Hi - I reinstalled Vista on my multi-boot (98SE - XP Pro SP2 - Vista Beta 2 Build 5384) computer. The partition I have for Vista is labeled N.
When I originally installed Vista to N, Vista correctly reported that it was installed on the N partition. Windows XP and Partition Magic 8 also report that Vista is installed on N.
However, since the reinstallation, Vista is now reporting that it is on the C partition, even though XP and Partition Magic 8 are reporting it as being installed on the N partition.
When I reinstalled Vista (two times now), I selected N as the target partition. It certainly can't be installed on my C partition because that is only about 750MB in size. C partition holds the boot loader for all three OSs, because that is where Windows dumps them.
Because Vista thinks it is on C, I can't change the drive letter using the disk management tool even when I turn off pagefile.
Question: How can I change the drive letter within Vista to reflect its proper location? How do I change it from C to N?
I am more than willing to reinstall Vista to get this corrected.
Thanks
Joe
P.S. I formatted my N partition with Partition Magic 8 - NTFS as I did when I originally installed Vista.
Vista Drive Letter Question
1. The drive letters are relative to the operating system. What may be "C:" to one is something else to another.
2. What difference does it make?
"Joe727" wrote in message Hi - I reinstalled Vista on my multi-boot (98SE - XP Pro SP2 - Vista Beta 2 Build 5384) computer. The partition I have for Vista is labeled N.
When I originally installed Vista to N, Vista correctly reported that it was installed on the N partition. Windows XP and Partition Magic 8 also report that Vista is installed on N.
However, since the reinstallation, Vista is now reporting that it is on the C partition, even though XP and Partition Magic 8 are reporting it as being installed on the N partition.
When I reinstalled Vista (two times now), I selected N as the target partition. It certainly can't be installed on my C partition because that is only about 750MB in size. C partition holds the boot loader for all three OSs, because that is where Windows dumps them.
Because Vista thinks it is on C, I can't change the drive letter using the disk management tool even when I turn off pagefile.
Question: How can I change the drive letter within Vista to reflect its proper location? How do I change it from C to N?
I am more than willing to reinstall Vista to get this corrected.
Thanks
Joe
P.S. I formatted my N partition with Partition Magic 8 - NTFS as I did when I originally installed Vista.
This is normal behavior. Do NOT play with the drive letters thinking to make both system volumes "C:" as viewed from either system. Neither OS needs to have a gestalt of the computer as you do.
"Joe727" wrote in message
Hi - I reinstalled Vista on my multi-boot (98SE - XP Pro SP2 - Vista Beta 2 Build 5384) computer. The partition I have for Vista is labeled N.
When I originally installed Vista to N, Vista correctly reported that it was installed on the N partition. Windows XP and Partition Magic 8 also report that Vista is installed on N.
However, since the reinstallation, Vista is now reporting that it is on the C partition, even though XP and Partition Magic 8 are reporting it as being installed on the N partition.
When I reinstalled Vista (two times now), I selected N as the target partition. It certainly can't be installed on my C partition because that is only about 750MB in size. C partition holds the boot loader for all three OSs, because that is where Windows dumps them.
Because Vista thinks it is on C, I can't change the drive letter using the disk management tool even when I turn off pagefile.
Question: How can I change the drive letter within Vista to reflect its proper location? How do I change it from C to N?
I am more than willing to reinstall Vista to get this corrected.
Thanks
Joe
P.S. I formatted my N partition with Partition Magic 8 - NTFS as I did when I originally installed Vista.
I would like to see this question both answered and corrected. For some reason the powers to be decided that Vista should recognize the drive or partition is has booted into should always be C:
Personally, I feel this is not something the OS should dictate. If I want to install to E: Drive, then that's where I want it to be when I boot my system. My dual boot XP & x64 is that way - XP on C: and x64 on E:, and that's the way it shows up in the Windows Explorer regardless of which OS I boot into.
On my Vista system, it started out that way. I installed x86 to the 1st partition and it was C:. When I booted the x64, it indicated it was installing to E:. After it was all done Vista changed it. when I boot x64, it comes up as C:, x86 as D;, and DVD as E:. When I boot x86, it comes up as C:, x64 as D:, and DVD as E:.
I do not like the OS deciding what is "best" for me! I want to setup my system the way I want it!!
Why not just do away with drive letters and mount volumes like Unix and Linux?
Joe727 wrote:
Hi - I reinstalled Vista on my multi-boot (98SE - XP Pro SP2 - Vista Beta 2 Build 5384) computer. The partition I have for Vista is labeled N.
When I originally installed Vista to N, Vista correctly reported that it was installed on the N partition. Windows XP and Partition Magic 8 also report that Vista is installed on N.
However, since the reinstallation, Vista is now reporting that it is on the C partition, even though XP and Partition Magic 8 are reporting it as being installed on the N partition.
When I reinstalled Vista (two times now), I selected N as the target partition. It certainly can't be installed on my C partition because that is only about 750MB in size. C partition holds the boot loader for all three OSs, because that is where Windows dumps them.
Because Vista thinks it is on C, I can't change the drive letter using the disk management tool even when I turn off pagefile.
Question: How can I change the drive letter within Vista to reflect its proper location? How do I change it from C to N?
I am more than willing to reinstall Vista to get this corrected.
Thanks
Joe
P.S. I formatted my N partition with Partition Magic 8 - NTFS as I did when I originally installed Vista.
Rick wrote:
I would like to see this question both answered and corrected. For some reason the powers to be decided that Vista should recognize the drive or partition is has booted into should always be C:
Personally, I feel this is not something the OS should dictate. If I want to install to E: Drive, then that's where I want it to be when I boot my system. My dual boot XP & x64 is that way - XP on C: and x64 on E:, and that's the way it shows up in the Windows Explorer regardless of which OS I boot into.
On my Vista system, it started out that way. I installed x86 to the 1st partition and it was C:. When I booted the x64, it indicated it was installing to E:. After it was all done Vista changed it. when I boot x64, it comes up as C:, x86 as D;, and DVD as E:. When I boot x86, it comes up as C:, x64 as D:, and DVD as E:.
I do not like the OS deciding what is "best" for me! I want to setup my system the way I want it!!
Why not just do away with drive letters and mount volumes like Unix and Linux?
You have hit on one answer. Give all your drives Volume Names like XPInstall, VistaInstall, Data, USBBackup, etc. then the drive letter is superfluous.
-- Kerry MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
This is not confined to Vista. If is expected behavior in other versions of Windows as well.
"Rick" wrote in message
I would like to see this question both answered and corrected. For some reason the powers to be decided that Vista should recognize the drive or partition is has booted into should always be C:
Personally, I feel this is not something the OS should dictate. If I want to install to E: Drive, then that's where I want it to be when I boot my system. My dual boot XP & x64 is that way - XP on C: and x64 on E:, and that's the way it shows up in the Windows Explorer regardless of which OS I boot into.
On my Vista system, it started out that way. I installed x86 to the 1st partition and it was C:. When I booted the x64, it indicated it was installing to E:. After it was all done Vista changed it. when I boot x64, it comes up as C:, x86 as D;, and DVD as E:. When I boot x86, it comes up as C:, x64 as D:, and DVD as E:.
I do not like the OS deciding what is "best" for me! I want to setup my system the way I want it!!
Why not just do away with drive letters and mount volumes like Unix and Linux?
Joe727 wrote: Hi - I reinstalled Vista on my multi-boot (98SE - XP Pro SP2 - Vista Beta 2 Build 5384) computer. The partition I have for Vista is labeled N.
When I originally installed Vista to N, Vista correctly reported that it was installed on the N partition. Windows XP and Partition Magic 8 also report that Vista is installed on N.
However, since the reinstallation, Vista is now reporting that it is on the C partition, even though XP and Partition Magic 8 are reporting it as being installed on the N partition.
When I reinstalled Vista (two times now), I selected N as the target partition. It certainly can't be installed on my C partition because that is only about 750MB in size. C partition holds the boot loader for all three OSs, because that is where Windows dumps them.
Because Vista thinks it is on C, I can't change the drive letter using the disk management tool even when I turn off pagefile.
Question: How can I change the drive letter within Vista to reflect its proper location? How do I change it from C to N?
I am more than willing to reinstall Vista to get this corrected.
Thanks
Joe
P.S. I formatted my N partition with Partition Magic 8 - NTFS as I did when I originally installed Vista.
I have named my two boot drives/partitions "Windows 2000" and "Windows Vista". It helps a lot.
"Kerry Brown" wrote in message
Rick wrote: I would like to see this question both answered and corrected. For some reason the powers to be decided that Vista should recognize the drive or partition is has booted into should always be C:
Personally, I feel this is not something the OS should dictate. If I want to install to E: Drive, then that's where I want it to be when I boot my system. My dual boot XP & x64 is that way - XP on C: and x64 on E:, and that's the way it shows up in the Windows Explorer regardless of which OS I boot into.
On my Vista system, it started out that way. I installed x86 to the 1st partition and it was C:. When I booted the x64, it indicated it was installing to E:. After it was all done Vista changed it. when I boot x64, it comes up as C:, x86 as D;, and DVD as E:. When I boot x86, it comes up as C:, x64 as D:, and DVD as E:.
I do not like the OS deciding what is "best" for me! I want to setup my system the way I want it!!
Why not just do away with drive letters and mount volumes like Unix and Linux?
You have hit on one answer. Give all your drives Volume Names like XPInstall, VistaInstall, Data, USBBackup, etc. then the drive letter is superfluous.
-- Kerry MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
I always name them stuff like "Fred" or "Dirt."
"Todd" wrote in message I have named my two boot drives/partitions "Windows 2000" and "Windows Vista". It helps a lot.
"Kerry Brown" wrote in message
Rick wrote: I would like to see this question both answered and corrected. For some reason the powers to be decided that Vista should recognize the drive or partition is has booted into should always be C:
Personally, I feel this is not something the OS should dictate. If I want to install to E: Drive, then that's where I want it to be when I boot my system. My dual boot XP & x64 is that way - XP on C: and x64 on E:, and that's the way it shows up in the Windows Explorer regardless of which OS I boot into.
On my Vista system, it started out that way. I installed x86 to the 1st partition and it was C:. When I booted the x64, it indicated it was installing to E:. After it was all done Vista changed it. when I boot x64, it comes up as C:, x86 as D;, and DVD as E:. When I boot x86, it comes up as C:, x64 as D:, and DVD as E:.
I do not like the OS deciding what is "best" for me! I want to setup my system the way I want it!!
Why not just do away with drive letters and mount volumes like Unix and Linux?
You have hit on one answer. Give all your drives Volume Names like XPInstall, VistaInstall, Data, USBBackup, etc. then the drive letter is superfluous.
-- Kerry MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
Vista is the first time I have experienced this. Previous version of Windows, that I have installed, did not appear with a different drive letter after installation than what I expected.
Colin Barnhorst wrote:
This is not confined to Vista. If is expected behavior in other versions of Windows as well.
"Rick" wrote in message I would like to see this question both answered and corrected. For some reason the powers to be decided that Vista should recognize the drive or partition is has booted into should always be C:
Personally, I feel this is not something the OS should dictate. If I want to install to E: Drive, then that's where I want it to be when I boot my system. My dual boot XP & x64 is that way - XP on C: and x64 on E:, and that's the way it shows up in the Windows Explorer regardless of which OS I boot into.
On my Vista system, it started out that way. I installed x86 to the 1st partition and it was C:. When I booted the x64, it indicated it was installing to E:. After it was all done Vista changed it. when I boot x64, it comes up as C:, x86 as D;, and DVD as E:. When I boot x86, it comes up as C:, x64 as D:, and DVD as E:.
I do not like the OS deciding what is "best" for me! I want to setup my system the way I want it!!
Why not just do away with drive letters and mount volumes like Unix and Linux?
Joe727 wrote: Hi - I reinstalled Vista on my multi-boot (98SE - XP Pro SP2 - Vista Beta 2 Build 5384) computer. The partition I have for Vista is labeled N.
When I originally installed Vista to N, Vista correctly reported that it was installed on the N partition. Windows XP and Partition Magic 8 also report that Vista is installed on N.
However, since the reinstallation, Vista is now reporting that it is on the C partition, even though XP and Partition Magic 8 are reporting it as being installed on the N partition.
When I reinstalled Vista (two times now), I selected N as the target partition. It certainly can't be installed on my C partition because that is only about 750MB in size. C partition holds the boot loader for all three OSs, because that is where Windows dumps them.
Because Vista thinks it is on C, I can't change the drive letter using the disk management tool even when I turn off pagefile.
Question: How can I change the drive letter within Vista to reflect its proper location? How do I change it from C to N?
I am more than willing to reinstall Vista to get this corrected.
Thanks
Joe
P.S. I formatted my N partition with Partition Magic 8 - NTFS as I did when I originally installed Vista.
As far as the partition volume names are concerned, they are Vista x86 and Vista x64. But I still don't like the OS deciding what the drive letters should be after I have selected a drive letter I want at install time.
Todd wrote:
I have named my two boot drives/partitions "Windows 2000" and "Windows Vista". It helps a lot.
"Kerry Brown" wrote in message Rick wrote: I would like to see this question both answered and corrected. For some reason the powers to be decided that Vista should recognize the drive or partition is has booted into should always be C:
Personally, I feel this is not something the OS should dictate. If I want to install to E: Drive, then that's where I want it to be when I boot my system. My dual boot XP & x64 is that way - XP on C: and x64 on E:, and that's the way it shows up in the Windows Explorer regardless of which OS I boot into.
On my Vista system, it started out that way. I installed x86 to the 1st partition and it was C:. When I booted the x64, it indicated it was installing to E:. After it was all done Vista changed it. when I boot x64, it comes up as C:, x86 as D;, and DVD as E:. When I boot x86, it comes up as C:, x64 as D:, and DVD as E:.
I do not like the OS deciding what is "best" for me! I want to setup my system the way I want it!!
Why not just do away with drive letters and mount volumes like Unix and Linux?
You have hit on one answer. Give all your drives Volume Names like XPInstall, VistaInstall, Data, USBBackup, etc. then the drive letter is superfluous.
-- Kerry MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
If you want the drive letters as you want them, you need to learn the way they are enumerated and then the first time you bring up one of your installations have the drives configured so that the letter you want will be assigned. Since you can change all except the boot or system drive letters those letters are irrelevant
"Rick" wrote in message
I would like to see this question both answered and corrected. For some reason the powers to be decided that Vista should recognize the drive or partition is has booted into should always be C:
Personally, I feel this is not something the OS should dictate. If I want to install to E: Drive, then that's where I want it to be when I boot my system. My dual boot XP & x64 is that way - XP on C: and x64 on E:, and that's the way it shows up in the Windows Explorer regardless of which OS I boot into.
On my Vista system, it started out that way. I installed x86 to the 1st partition and it was C:. When I booted the x64, it indicated it was installing to E:. After it was all done Vista changed it. when I boot x64, it comes up as C:, x86 as D;, and DVD as E:. When I boot x86, it comes up as C:, x64 as D:, and DVD as E:.
I do not like the OS deciding what is "best" for me! I want to setup my system the way I want it!!
Why not just do away with drive letters and mount volumes like Unix and Linux?
Joe727 wrote: Hi - I reinstalled Vista on my multi-boot (98SE - XP Pro SP2 - Vista Beta 2 Build 5384) computer. The partition I have for Vista is labeled N.
When I originally installed Vista to N, Vista correctly reported that it was installed on the N partition. Windows XP and Partition Magic 8 also report that Vista is installed on N.
However, since the reinstallation, Vista is now reporting that it is on the C partition, even though XP and Partition Magic 8 are reporting it as being installed on the N partition.
When I reinstalled Vista (two times now), I selected N as the target partition. It certainly can't be installed on my C partition because that is only about 750MB in size. C partition holds the boot loader for all three OSs, because that is where Windows dumps them.
Because Vista thinks it is on C, I can't change the drive letter using the disk management tool even when I turn off pagefile.
Question: How can I change the drive letter within Vista to reflect its proper location? How do I change it from C to N?
I am more than willing to reinstall Vista to get this corrected.
Thanks
Joe
P.S. I formatted my N partition with Partition Magic 8 - NTFS as I did when I originally installed Vista.
As I said it is not unusual for Windows in multi-boot scenarios. It is expected behavior.
If you think it looks confusing now, try multibooting XP Pro, XP Pro x64, Vista x86 and Vista x64 on the same box. You might somehow work out a scheme for dual-booting before the beta ended, but you would still be fiddling with a quad-boot scheme long after Vista rtm's.
"Rick" wrote in message
As far as the partition volume names are concerned, they are Vista x86 and Vista x64. But I still don't like the OS deciding what the drive letters should be after I have selected a drive letter I want at install time.
Todd wrote: I have named my two boot drives/partitions "Windows 2000" and "Windows Vista". It helps a lot.
"Kerry Brown" wrote in message Rick wrote: I would like to see this question both answered and corrected. For some reason the powers to be decided that Vista should recognize the drive or partition is has booted into should always be C:
Personally, I feel this is not something the OS should dictate. If I want to install to E: Drive, then that's where I want it to be when I boot my system. My dual boot XP & x64 is that way - XP on C: and x64 on E:, and that's the way it shows up in the Windows Explorer regardless of which OS I boot into.
On my Vista system, it started out that way. I installed x86 to the 1st partition and it was C:. When I booted the x64, it indicated it was installing to E:. After it was all done Vista changed it. when I boot x64, it comes up as C:, x86 as D;, and DVD as E:. When I boot x86, it comes up as C:, x64 as D:, and DVD as E:.
I do not like the OS deciding what is "best" for me! I want to setup my system the way I want it!!
Why not just do away with drive letters and mount volumes like Unix and Linux?
You have hit on one answer. Give all your drives Volume Names like XPInstall, VistaInstall, Data, USBBackup, etc. then the drive letter is superfluous.
-- Kerry MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
I have seen it often. It is a cosmetic issue only detected by the user. The currently running OS doesn't give a hoot about it.
"Rick" wrote in message
Vista is the first time I have experienced this. Previous version of Windows, that I have installed, did not appear with a different drive letter after installation than what I expected.
Colin Barnhorst wrote: This is not confined to Vista. If is expected behavior in other versions of Windows as well.
"Rick" wrote in message I would like to see this question both answered and corrected. For some reason the powers to be decided that Vista should recognize the drive or partition is has booted into should always be C:
Personally, I feel this is not something the OS should dictate. If I want to install to E: Drive, then that's where I want it to be when I boot my system. My dual boot XP & x64 is that way - XP on C: and x64 on E:, and that's the way it shows up in the Windows Explorer regardless of which OS I boot into.
On my Vista system, it started out that way. I installed x86 to the 1st partition and it was C:. When I booted the x64, it indicated it was installing to E:. After it was all done Vista changed it. when I boot x64, it comes up as C:, x86 as D;, and DVD as E:. When I boot x86, it comes up as C:, x64 as D:, and DVD as E:.
I do not like the OS deciding what is "best" for me! I want to setup my system the way I want it!!
Why not just do away with drive letters and mount volumes like Unix and Linux?
Joe727 wrote: Hi - I reinstalled Vista on my multi-boot (98SE - XP Pro SP2 - Vista Beta 2 Build 5384) computer. The partition I have for Vista is labeled N.
When I originally installed Vista to N, Vista correctly reported that it was installed on the N partition. Windows XP and Partition Magic 8 also report that Vista is installed on N.
However, since the reinstallation, Vista is now reporting that it is on the C partition, even though XP and Partition Magic 8 are reporting it as being installed on the N partition.
When I reinstalled Vista (two times now), I selected N as the target partition. It certainly can't be installed on my C partition because that is only about 750MB in size. C partition holds the boot loader for all three OSs, because that is where Windows dumps them.
Because Vista thinks it is on C, I can't change the drive letter using the disk management tool even when I turn off pagefile.
Question: How can I change the drive letter within Vista to reflect its proper location? How do I change it from C to N?
I am more than willing to reinstall Vista to get this corrected.
Thanks
Joe
P.S. I formatted my N partition with Partition Magic 8 - NTFS as I did when I originally installed Vista.
You apparently read what I said, John.
I had made 2 partitions on my hard drive. when I booted the Vista x86 DVD, I selected C: drive (1st partition) and it installed to C:. When I booted Vista x64, I selected E: drive (it should I had C: & E: available. D: was the DVD). After the installation was complete (to E: Drive) Vista x64 showed it was now C: drive when it booted, not E:.
Read my 3rd paragraph on how I tried to set up my system. You advise may or may not be what I was trying to do, but Microsoft decided my drive should be the way they wanted it!
John Barnes wrote:
If you want the drive letters as you want them, you need to learn the way they are enumerated and then the first time you bring up one of your installations have the drives configured so that the letter you want will be assigned. Since you can change all except the boot or system drive letters those letters are irrelevant
"Rick" wrote in message I would like to see this question both answered and corrected. For some reason the powers to be decided that Vista should recognize the drive or partition is has booted into should always be C:
Personally, I feel this is not something the OS should dictate. If I want to install to E: Drive, then that's where I want it to be when I boot my system. My dual boot XP & x64 is that way - XP on C: and x64 on E:, and that's the way it shows up in the Windows Explorer regardless of which OS I boot into.
On my Vista system, it started out that way. I installed x86 to the 1st partition and it was C:. When I booted the x64, it indicated it was installing to E:. After it was all done Vista changed it. when I boot x64, it comes up as C:, x86 as D;, and DVD as E:. When I boot x86, it comes up as C:, x64 as D:, and DVD as E:.
I do not like the OS deciding what is "best" for me! I want to setup my system the way I want it!!
Why not just do away with drive letters and mount volumes like Unix and Linux?
Joe727 wrote: Hi - I reinstalled Vista on my multi-boot (98SE - XP Pro SP2 - Vista Beta 2 Build 5384) computer. The partition I have for Vista is labeled N.
When I originally installed Vista to N, Vista correctly reported that it was installed on the N partition. Windows XP and Partition Magic 8 also report that Vista is installed on N.
However, since the reinstallation, Vista is now reporting that it is on the C partition, even though XP and Partition Magic 8 are reporting it as being installed on the N partition.
When I reinstalled Vista (two times now), I selected N as the target partition. It certainly can't be installed on my C partition because that is only about 750MB in size. C partition holds the boot loader for all three OSs, because that is where Windows dumps them.
Because Vista thinks it is on C, I can't change the drive letter using the disk management tool even when I turn off pagefile.
Question: How can I change the drive letter within Vista to reflect its proper location? How do I change it from C to N?
I am more than willing to reinstall Vista to get this corrected.
Thanks
Joe
P.S. I formatted my N partition with Partition Magic 8 - NTFS as I did when I originally installed Vista.
You can even see this behavior without a multiboot scenario. Re-installing Windows on a system with a zip or other removable drive (without first disconnecting it) can produce a system drive letter like H: or N:.
"John Barnes" wrote in message
If you want the drive letters as you want them, you need to learn the way they are enumerated and then the first time you bring up one of your installations have the drives configured so that the letter you want will be assigned. Since you can change all except the boot or system drive letters those letters are irrelevant
"Rick" wrote in message I would like to see this question both answered and corrected. For some reason the powers to be decided that Vista should recognize the drive or partition is has booted into should always be C:
Personally, I feel this is not something the OS should dictate. If I want to install to E: Drive, then that's where I want it to be when I boot my system. My dual boot XP & x64 is that way - XP on C: and x64 on E:, and that's the way it shows up in the Windows Explorer regardless of which OS I boot into.
On my Vista system, it started out that way. I installed x86 to the 1st partition and it was C:. When I booted the x64, it indicated it was installing to E:. After it was all done Vista changed it. when I boot x64, it comes up as C:, x86 as D;, and DVD as E:. When I boot x86, it comes up as C:, x64 as D:, and DVD as E:.
I do not like the OS deciding what is "best" for me! I want to setup my system the way I want it!!
Why not just do away with drive letters and mount volumes like Unix and Linux?
Joe727 wrote: Hi - I reinstalled Vista on my multi-boot (98SE - XP Pro SP2 - Vista Beta 2 Build 5384) computer. The partition I have for Vista is labeled N.
When I originally installed Vista to N, Vista correctly reported that it was installed on the N partition. Windows XP and Partition Magic 8 also report that Vista is installed on N.
However, since the reinstallation, Vista is now reporting that it is on the C partition, even though XP and Partition Magic 8 are reporting it as being installed on the N partition.
When I reinstalled Vista (two times now), I selected N as the target partition. It certainly can't be installed on my C partition because that is only about 750MB in size. C partition holds the boot loader for all three OSs, because that is where Windows dumps them.
Because Vista thinks it is on C, I can't change the drive letter using the disk management tool even when I turn off pagefile.
Question: How can I change the drive letter within Vista to reflect its proper location? How do I change it from C to N?
I am more than willing to reinstall Vista to get this corrected.
Thanks
Joe
P.S. I formatted my N partition with Partition Magic 8 - NTFS as I did when I originally installed Vista.
That's because C: and E: are not device names. They are logical names.
"Rick" wrote in message
You apparently read what I said, John.
I had made 2 partitions on my hard drive. when I booted the Vista x86 DVD, I selected C: drive (1st partition) and it installed to C:. When I booted Vista x64, I selected E: drive (it should I had C: & E: available. D: was the DVD). After the installation was complete (to E: Drive) Vista x64 showed it was now C: drive when it booted, not E:.
Read my 3rd paragraph on how I tried to set up my system. You advise may or may not be what I was trying to do, but Microsoft decided my drive should be the way they wanted it!
John Barnes wrote: If you want the drive letters as you want them, you need to learn the way they are enumerated and then the first time you bring up one of your installations have the drives configured so that the letter you want will be assigned. Since you can change all except the boot or system drive letters those letters are irrelevant
"Rick" wrote in message I would like to see this question both answered and corrected. For some reason the powers to be decided that Vista should recognize the drive or partition is has booted into should always be C:
Personally, I feel this is not something the OS should dictate. If I want to install to E: Drive, then that's where I want it to be when I boot my system. My dual boot XP & x64 is that way - XP on C: and x64 on E:, and that's the way it shows up in the Windows Explorer regardless of which OS I boot into.
On my Vista system, it started out that way. I installed x86 to the 1st partition and it was C:. When I booted the x64, it indicated it was installing to E:. After it was all done Vista changed it. when I boot x64, it comes up as C:, x86 as D;, and DVD as E:. When I boot x86, it comes up as C:, x64 as D:, and DVD as E:.
I do not like the OS deciding what is "best" for me! I want to setup my system the way I want it!!
Why not just do away with drive letters and mount volumes like Unix and Linux?
Joe727 wrote: Hi - I reinstalled Vista on my multi-boot (98SE - XP Pro SP2 - Vista Beta 2 Build 5384) computer. The partition I have for Vista is labeled N.
When I originally installed Vista to N, Vista correctly reported that it was installed on the N partition. Windows XP and Partition Magic 8 also report that Vista is installed on N.
However, since the reinstallation, Vista is now reporting that it is on the C partition, even though XP and Partition Magic 8 are reporting it as being installed on the N partition.
When I reinstalled Vista (two times now), I selected N as the target partition. It certainly can't be installed on my C partition because that is only about 750MB in size. C partition holds the boot loader for all three OSs, because that is where Windows dumps them.
Because Vista thinks it is on C, I can't change the drive letter using the disk management tool even when I turn off pagefile.
Question: How can I change the drive letter within Vista to reflect its proper location? How do I change it from C to N?
I am more than willing to reinstall Vista to get this corrected.
Thanks
Joe
P.S. I formatted my N partition with Partition Magic 8 - NTFS as I did when I originally installed Vista.
Correction to 1st sentence: You apparently did not read what I said, John.
Rick wrote:
You apparently did not read what I said, John.
I had made 2 partitions on my hard drive. when I booted the Vista x86 DVD, I selected C: drive (1st partition) and it installed to C:. When I booted Vista x64, I selected E: drive (it should I had C: & E: available. D: was the DVD). After the installation was complete (to E: Drive) Vista x64 showed it was now C: drive when it booted, not E:.
Read my 3rd paragraph on how I tried to set up my system. You advise may or may not be what I was trying to do, but Microsoft decided my drive should be the way they wanted it!
John Barnes wrote: If you want the drive letters as you want them, you need to learn the way they are enumerated and then the first time you bring up one of your installations have the drives configured so that the letter you want will be assigned. Since you can change all except the boot or system drive letters those letters are irrelevant
"Rick" wrote in message I would like to see this question both answered and corrected. For some reason the powers to be decided that Vista should recognize the drive or partition is has booted into should always be C:
Personally, I feel this is not something the OS should dictate. If I want to install to E: Drive, then that's where I want it to be when I boot my system. My dual boot XP & x64 is that way - XP on C: and x64 on E:, and that's the way it shows up in the Windows Explorer regardless of which OS I boot into.
On my Vista system, it started out that way. I installed x86 to the 1st partition and it was C:. When I booted the x64, it indicated it was installing to E:. After it was all done Vista changed it. when I boot x64, it comes up as C:, x86 as D;, and DVD as E:. When I boot x86, it comes up as C:, x64 as D:, and DVD as E:.
I do not like the OS deciding what is "best" for me! I want to setup my system the way I want it!!
Why not just do away with drive letters and mount volumes like Unix and Linux?
Joe727 wrote: Hi - I reinstalled Vista on my multi-boot (98SE - XP Pro SP2 - Vista Beta 2 Build 5384) computer. The partition I have for Vista is labeled N.
When I originally installed Vista to N, Vista correctly reported that it was installed on the N partition. Windows XP and Partition Magic 8 also report that Vista is installed on N.
However, since the reinstallation, Vista is now reporting that it is on the C partition, even though XP and Partition Magic 8 are reporting it as being installed on the N partition.
When I reinstalled Vista (two times now), I selected N as the target partition. It certainly can't be installed on my C partition because that is only about 750MB in size. C partition holds the boot loader for all three OSs, because that is where Windows dumps them.
Because Vista thinks it is on C, I can't change the drive letter using the disk management tool even when I turn off pagefile.
Question: How can I change the drive letter within Vista to reflect its proper location? How do I change it from C to N?
I am more than willing to reinstall Vista to get this corrected.
Thanks
Joe
P.S. I formatted my N partition with Partition Magic 8 - NTFS as I did when I originally installed Vista.
I get the feeling we are not on the same sheet of music. And, if that is so, we will never be in harmony.
Your responses don't seem to correlate to what I have expounded on. When I booted from the x64 DVD, my choices of where to install were shown as C: drive and E: drive. I already had x86 on C: so I select to install to E:. However, Vista x64 tells me it is on C: drive when I boot in x64, not E: drive as I told it to go to.
When I installed my Win x64, I had the same scenario and I selected to install Win x64 to E: drive. It indicates it is E: drive when I boot my system to Win x64, not C:!
How much clearly can I explain what has happened?
Colin Barnhorst wrote:
That's because C: and E: are not device names. They are logical names.
"Rick" wrote in message You apparently did not read what I said, John.
I had made 2 partitions on my hard drive. when I booted the Vista x86 DVD, I selected C: drive (1st partition) and it installed to C:. When I booted Vista x64, I selected E: drive (it should I had C: & E: available. D: was the DVD). After the installation was complete (to E: Drive) Vista x64 showed it was now C: drive when it booted, not E:.
Read my 3rd paragraph on how I tried to set up my system. You advise may or may not be what I was trying to do, but Microsoft decided my drive should be the way they wanted it!
John Barnes wrote: If you want the drive letters as you want them, you need to learn the way they are enumerated and then the first time you bring up one of your installations have the drives configured so that the letter you want will be assigned. Since you can change all except the boot or system drive letters those letters are irrelevant
"Rick" wrote in message I would like to see this question both answered and corrected. For some reason the powers to be decided that Vista should recognize the drive or partition is has booted into should always be C:
Personally, I feel this is not something the OS should dictate. If I want to install to E: Drive, then that's where I want it to be when I boot my system. My dual boot XP & x64 is that way - XP on C: and x64 on E:, and that's the way it shows up in the Windows Explorer regardless of which OS I boot into.
On my Vista system, it started out that way. I installed x86 to the 1st partition and it was C:. When I booted the x64, it indicated it was installing to E:. After it was all done Vista changed it. when I boot x64, it comes up as C:, x86 as D;, and DVD as E:. When I boot x86, it comes up as C:, x64 as D:, and DVD as E:.
I do not like the OS deciding what is "best" for me! I want to setup my system the way I want it!!
Why not just do away with drive letters and mount volumes like Unix and Linux?
Joe727 wrote: Hi - I reinstalled Vista on my multi-boot (98SE - XP Pro SP2 - Vista Beta 2 Build 5384) computer. The partition I have for Vista is labeled N.
When I originally installed Vista to N, Vista correctly reported that it was installed on the N partition. Windows XP and Partition Magic 8 also report that Vista is installed on N.
However, since the reinstallation, Vista is now reporting that it is on the C partition, even though XP and Partition Magic 8 are reporting it as being installed on the N partition.
When I reinstalled Vista (two times now), I selected N as the target partition. It certainly can't be installed on my C partition because that is only about 750MB in size. C partition holds the boot loader for all three OSs, because that is where Windows dumps them.
Because Vista thinks it is on C, I can't change the drive letter using the disk management tool even when I turn off pagefile.
Question: How can I change the drive letter within Vista to reflect its proper location? How do I change it from C to N?
I am more than willing to reinstall Vista to get this corrected.
Thanks
Joe
P.S. I formatted my N partition with Partition Magic 8 - NTFS as I did when I originally installed Vista.
Colin's right. You can go to Knowledge base article Q234048 and read the enumeration, then connect up the drives and partitions in a way that will have the right letter assigned to the system the first time it is booted (new installation) To get an os to be assigned as E it would have to be the third partition in the enumerating order. Takes some playing around with drive order in the bios and activating partitions correctly, but if you follow the order in the article and plan it out, works fine. Remember to get your boot files on the first drive active partition before starting up the new system.
"Rick" wrote in message
You apparently read what I said, John.
I had made 2 partitions on my hard drive. when I booted the Vista x86 DVD, I selected C: drive (1st partition) and it installed to C:. When I booted Vista x64, I selected E: drive (it should I had C: & E: available. D: was the DVD). After the installation was complete (to E: Drive) Vista x64 showed it was now C: drive when it booted, not E:.
Read my 3rd paragraph on how I tried to set up my system. You advise may or may not be what I was trying to do, but Microsoft decided my drive should be the way they wanted it!
John Barnes wrote: If you want the drive letters as you want them, you need to learn the way they are enumerated and then the first time you bring up one of your installations have the drives configured so that the letter you want will be assigned. Since you can change all except the boot or system drive letters those letters are irrelevant
"Rick" wrote in message I would like to see this question both answered and corrected. For some reason the powers to be decided that Vista should recognize the drive or partition is has booted into should always be C:
Personally, I feel this is not something the OS should dictate. If I want to install to E: Drive, then that's where I want it to be when I boot my system. My dual boot XP & x64 is that way - XP on C: and x64 on E:, and that's the way it shows up in the Windows Explorer regardless of which OS I boot into.
On my Vista system, it started out that way. I installed x86 to the 1st partition and it was C:. When I booted the x64, it indicated it was installing to E:. After it was all done Vista changed it. when I boot x64, it comes up as C:, x86 as D;, and DVD as E:. When I boot x86, it comes up as C:, x64 as D:, and DVD as E:.
I do not like the OS deciding what is "best" for me! I want to setup my system the way I want it!!
Why not just do away with drive letters and mount volumes like Unix and Linux?
Joe727 wrote: Hi - I reinstalled Vista on my multi-boot (98SE - XP Pro SP2 - Vista Beta 2 Build 5384) computer. The partition I have for Vista is labeled N.
When I originally installed Vista to N, Vista correctly reported that it was installed on the N partition. Windows XP and Partition Magic 8 also report that Vista is installed on N.
However, since the reinstallation, Vista is now reporting that it is on the C partition, even though XP and Partition Magic 8 are reporting it as being installed on the N partition.
When I reinstalled Vista (two times now), I selected N as the target partition. It certainly can't be installed on my C partition because that is only about 750MB in size. C partition holds the boot loader for all three OSs, because that is where Windows dumps them.
Because Vista thinks it is on C, I can't change the drive letter using the disk management tool even when I turn off pagefile.
Question: How can I change the drive letter within Vista to reflect its proper location? How do I change it from C to N?
I am more than willing to reinstall Vista to get this corrected.
Thanks
Joe
P.S. I formatted my N partition with Partition Magic 8 - NTFS as I did when I originally installed Vista.
If you boot the box from Vista DVD, setup sees drive letters in bios, and assigns drive letters from the BIOS. If you run the Vista setup from Within XP, setup will see the partition letters assigned within XP and migrate/use them for Vista.
CH
"Joe727" wrote in message
Hi - I reinstalled Vista on my multi-boot (98SE - XP Pro SP2 - Vista Beta 2 Build 5384) computer. The partition I have for Vista is labeled N.
When I originally installed Vista to N, Vista correctly reported that it was installed on the N partition. Windows XP and Partition Magic 8 also report that Vista is installed on N.
However, since the reinstallation, Vista is now reporting that it is on the C partition, even though XP and Partition Magic 8 are reporting it as being installed on the N partition.
When I reinstalled Vista (two times now), I selected N as the target partition. It certainly can't be installed on my C partition because that is only about 750MB in size. C partition holds the boot loader for all three OSs, because that is where Windows dumps them.
Because Vista thinks it is on C, I can't change the drive letter using the disk management tool even when I turn off pagefile.
Question: How can I change the drive letter within Vista to reflect its proper location? How do I change it from C to N?
I am more than willing to reinstall Vista to get this corrected.
Thanks
Joe
P.S. I formatted my N partition with Partition Magic 8 - NTFS as I did when I originally installed Vista.
I had the exact same conditions on 2 different computers.
On one computer I installed Win XP Pro and Win x64. In installed Win XP Pro to the 1st partition and it remained as C: drive. I installed to Win x64 to the 2nd partition, which was labeled as E: in the install choices, and it stayed E: drive, and still E: drive, when I boot to Win x64. And the XP Pro is shown as C: drive - ALWAYS!!!
On the second computer I installed Vista x86 to the 1st partition and and it shows it is C: when it is booted. I then booted from the Vista x64 DVD and selected the E: drive, same as above, but when I boot to Vista x64, it shows as the C: drive, not as E: drive, and the Vista x86 is shown as D: drive at that time.
Exact same scenario on 2 different computers, but DIFFERENT results.
So, my conclusion is that for some unknown reason, neither you nor Colin seem to be able to comprehend what I and talking about and are offering responses and solutions that simply don't seem to make much sense to me!
And, yes, I read the KB Q234048, but don't see the correlation!
John Barnes wrote:
Colin's right. You can go to Knowledge base article Q234048 and read the enumeration, then connect up the drives and partitions in a way that will have the right letter assigned to the system the first time it is booted (new installation) To get an os to be assigned as E it would have to be the third partition in the enumerating order. Takes some playing around with drive order in the bios and activating partitions correctly, but if you follow the order in the article and plan it out, works fine. Remember to get your boot files on the first drive active partition before starting up the new system.
"Rick" wrote in message You apparently read what I said, John.
I had made 2 partitions on my hard drive. when I booted the Vista x86 DVD, I selected C: drive (1st partition) and it installed to C:. When I booted Vista x64, I selected E: drive (it should I had C: & E: available. D: was the DVD). After the installation was complete (to E: Drive) Vista x64 showed it was now C: drive when it booted, not E:.
Read my 3rd paragraph on how I tried to set up my system. You advise may or may not be what I was trying to do, but Microsoft decided my drive should be the way they wanted it!
John Barnes wrote: If you want the drive letters as you want them, you need to learn the way they are enumerated and then the first time you bring up one of your installations have the drives configured so that the letter you want will be assigned. Since you can change all except the boot or system drive letters those letters are irrelevant
"Rick" wrote in message I would like to see this question both answered and corrected. For some reason the powers to be decided that Vista should recognize the drive or partition is has booted into should always be C:
Personally, I feel this is not something the OS should dictate. If I want to install to E: Drive, then that's where I want it to be when I boot my system. My dual boot XP & x64 is that way - XP on C: and x64 on E:, and that's the way it shows up in the Windows Explorer regardless of which OS I boot into.
On my Vista system, it started out that way. I installed x86 to the 1st partition and it was C:. When I booted the x64, it indicated it was installing to E:. After it was all done Vista changed it. when I boot x64, it comes up as C:, x86 as D;, and DVD as E:. When I boot x86, it comes up as C:, x64 as D:, and DVD as E:.
I do not like the OS deciding what is "best" for me! I want to setup my system the way I want it!!
Why not just do away with drive letters and mount volumes like Unix and Linux?
Joe727 wrote: Hi - I reinstalled Vista on my multi-boot (98SE - XP Pro SP2 - Vista Beta 2 Build 5384) computer. The partition I have for Vista is labeled N.
When I originally installed Vista to N, Vista correctly reported that it was installed on the N partition. Windows XP and Partition Magic 8 also report that Vista is installed on N.
However, since the reinstallation, Vista is now reporting that it is on the C partition, even though XP and Partition Magic 8 are reporting it as being installed on the N partition.
When I reinstalled Vista (two times now), I selected N as the target partition. It certainly can't be installed on my C partition because that is only about 750MB in size. C partition holds the boot loader for all three OSs, because that is where Windows dumps them.
Because Vista thinks it is on C, I can't change the drive letter using the disk management tool even when I turn off pagefile.
Question: How can I change the drive letter within Vista to reflect its proper location? How do I change it from C to N?
I am more than willing to reinstall Vista to get this corrected.
Thanks
Joe
P.S. I formatted my N partition with Partition Magic 8 - NTFS as I did when I originally installed Vista.
On one computer I installed Win XP Pro and Win x64. In installed Win XP Pro to the 1st partition and it remained as C: drive. I installed to Win x64 to the 2nd partition, which was labeled as E: in the install choices, and it stayed E: drive, and still E: drive, when I boot to Win x64. And the XP Pro is shown as C: drive - ALWAYS!!!
Once assigned the first time an os is booted, they will remain the same within that operating system, unless you change them. They are set in that registry based on the articles enumeration. Makes no difference what letters they were assigned during the install process. That may or may not have the same letters.
On the second computer I installed Vista x86 to the 1st partition and and it shows it is C: when it is booted. I then booted from the Vista x64 DVD and selected the E: drive, same as above, but when I boot to Vista x64, it shows as the C: drive, not as E: drive, and the Vista x86 is shown as D: drive at that time.
I haven't installed Vista64 so can only guess, which is kinda stupid of me,
but here goes. Maybe the second installation of vista64 set the second partition as active. That would result in the system being assigned C when it is first started. Like with XP you may have to go into the first system and check the partitions listed in Disk Management to make sure they are in the order they need to be in before you start up the second installation (and make sure the proper boot files are on the active partition). In any case, The letters in the installation procedure are irrelevant to what they will be assigned the first time you boot up an os. They may match, and they may not.
There is no difference between Vista x86 and x64 in this regard, or for that matter with XP Pro x64 either.
"John Barnes" wrote in message
On one computer I installed Win XP Pro and Win x64. In installed Win XP Pro to the 1st partition and it remained as C: drive. I installed to Win x64 to the 2nd partition, which was labeled as E: in the install choices, and it stayed E: drive, and still E: drive, when I boot to Win x64. And the XP Pro is shown as C: drive - ALWAYS!!!
Once assigned the first time an os is booted, they will remain the same within that operating system, unless you change them. They are set in that registry based on the articles enumeration. Makes no difference what letters they were assigned during the install process. That may or may not have the same letters.
On the second computer I installed Vista x86 to the 1st partition and and it shows it is C: when it is booted. I then booted from the Vista x64 DVD and selected the E: drive, same as above, but when I boot to Vista x64, it shows as the C: drive, not as E: drive, and the Vista x86 is shown as D: drive at that time.
I haven't installed Vista64 so can only guess, which is kinda stupid of me, but here goes. Maybe the second installation of vista64 set the second partition as active. That would result in the system being assigned C when it is first started. Like with XP you may have to go into the first system and check the partitions listed in Disk Management to make sure they are in the order they need to be in before you start up the second installation (and make sure the proper boot files are on the active partition). In any case, The letters in the installation procedure are irrelevant to what they will be assigned the first time you boot up an os. They may match, and they may not.
Seems to be the same procedure since 2k. Personally the only time this concerns me is when I move an operating system to another drive, and maybe a different partition number, such as when I moved x86 from a single drive and x64 from another drive to a single drive with x64 in the first partition and x86 on the second. Needed to have the enumeration stay the same so the drive letter information in the registry, shortcuts, etc. would be in sinc with the enumerations.
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message
There is no difference between Vista x86 and x64 in this regard, or for that matter with XP Pro x64 either.
"John Barnes" wrote in message
On one computer I installed Win XP Pro and Win x64. In installed Win XP Pro to the 1st partition and it remained as C: drive. I installed to Win x64 to the 2nd partition, which was labeled as E: in the install choices, and it stayed E: drive, and still E: drive, when I boot to Win x64. And the XP Pro is shown as C: drive - ALWAYS!!!
Once assigned the first time an os is booted, they will remain the same within that operating system, unless you change them. They are set in that registry based on the articles enumeration. Makes no difference what letters they were assigned during the install process. That may or may not have the same letters.
On the second computer I installed Vista x86 to the 1st partition and and it shows it is C: when it is booted. I then booted from the Vista x64 DVD and selected the E: drive, same as above, but when I boot to Vista x64, it shows as the C: drive, not as E: drive, and the Vista x86 is shown as D: drive at that time.
I haven't installed Vista64 so can only guess, which is kinda stupid of me, but here goes. Maybe the second installation of vista64 set the second partition as active. That would result in the system being assigned C when it is first started. Like with XP you may have to go into the first system and check the partitions listed in Disk Management to make sure they are in the order they need to be in before you start up the second installation (and make sure the proper boot files are on the active partition). In any case, The letters in the installation procedure are irrelevant to what they will be assigned the first time you boot up an os. They may match, and they may not.
File a bug report and move on. The thread is now repetitive.
These issues are why paths are defined relatively and not absolutely, as in "%systemroot%\Windows\Windows32\...." and not "C:\Windows\Windows32...."
"Rick" wrote in message
I had the exact same conditions on 2 different computers.
On one computer I installed Win XP Pro and Win x64. In installed Win XP Pro to the 1st partition and it remained as C: drive. I installed to Win x64 to the 2nd partition, which was labeled as E: in the install choices, and it stayed E: drive, and still E: drive, when I boot to Win x64. And the XP Pro is shown as C: drive - ALWAYS!!!
On the second computer I installed Vista x86 to the 1st partition and and it shows it is C: when it is booted. I then booted from the Vista x64 DVD and selected the E: drive, same as above, but when I boot to Vista x64, it shows as the C: drive, not as E: drive, and the Vista x86 is shown as D: drive at that time.
Exact same scenario on 2 different computers, but DIFFERENT results.
So, my conclusion is that for some unknown reason, neither you nor Colin seem to be able to comprehend what I and talking about and are offering responses and solutions that simply don't seem to make much sense to me!
And, yes, I read the KB Q234048, but don't see the correlation!
John Barnes wrote: Colin's right. You can go to Knowledge base article Q234048 and read the enumeration, then connect up the drives and partitions in a way that will have the right letter assigned to the system the first time it is booted (new installation) To get an os to be assigned as E it would have to be the third partition in the enumerating order. Takes some playing around with drive order in the bios and activating partitions correctly, but if you follow the order in the article and plan it out, works fine. Remember to get your boot files on the first drive active partition before starting up the new system.
"Rick" wrote in message You apparently read what I said, John.
I had made 2 partitions on my hard drive. when I booted the Vista x86 DVD, I selected C: drive (1st partition) and it installed to C:. When I booted Vista x64, I selected E: drive (it should I had C: & E: available. D: was the DVD). After the installation was complete (to E: Drive) Vista x64 showed it was now C: drive when it booted, not E:.
Read my 3rd paragraph on how I tried to set up my system. You advise may or may not be what I was trying to do, but Microsoft decided my drive should be the way they wanted it!
John Barnes wrote: If you want the drive letters as you want them, you need to learn the way they are enumerated and then the first time you bring up one of your installations have the drives configured so that the letter you want will be assigned. Since you can change all except the boot or system drive letters those letters are irrelevant
"Rick" wrote in message I would like to see this question both answered and corrected. For some reason the powers to be decided that Vista should recognize the drive or partition is has booted into should always be C:
Personally, I feel this is not something the OS should dictate. If I want to install to E: Drive, then that's where I want it to be when I boot my system. My dual boot XP & x64 is that way - XP on C: and x64 on E:, and that's the way it shows up in the Windows Explorer regardless of which OS I boot into.
On my Vista system, it started out that way. I installed x86 to the 1st partition and it was C:. When I booted the x64, it indicated it was installing to E:. After it was all done Vista changed it. when I boot x64, it comes up as C:, x86 as D;, and DVD as E:. When I boot x86, it comes up as C:, x64 as D:, and DVD as E:.
I do not like the OS deciding what is "best" for me! I want to setup my system the way I want it!!
Why not just do away with drive letters and mount volumes like Unix and Linux?
Joe727 wrote: Hi - I reinstalled Vista on my multi-boot (98SE - XP Pro SP2 - Vista Beta 2 Build 5384) computer. The partition I have for Vista is labeled N.
When I originally installed Vista to N, Vista correctly reported that it was installed on the N partition. Windows XP and Partition Magic 8 also report that Vista is installed on N.
However, since the reinstallation, Vista is now reporting that it is on the C partition, even though XP and Partition Magic 8 are reporting it as being installed on the N partition.
When I reinstalled Vista (two times now), I selected N as the target partition. It certainly can't be installed on my C partition because that is only about 750MB in size. C partition holds the boot loader for all three OSs, because that is where Windows dumps them.
Because Vista thinks it is on C, I can't change the drive letter using the disk management tool even when I turn off pagefile.
Question: How can I change the drive letter within Vista to reflect its proper location? How do I change it from C to N?
I am more than willing to reinstall Vista to get this corrected.
Thanks
Joe
P.S. I formatted my N partition with Partition Magic 8 - NTFS as I did when I originally installed Vista.
if you install by booting from DVD, vista STEALS "C" drive letter. if you install by running the setup from another OS, then VISTA takes the drive letter you assign.
file a complaint with ms on this behavior. many others have done so already. maybe enough will do to make them chance this bhavior.
AND NO IT IS NOT NORMAL BEHAVIOR.
mikeyhsd@sport.rr.com
"Joe727" wrote in message Hi - I reinstalled Vista on my multi-boot (98SE - XP Pro SP2 - Vista Beta 2 Build 5384) computer. The partition I have for Vista is labeled N.
When I originally installed Vista to N, Vista correctly reported that it was installed on the N partition. Windows XP and Partition Magic 8 also report that Vista is installed on N.
However, since the reinstallation, Vista is now reporting that it is on the C partition, even though XP and Partition Magic 8 are reporting it as being installed on the N partition.
When I reinstalled Vista (two times now), I selected N as the target partition. It certainly can't be installed on my C partition because that is only about 750MB in size. C partition holds the boot loader for all three OSs, because that is where Windows dumps them.
Because Vista thinks it is on C, I can't change the drive letter using the disk management tool even when I turn off pagefile.
Question: How can I change the drive letter within Vista to reflect its proper location? How do I change it from C to N?
I am more than willing to reinstall Vista to get this corrected.
Thanks
Joe
P.S. I formatted my N partition with Partition Magic 8 - NTFS as I did when I originally installed Vista.
Hundreds of bugs have been filed early on in the Beta 9-12 months ago and mucho setup team members surfaced to say IT AIN'T NO BUG. THIS IS BY DESIGN. There were numerous threads on it.
If you like you can reinstall via the DVD: Install Now on autorun>Shift-F10 to get cmd window>diskpart to clean>reboot>shift-F-10 cmd>assign partitions the drive letters you like>don't create partitions in setup>your designated partitions will show up.
Again on a dual or multiboot you can keep the same drive letters as XP in the new OS if you setup from within XP. One more reason to do that.
CH
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message
File a bug report and move on. The thread is now repetitive.
These issues are why paths are defined relatively and not absolutely, as in "%systemroot%\Windows\Windows32\...." and not "C:\Windows\Windows32...."
"Rick" wrote in message I had the exact same conditions on 2 different computers.
On one computer I installed Win XP Pro and Win x64. In installed Win XP Pro to the 1st partition and it remained as C: drive. I installed to Win x64 to the 2nd partition, which was labeled as E: in the install choices, and it stayed E: drive, and still E: drive, when I boot to Win x64. And the XP Pro is shown as C: drive - ALWAYS!!!
On the second computer I installed Vista x86 to the 1st partition and and it shows it is C: when it is booted. I then booted from the Vista x64 DVD and selected the E: drive, same as above, but when I boot to Vista x64, it shows as the C: drive, not as E: drive, and the Vista x86 is shown as D: drive at that time.
Exact same scenario on 2 different computers, but DIFFERENT results.
So, my conclusion is that for some unknown reason, neither you nor Colin seem to be able to comprehend what I and talking about and are offering responses and solutions that simply don't seem to make much sense to me!
And, yes, I read the KB Q234048, but don't see the correlation!
John Barnes wrote: Colin's right. You can go to Knowledge base article Q234048 and read the enumeration, then connect up the drives and partitions in a way that will have the right letter assigned to the system the first time it is booted (new installation) To get an os to be assigned as E it would have to be the third partition in the enumerating order. Takes some playing around with drive order in the bios and activating partitions correctly, but if you follow the order in the article and plan it out, works fine. Remember to get your boot files on the first drive active partition before starting up the new system.
"Rick" wrote in message You apparently read what I said, John.
I had made 2 partitions on my hard drive. when I booted the Vista x86 DVD, I selected C: drive (1st partition) and it installed to C:. When I booted Vista x64, I selected E: drive (it should I had C: & E: available. D: was the DVD). After the installation was complete (to E: Drive) Vista x64 showed it was now C: drive when it booted, not E:.
Read my 3rd paragraph on how I tried to set up my system. You advise may or may not be what I was trying to do, but Microsoft decided my drive should be the way they wanted it!
John Barnes wrote: If you want the drive letters as you want them, you need to learn the way they are enumerated and then the first time you bring up one of your installations have the drives configured so that the letter you want will be assigned. Since you can change all except the boot or system drive letters those letters are irrelevant
"Rick" wrote in message I would like to see this question both answered and