Is it possible to install windows on something other than C:\?

[Necrowizard]

Hello,

I was wondering if it was possible to install windows on another partition than c:\
So for example, my windows folder will be W:\windows or something...

Thanks.

 

[derekimo]

Hello,

I was wondering if it was possible to install windows on another partition than c:\
So for example, my windows folder will be W:\windows or something...

Thanks.

Have a look at steps 7 and 8 in this tutorial,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[Necrowizard]

Yes, I know you can select different partitions, but that will just make that selected partition c:\windows\, and not %driveLetterOfMyChoice%\windows...

 

[derekimo]

Yes, I know you can select different partitions, but that will just make that selected partition c:\windows\, and not %driveLetterOfMyChoice%\windows...

I guess not, have a look at the note on this tutorial,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/82994-drive-letter-add-change-remove-windows-7-a.html

That says you don't want to change it so there must be a good reason for it.

 

[gregrocker]

You can try installing from an OS to a partition you have already created with letter.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Necrowizard.



I'm not sure this will work for what you want as I haven't tried it myself.

As you must have a Windows 7 full installer, have a look at Methods One of this tutorial at the link below to see how to boot to diskpart so you can set a partition letter before the install starts.

Though it may cause serious issues when you install parogram/apps and they look for C: to install to; be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

click to enlarge

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[Bare Foot Kid]

Though I didn't think it would work, I wanted to have a go for my own experience so here are the results; it did not work.

In diskpart I did a clean all just to have a fresh start, then I created the partition.

click to enlarge


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Then during the install, I did not do a format here.

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Here's the end result.

​

 

[SIW2]

Yes, it's possible.

It requires running a complicated script from winpe.

Unless you are able to do that, you are stuck with 7 selecting the first available letter ( That will be C if you install from boot as A and B are reserved for floppies)

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Yes, it's possible.

It requires running a complicated script from winpe.

Unless you are able to do that, you are stuck with 7 selecting the first available letter ( That will be C if you install from boot as A and B are reserved for floppies)

Thanks SIW, is there a link to this info I could study?

 

[Barman58]

I've seen this as a result of a custom upgrade install - As the install is run from the C: drive when windows looks for the 1st available drive A;, B;are unsuitable and c: is actually in use. As a result windows will be installed to the next available drive - maybe D: but often higher as the DVD drive is an unsuitable drive and is normally d:.

Not a common event but possible - RTM win7 may make this impossible by rebooting before drive allocation but not sure

 

[rcgldr]

Sorry for the very late response. This is possible if you have Win XP X64. Start the install from Win XP X64 in order to install Win 7 64 bit. I assume that Win 7 32 bit could be installed from Win XP (32 bit), but I never tried that. Boot into XP X64, then run setup.exe from the Win 7 install dvd. When run from Win XP X64, you'll be able to select the install partition by letter, which Win 7 will then retain after the install.