Change Drive letter

24c · 04 Nov 2010

I have a triple boot system:

C - Win7 Ultimate - SSD array
D - Data - WD 640 spinner 1
E - Win7 Pro - 1st partition on WD 640 spinner 2
F - Win7 Enterprise - 2nd partition WD 640 spinner 2

Using Acronis True Image 2010, I keep 2 images of each OS on D.

I'd like to put an image of C onto E, then make some changes to it. I think I tried this back in the Vista beta days, but can't recall if I ever got it to work, tempted to say "no".

Any suggestions appreciated.

Carl Lawrence · 04 Nov 2010

What do you want help with here?

24c · 04 Nov 2010

Love Windows 7 said:

What do you want help with here?

"I'd like to put an image of C onto E", and be able to boot to it, as well as C & F.

ETA:
I got it, took all of about 2 minutes - a mind is a terrible thing to use at times.

DeaconFrost · 04 Nov 2010

24c said:

Any suggestions appreciated.

Yes, pick an OS and stick with it. I always have to ask the following question, for several reasons. What would be the point over over-complicating a system, using three licenses, wasting disk space, etc etc etc.....so you can run three copies of the same OS?

Now, the reason I ask....is because 99.9% of the time, there's an easier/better/more efficient way of accomplishing whatever it is you are trying to do with three of the same OS.

gregrocker · 04 Nov 2010

Your best arrangement with separate HD's is to boot via BIOS boot order or one-time BIOS boot menu key, removing the Windows-managed Dual Boot so that your HD's are independent and free to come and go as you please.

24c · 04 Nov 2010

Thanks for the replies - here's what I did and why.

I wanted another copy of C becuase it has a software program installed that is a pain to re-activate when re-installing. I have the proper licences, just hate the phone calls. I have a TechNet 'script so OS licences are not an issue.
ALSO - Drive 0, 1st SATA, is a 4 SSD array that I don't like to experiment with.

1. working in C drive, I restored an image of C to E - I DID NOT restore the MBR.
2. upon re-boot it booted to the restored image of C
3. in Windows Explorer, it showed me booted to C, with D & F there also. The original C drive wasn't shown.
4. Conrol Panel - Admin Tools - Computer Mgmnt - Disk Mgmnt:
Dive 0 (1st SATA, original C) was there w/o drive letter - I assigned E to it.
5. renamed image restored drive to Win7 Ult2, original was Win7 Ult.
6, booted into 1st C, made appropriate drive name changes in EASY BCD and all seems to be exactly what I wanted.

Now which ever Win7 Ult drive I boot to appears a C in Windows Explorer, the other as E.

Bare Foot Kid · 04 Nov 2010

I don't see the point in giving someone a hard time for what they choose to do; it's their choice, if they want to run a dozen instances of the exact same Windows, what's the harm, it's their machine.

DeaconFrost · 04 Nov 2010

24c said:

I wanted another copy of C becuase it has a software program installed that is a pain to re-activate when re-installing. I have the proper licences, just hate the phone calls. I have a TechNet 'script so OS licences are not an issue.

Rather than install that app three times, just use a system image of your primary OS. That still doesn't mean it needs to be on three separate OSes. Whatever it is that you are doing on the other OSes to make them need to be reinstalled....just virtualize them. Then, rather than reinstall...just revert to a backup file of each VM. It takes 5 minutes, and you are booting back into a VM again. Install one OS natively on the system for everyday use, and then use VMs for the other two. Problem solved.

As for TechNet, I've been using it for 6 years, and I have yet to ever need to pick up the phone to reactivate a product. Simplify, and it will make your life so much easier.

24c · 04 Nov 2010

DeaconFrost said:

Rather than install that app three times, just use a system image of your primary OS. That still doesn't mean it needs to be on three separate OSes. Whatever it is that you are doing on the other OSes to make them need to be reinstalled....just virtualize them. Then, rather than reinstall...just revert to a backup file of each VM. It takes 5 minutes, and you are booting back into a VM again. Install one OS natively on the system for everyday use, and then use VMs for the other two. Problem solved.

As for TechNet, I've been using it for 6 years, and I have yet to ever need to pick up the phone to reactivate a product. Simplify, and it will make your life so much easier.

I know nothing about the virtualize thing. It is NOT a TechNet product I was referring to as far as the re-activation, but an accounting software program. I have met my goal for today, maybe not the best way, but the best way with my knowledge base. My "room for improvement" is a large sized room for sure.

DeaconFrost · 04 Nov 2010

24c said:

I know nothing about the virtualize thing.

You are robbing yourself of what might be the best and most useful trend in computing. Look into something like VirtualBox, Microsoft Virtual PC, etc. You run an app that lets you install Windows or other OSes to a large file, and yet they boot and run as if they were installed on a computer...using your existing hardware, and nearly native speeds. There's no drive letters, boot loaders, etc to mess with, and your primary host OS stays intact and untouched. Dual-booting is dead now, thanks to virtualization. As I hinted at above, most people who still multi-boot aren't aware of how much better, easier, and more efficient it is. Considering the software I mentioned is free, and you have the OS licenses...the total cost is nothing additional.

24c said:

It is NOT a TechNet product I was referring to as far as the re-activation, but an accounting software program.

My advice still goes. You could install it to a virtual machine, and use it there...or install it to the host OS, and keep system images to backup...no reinstalling necessary.