• Install windows with MY chosen drive letters.
    4 replies, posted
Ok so I have a problem, I like having my windows installations in the following order: Windows XP = C:\ Windows 7 = D:\ DVD Drive = E:\ Data = I:\ Data 2 = X: I have 2 hard disks, this is their partition loadout: [B]Drive 1 1TB:[/B] Windows XP Windows 7 Data [B]Drive 2 320GB:[/B] Data 2 Now the problem is when I install windows XP it automatically gets assigned a letter by the system (this strangely seems to be "E:\") and I cannot change this, as it would corrupt the install. When I install windows 7 it gets assigned "F:\" My Data/Data 2 get given other obscure drive letters which aren't to my liking, but I can change them as they don't contain important system files or such which would corrupt if the letter was changed. So my main question is, how can I make it so windows XP installs to "C:\" and Windows 7 installs to "D:\" ? Before anyone bitches about me dual booting with XP, I have my own reasons.
I just looked it up here: [url]http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html[/url] It tells you exactly how to set it up, Just follow the instructions then add Data partitions when you're done. I recommend reformating the drive then installing. I believe you're getting your problems from already having a bunch of partitions before installing windows. Alternatively you can run on windows7 and use XP inside a virtual machine, like vmplayer, this is much easier and much safer. If you add me on steam i'll answer any questions you have and help you out in partitioning it correctly.
Thanks, for now I've developed my own method I'm going to try (just waiting for files to backup) I'm backing up all data from data 2 to data (so the hard disk with data 2 will be completely empty). Then I'm going to unplug drive 1, and install windows XP to a 20GB partition on drive 2 (since it'll be the only partition at that point, it can only recieve 1 drive letter, and that's "C:"). Then I'm going to plug in my drive 1 again (gonna set up the drive letters whilst booted into XP), then install win 7, and hopefully the drive letters from XP should carry over, if not I can change them in win7 anyway as windows 7 allows you to change any drive letter (even the one the OS is installed to). If this method fails I'll follow yours. Thanks for searching anyway!
Ok so it seemed my plan didn't work, but I found something very useful out. If you install an OS from within another, it will inherit it's drive letters. If you install from outside the OS (like just after POST) it will give the new installation it's own drive lettering. [editline]8th August 2011[/editline] Also the reason why my OS partitions was being lettered after my data partitions was because I had them in a logical drive partition (And was dumb enough to not notice) whilst the data partitions was set as primary partitions.
This would be much faster if you add me over steam. Can you post a screenshot of your disk manager? (start->search->disk manager)
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