How do systems that uses SATA determine which is the C: drive ?

[theoldwizard1]

Hard drive crashed. Not completely, but it was no longer a "stable" system.

I used this as an opportunity to purchase a SSD and install a clean "retail" version of Windows 7. After many Windows Updates and re-installing all of my application software, I wanted to get some data off the old drive. Shutdown the system and plug the old drive into a different SATA port and booted.

1. The machine booted with the old C: drive even though it was on a completely different port ! Why ?
2. Also, do the color codes of the motherboard SATA connectors (red, orange and black ?) mean anything ?

 

[rvcjew]

Colors can mean anything depending on the boards chosen color scheme we need more info than what your os is (motherboard, ect). The machine boots the drive that is set as first priority in the BIOS/UEFI, so if you move it to another port but don't change its priority it will still boot from it.

 

[dsperber]

1. Also, do the color codes of the motherboard SATA connectors (red, orange and black ?) mean anything ?

Typically these could represent SATA-II (3Gb/s, up to 300MB/s bandwidth) vs. SATA-III (6Gb/s, up to 600MB/s bandwidth) connectors. Typically these are distinguished from each other by color code.

Also, older boards had chipsets that were limited to four Intel SATA connectors, supported by Intel drivers. In order to provide more than four SATA connectors there could be an additional onboard SATA controller from another manufacturer (e.g. Asmedia) supported by its own driver, which supports a separate set of SATA connectors. Again, could be color code distinguishable.

We need to know your motherboard brand/model in order to really explain what you're seeing.