Missing drive letter in Windows 7 Disk Management


  1. Sxcd1
    Posts : 141
    Windows 7 Pro 64Bit
       New #1

    Missing drive letter in Windows 7 Disk Management


    I installed a new 2tb hard drive to replace a 500gig (D:). I need the data from Drive G: to be moved to the new drive and change the drive letter to D: making the new larger drive G:
    I changed the drive letter of old G: to Z: temporarily. After formatting the new drive I used Acronis 2012 to clone the old G: to the new drive. I made the new drive G: and it appears in my system. Instead of saying Primary Partition like my other data drives it says Active, Primary Partition. Is that a problem? What does that mean that it is active?

    I want to change the old G: now called Z: to D: (the removed drive) but that letter is missing from the list of available drive letters. How do I get it back?
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  3. solarmystic
    Posts : 2,072
    Windows 7 x64 Professional SP1
       New #2

    Hello Sxcd1,

    Can you please upload and post a screenshot of your Disk management window:-

    HOW TO POST A SNAPSHOT OF DISK MANAGEMENT DISPLAY

    Run disk management:
    WIN | type DISKMGMT.MSC | ENTER
    This method gives you a display without the unneeded navigation pane.
    WIN=key with Microsoft logo on top.


    Maximize the output of Disk Management:
    ALT-Spacebar key combo | X key (selects Maximize) |
    Drag the field separators (such as between Status and Capacity) to show entire field.


    Make a snapshot:
    WIN | type SNIPPING | ENTER | New
    Drag the cursor around the area you want to snip.
    File | Save as | select save location and name | Save


    Post the snapshot:

    Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

    Thanks for your cooperation!
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  4. Sxcd1
    Posts : 141
    Windows 7 Pro 64Bit
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    I reinstalled the D: drive that I removed and renamed it to Y:. I was then able to rename the Z: drive to D: as it was now available. I guess you have to release the drive letter before removing the drive or replacing it.

    Here is a pic of my drive manager.
    1)Why is my G: drive active?
    2) What is the M: drive system reserved?
    3) What is the best way to copy the old 500 GIG drive (old Drive D:) to the old 1 TB drive (new drive D:) erasing all the old data on it?
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Missing drive letter in Windows 7 Disk Management-disk-management.jpg  
    Last edited by Sxcd1; 13 Jul 2012 at 16:09. Reason: additional question
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  6. Kaktussoft
    Posts : 10,796
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       New #4

    "Active" means it can boot from it. Only for partitions that have a boot manager and bootmenu.
    Mark G as inactive!

    "system reserved" is the boot partition (status system in screenshot). It has the win7 bootmanager and bootmenu
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  7. Sxcd1
    Posts : 141
    Windows 7 Pro 64Bit
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    How do you change it to inactive?
    Is it a problem to leave it as active?
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  8. Sxcd1
    Posts : 141
    Windows 7 Pro 64Bit
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    Partition - Mark as Inactive
    explains the process and the reason to make the drive inactive.

    What is the fastest (best) way to copy a smaller drive to a larger one erasing all the data from the target drive before copying.
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  10. Kaktussoft
    Posts : 10,796
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       New #7

    Sxcd1 said:
    Partition - Mark as Inactive
    explains the process and the reason to make the drive inactive.

    What is the fastest (best) way to copy a smaller drive to a larger one erasing all the data from the target drive before copying.
    Is the old drive just 1 partition or more? Is it just data or a win7 OS?

    Erasing the target drive is quite easy. Goto "disk management" right click on partition on target drive. Then click on delete. Do it for all partitions you want.
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  11. Sxcd1
    Posts : 141
    Windows 7 Pro 64Bit
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    Used Mini Tool Partition Wizard to clone the data drive and change the drive letters. Thanks to all that helped.
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  12. Kaktussoft
    Posts : 10,796
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       New #9

    Sxcd1 said:
    Used Mini Tool Partition Wizard to clone the data drive and change the drive letters. Thanks to all that helped.
    Glad you solved it. Was quite easy with Partition Wizard. Very handy tool
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