I have an external hard disk that I use on 2 PCs, one runs Win 2000,
and one runs XP.  On the 2000 machine, it always gets the same drive
letter.  Very handy.  On the XP machine, it always got the same drive
letter, until recently. There is a second external hard disk, which is
also attached occasionally, and until recently it too always got the
same drive letter, but now it doesn't.

It's a pain, 'cos it means that I have to update some links each time.
 Why is this happening, and (more importantly) how can I make sure it
always gets the same letter?

(In case it matters, they both connect through a 2.0 USB hub.  There's
also a scanner, a printer, a wireless network access point, and
occasionally a card reader in it.)

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Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 14 Jun 2004 13:56 PDT

jeremy...

Rather than updating individual links, why not go to Start -> 
Settings -> Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Computer
Management, and, under Storage, click on Disk Management.

From there, you can see what letters are assigned to which
drives, and can right-click on the drives and reassign drive
letters to suit your preferences. You will have to reboot.

You may also get some idea why Windows is assigning a particular
drive letter, rather than the one you would prefer, so you can
take steps to adjust this behavior.

Let me know where this takes you...

sublime1-ga

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Clarification of Question by jeremymiles-ga on 23 Jun 2004 12:57 PDT

Hi Sublime1,

It says that the disk is (currently) e:, it is (currently) disk 1. By
right clicking on it, it gives me the option to change the drive
letter that is assigned to it, but there is nothing to say that it
should be made this every time.

Thanks,

JM

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Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 23 Jun 2004 14:52 PDT

jeremy...

Yes, there is no way to assure that, but, if I remember correctly,
Windows will hold the same letter assignment for that drive until
you install a different drive in its place, in which case you will
have to reset the letter again, using this method.

sublime1-ga

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Clarification of Question by jeremymiles-ga on 24 Jun 2004 00:28 PDT

OK, thanks for that.  

Would you like to post that as an answer?

JM

jeremy...

I'm happy to comply with your latest request. I'll post a 
recap of the information I've provided as an answer.

---------------------------------------------------------

Rather than updating individual links, why not go to Start -> 
Settings -> Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Computer
Management, and, under Storage, click on Disk Management.

From there, you can see what letters are assigned to which
drives, and can right-click on the drives and reassign drive
letters to suit your preferences. You will have to reboot.

You may also get some idea why Windows is assigning a particular
drive letter, rather than the one you would prefer, so you can
take steps to adjust this behavior.

There is no way to assure that Windows will always assign the
same drive letter by default, but, if I remember correctly,
Windows will hold the same letter assignment for that drive until
you install a different drive in its place, in which case you will
have to reset the letter again, using this method.

I didn't research this particular topic, but relied on my
personal experience in swapping out hard drives on the
platforms in question.


Please do not rate this answer until you are satisfied that  
the answer cannot be improved upon by way of a dialog  
established through the "Request for Clarification" process. 
 
sublime1-ga

Didn't answer the question I asked, but did answer a different
question that I should have asked.  I just check what drive I'm on,
and if it's not right, I change it.

Thanks