USB EXTERNAL DRIVE--CHANGED FROM F: TO G: 2

[ArnZ]

I am using an external USB drive as a backup device with XP Pro. Originally it defaulted to F: drive. It has changed to G: I've tried using the MS "help" web site and did find the subject addressed. However, when I was instructed to go to the control panel "Administrative Tools" to make changes, I found the folder empty and could do no more.

It works fine as a G: drive but something changed it.
Periodically, I do use a removable USB memory "pen". Perhaps this created the problem??

Any recommendations or support will be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Blujacket]

Assignment of drive letters to external drives, cameras, thumb drives, pen drives, etc., are fairly dynamic and can/do change frequently, sometimes simply by the order they are plugged in. Internal drive letters, on the other hand, are static and seldom change. Networked/Shared drives are assigned letters by WinXP beginning with Z: and working back up the alphabet, depending on the order in which they are mapped.

 

[ArnZ]

Thank you for the prompt reply. It's appreciated.

Is there any way to get the USB drive back as the F: drive?

 

[1stITMAN]

well u need to log in as an administrator and have access to administrative tools. Use computer management --> Disk management and u shoul dbe able to change it from there by right click on drive assigning a new drive letter.
have a look here

http://www.buildorbuy.org/driveassign.html

I.T Systems Support Engineer
Bsc. (Hons).

 

[Blujacket]

As long as your fixed drives are lettered correctly as C:, D:, and E:, and you've unplugged any/all other external drives, the letter G: should be available for the next device plugged in. May have to reboot to clear memory of the unplugged drives, most times don't have to.

 

[bcastner]

Possible help:

It might sound silly, but I have faced this issue several times:

http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...port/kb/articles/q191/5/79.asp&NoWebContent=1

The PnP enumeration of drives is exactly as bluejacket described above. I have read this article several times, and fundamentally the process makes little sense:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q825668

If you have to:

http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...port/kb/articles/Q223/1/88.ASP&NoWebContent=1

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307844

 

[SYAR2003]

To make it persistant i always use computer managemant
disk management and change drive letter to something further down the alphabet .
Like CDROM = R for reader
CDRW/DVDRW = W for writer
DVDROM = V for video
External drive = X for external.

(this makes it easy to remember also)

Disconnecting and reconnecting seems to get the
previous drive letters all the time.

syar