question is, how to relabel the partition safely?
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  3. alphanumeric
    Posts : 4,466
    Windows 10 Education 64 bit
       New #2

    I wouldn't and don't think you can change it, not without re-installing. As you have seen Windows won't let you change the drive letter of the partition windows is installed too. The main reason is that doing that would break a lot of programs etc. They would be looking for the old drive letter not the new one. Do you have a flash card reader installed? If yes that would be my guess as to why the drive letter got to be so high. I've seen that happen in XP if the hard drive wasn't formatted. It doesn't get a drive letter until after its formated. The other formatted drives would get C:, D:, etc. I didn't think windows 7 did that anymore but I could be wrong. Like a lot of people, I've only been using it for a short while. Now that the drive is formated it should get the first drive letter C: so a re-install should fix it. It just depends on how much that bothers you as to whether you want to do it over again.
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  4. seekermeister
    Posts : 6,618
    W7x64 Pro, SuSe 12.1/** W7 x64 Pro, XP MCE
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    If reinstalling is the only way to correct this, then I will probably let it ride...not worth the trouble. I did not have a card reader installed, during or after the installation, but I may have had a flash drive installed...I don't remember.

    After posting previously, it came to me that the problem that I had with DDS was with changing the drive letter while the OS was running. It probably wouldn't fare any better doing it by booting to DDS, instead of the OS, would it?
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  6. Bill2
    Posts : 5,056
    Windows 7 x64 pro/ Windows 7 x86 Pro/ XP SP3 x86
       New #4

    You cannot change the drive letter if the partition is a system partition or boot partition.
    If you get an error when trying to change the partition letter, the partition may be in use.
    Important thing to remember is that many applications including windows programs use specific references to the drive letter. Now if you change the letter, some such programs may stop working.
    Last edited by Bill2; 15 Mar 2010 at 08:33. Reason: typo
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  7. alphanumeric
    Posts : 4,466
    Windows 10 Education 64 bit
       New #5

    If you really really want to change it I sure there is a way, but like I said above I wouldn't. As Bill2 said a lot of programs will reference the old drive letter so they won't work right, even if windows loads. You can have windows 7 not display the drive letters if it bothers you that much. I've done it on my system and I like it that way. If you have good volume labels they aren't needed anyway.
    Last edited by alphanumeric; 15 Mar 2010 at 12:42.
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  8. gregrocker
    Posts : 50,642
       New #6

    It will indeed bork your system to try changing OS drive letter.

    Try running XP until you actually find a problem due to this. It may not occur. Most programs can be redirected at install.
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