Hard Disk Partition Letter Missing in Windows 7 - Fix

How to Fix Missing Vista Hard Disk Partition Letter in Windows 7​

   Information

This will show you how to fix the missing already installed Windows Vista hard disk partition in Windows 7 when you have just installed Windows 7 from boot to dual or multi boot with Vista.

   Note

This will also work for a missing XP hard drive partition in Windows 7 as well.

   Tip

If you install Windows 7 from within Vista to the other partition or drive instead, then Vista should show up in Windows 7 then. However, installing Windows 7 from within Vista instead of at boot may not always install properly if something in Vista interferes during installation.

EXAMPLE: Missing Vista Hard Disk Partition Letter in Windows 7
NOTE: The left screenshot is in the Computer window, and the right screenshot is in Disk Management.




Here's How:
1. Open the Control Panel (All Items view), and click on the Administrative Tools icon, then close the Control Panel window.

2. Click on Computer Management in Administrative Tools.

3. If prompted by UAC, click on Yes. Close the Administrative Tools window.

4. In the left pane under Storage, click on Disk Management. (See screenshot below step 5)

5. In the right pane, right click on the Vista hard disk partition that is missing it's drive letter, then click on Change Drive Letter and Paths. (See screenshot below)

6. Click on the Add button. (See screenshot below)

7. Select (dot) Assign the following drive letter, then select a drive letter you want to have assigned to the Vista disk partition and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

8. The Vista Hard Disk Partition will now show up in Windows 7. (See screenshots below)
NOTE: The left screenshot is in the Computer window, and the right screenshot is in Disk Management.




That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Setup a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP
• How to Setup a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Shrink a Partition or Volume in Windows 7
• How to Extend a Partition or Volume in Windows 7
• How to Setup Windows 7 to Boot from a VHD (Virtual Hard Disk)
• How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7
• How to Show Windows 7 Computer Drive Letters Before or After Drive Name
• How to Hide or Show Empty Drives in Windows 7 Computer Folder
• How to Rename a Drive in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Change a Drive Icon in Windows 7
• How to Add, Change, or Remove a Drive Letter in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8

 

[longnh]

"Change Drive Letter and Paths" is not available

What if the option "Change Drive Letter and Paths" is greyed out?

 

[Brink]

Hello Longnh, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Could you post a screenshot of your Disk Management showing all of your drives layout?

 

[longnh]

Hey Brink, thanks for your quick reply.

I'm using dual XP and Windows 7. That partition (F didn't show up in Windows 7 though I can still see it in Disk Management (the only information is total size, there's no label, letter, free space, used space). When I right-clicked, "Format" was the only option available in context menu (Disk Management). Everything's normal in XP, I mean I can read/write to that partition if I boot into XP. It's so weird.

After I formatted that partition, it works well now (so I cannot take any screenshot). I can see it in both XP and Windows 7 (but my data was gone, of course). Basically my problem was solved, but I'm still curious about this error.

 

[Brink]

Longnh,

I'm not certain what was the issue, but I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.

 

[BajolCool]

Hello Brink..
I have same problem like longnh have.. this my screenshot

​

i have important file in my 2 partition.. please help me , to make 7 assign this partition without format it


Thanks in Advance

Bajol

 

[Brink]

Hello Bajol,

Do you have access to them to be able to copy the files to another location, then format them to get a drive letter and copy the files back?

 

[BajolCool]

Hello Bajol,

Do you have access to them to be able to copy the files to another location, then format them to get a drive letter and copy the files back?

No I can't acces it..
In this case, i'm login as administrator. But I'm still can't acces both of them.

My only way is acces the drive from XP and backup the files from there.
i have formatted HDD through 7 disk management and 7 can recognize now

thanks for the advice

Bajol

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Bajol. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.

 

[BenWagner]

Brink:
I am having the same problem. When my XP died I bought a HP running Windows 7 Home Premium 64. While most of the files I wanted are backed up to a portable hard drive, I thought the easiest way to move my files was to remove the drive from the old computer and put it in the new and drag and drop the files where I wanted on the new one. I then planed to keep the drive in for storage and backup.
(I was not planning to duel boot to XP as I understand that windows checks and does not run on different computer, but if it is possible I would be interested in doing so)
I have followed the steps listed to add a hard drive. I have scanned for changes. I have uninstalled and reinstalled the drive in Device Manager. I have changed folder options to show hidden files.
I do not want to reformat the drive at least until I transfer some files off it.
Any help you or other forum members can give will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much.
Ben

 

[Brink]

Hello Ben, and welcome to Seven Forums.

From looking at your screenshots, the 931.51 GB HDD (Disk 1) doesn't have anything on it since it still has all of it's available space free.

 

[BenWagner]

Thank you for your attention to my problem. I too saw it showed noting on the disk, but I assure you that it is almost half full.

And even so it should let me add a drive letter should it not?

Ben

 

[Brink]

Ben,

There appears to be some sort of issue with the file system on Disk 1 since it's not showing as either NTFS or FAT32.

You might see if you may be able to use the free Partition Wizard to either try and recovery Disk 1 or assign a drive letter to Disk 1.

If that fails, then you could use the link below to create a live Ubuntu disc to try and recover any files you wanted from Disk 1.

Use Ubuntu Live CD to Backup Files from Your Dead Windows Computer - How-To Geek

Afterwards, and there's nothing else you want on the drive, it looks like you may need to run the clean command on Disk 1 to completely wipe it clean, then format it give it a drive letter.

 

[lionofct]

Only option I have id Help

When I right click the Healthy (recovery partition), the only option i get is Help. Can I get past this?

 

[Brink]

Hello Lionofct, and welcome to Seven Forums.

The Healthy (recovery partition) is your OEM factory recovery partition that allows you to be able to reinstall Windows 7 back to factory conditions. You would not want to add a drive letter or do anything else to this partition. Doing so, coud risk you no longer being able to use it to reinstall Windows 7 with.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[lionofct]

Ok

Awesome. Thanks Shawn.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[allan0201]

i was using dell backup and a drive letter was not showing up in windows explorer so i changed the drive letter in disk management to something else, and it showed up in windows, and then changed it back to the origianl letter. so everything would work the way it was before, and it worked.

 

[DenverCityCat]

:sarc: I've been doing computers since before DOS & I can't actually believe that really worked!!!! Thats wild stuff! Your the Master & Appreciate it! I had to register here just to thank you!

Will drop in more now Im a member! Thanx again so much!!