Windows 7 Forums


Reply
Thread Tools

Installing x64 Beta has lost access to my C drive

 
 
alex_ncfc alex_ncfc is offline
New Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2
Thanked: 0
 
      01-11-2009
Hi, I've got a bit of a problem with the x64 Beta of Windows 7 which has got me stumped. When I tried previous builds (including the x86 version of the Beta) it installed fine on my second hard drive in my laptop (Drive E - I have partitions C: and D: on my main hard drive, which runs Windows Vista x86)

But when I install the x64 version of the Beta on Drive E, after Windows 7 boots (which it does fine) then the drive that Windows 7 is on shows in "Computer" as C: - my D: partition also shows up (and is correct) but my Vista drive does not show at all. Does anyone know a way around this? When I install 7, I just select Drive E to install on as normal, so not really doing anything differnt, except, of course, you can only install the x64 version by booting off of the DVD - whereas when I install the x86 version, I always start setup from within Windows.

If I could resolve this it would be great - I have no problem with installing 7 again if needs be. I should also mention that Vista still boots fine from C.
Thanks for any help
 
Reply With Quote
 
 
 
 
m22472 m22472 is offline
New Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 20
Thanked: 1
 
      01-11-2009
I have exactly the same situation, i am working on solving it and will post once i do
 
Reply With Quote
 
m22472 m22472 is offline
New Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 20
Thanked: 1
 
      01-11-2009
Solved.
open computer managment
click on Disk managment

you will see the C drive but without drive letter.
Right click on it and choose (Change drive letter and paths) and choose a drive letter of your choice. Note that you can not change the drive letter anymore.
Thats it it will work

Cheers
 
Reply With Quote
 
alex_ncfc alex_ncfc is offline
New Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2
Thanked: 0
 
      01-11-2009
Quote:
Originally Posted by m22472 View Post
Solved.
open computer managment
click on Disk managment

you will see the C drive but without drive letter.
Right click on it and choose (Change drive letter and paths) and choose a drive letter of your choice. Note that you can not change the drive letter anymore.
Thats it it will work

Cheers
Thanks for this.

Trouble is I can't have my Vista drive as drive C again - I was just wondering why it now decides to use Windows 7 as the C drive rather than the E drive?
 
Reply With Quote
 
m22472 m22472 is offline
New Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 20
Thanked: 1
 
      01-11-2009
I will not do it my self but maybe you find this article useful:
  1. Make a full system backup of the computer and system state.
  2. Log on as an Administrator.
  3. Start Regedt32.exe.
  4. Go to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices
  5. Click MountedDevices.
  6. On the Security menu, click Permissions.
  7. Verify that Administrators have full control. Change this back when you are finished with these steps.
  8. Quit Regedt32.exe, and then start Regedit.exe.
  9. Locate the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices
  10. Find the drive letter you want to change to (new). Look for "\DosDevices\C:".
  11. Right-click \DosDevices\C:, and then click Rename.

    Note You must use Regedit instead of Regedt32 to rename this registry key.
  12. Rename it to an unused drive letter "\DosDevices\Z:".

    This frees up drive letter C.
  13. Find the drive letter you want changed. Look for "\DosDevices\D:".
  14. Right-click \DosDevices\D:, and then click Rename.
  15. Rename it to the appropriate (new) drive letter "\DosDevices\C:".
  16. Click the value for \DosDevices\Z:, click Rename, and then name it back to "\DosDevices\D:".
  17. Quit Regedit, and then start Regedt32.
  18. Change the permissions back to the previous setting for Administrators (this should probably be Read Only).
  19. Restart the computer.
Hope it will work fine with you

Warning from the articale writer:

Do not use the procedure that is described in this article to change a drive on a computer where the drive letter has not changed. If you do so, you may not be able to start your operating system. Follow the procedure that is described in this article only to recover from a drive letter change, not to change an existing computer drive to something else. Back up your registry keys before you make this change
 
Reply With Quote
 
Supralife Supralife is offline
New Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1
Thanked: 0
 
      04-07-2009
Thank you m22472 (interesting name ), I have been searching for this solution all afternoon!

Just signed up to say it works, and click the "thanks" button for you.
 
Reply With Quote
 
 
 
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Acronis True Image WD Edition clifford_cooley Free Software Database 0 08-11-2010 08:39 AM
Mozilla To Release Firefox 4.0 Beta 2 on Friday Nibiru2012 Software 6 07-28-2010 08:43 AM
How to Install Windows 7 from a USB Thumb Drive Nibiru2012 Installation, Setup and Updates 1 05-07-2010 04:18 AM
cant access root drive as I've lost admin rights Ali Windows 7 Support 9 08-24-2009 07:58 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 05:57 AM.
W7Forums is an independent website and is not affiliated with Microsoft Corporation.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33