Community Newsletter: Q&A: How do I stop Windows from reassigning my external drive letters?
- 4/11/08 12:57 PM
How do I stop Windows from reassigning my external drive letters?
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 4/11/08 12:57 PM
Question:
Greetings! Windows has many annoying "features" that we all
have to put up with. My main complaint is that regularly
Windows decides to make changes to settings, which then have
to be re-set by the user. I'll give two examples. I
regularly connect USB external hard drives and USB flash
memory cards. Using Computer management's Disk Manager, I
will change the drive letter. My Toshiba hard drive is set
to (T:) and the Western Digital to (W:). My flash card is
set to (U:). These all have a desktop icon. I'll also set
the action required when plugged in to open a folder. Then
Windows decides to change the letter and prompts for what to
do, rather than automatically open a folder. Is there a
method to this madness, so that the assigned drive letter
stays assigned? Any detail explanation why this happens and
how I can fix this annoyance is appreciated.
Submitted by: Reg
Snippet from community newsletter (3/21/08):
Reg, I can see your frustration. I know that if you have
desktop icons created for those removable drives, once you
remove them and plug them back in, the desktop shortcuts will
not access those drives again--because Windows naturally
reassigned the drive letters to the next available drive
letter. Unfortunately, many of our members' answers stated
that it’s something you cannot change in Windows--here is a
simple explanation by our member alswilling and another more
detailed answer by member bus. Other members suggested not
unplugging those drives and they will remain assigned to the
drive letters, but that makes the “removable” in removable
drive pointless. However, I did come across a solution by our
member techtype who suggests a program called, “USB Drive
Letter Manager” (a note of warning that I have not tried or
tested this software nor am I here to support it, so if you
decide to try this software, purchase and use this software
at your own risk.) However, if it works out please let us
know. If any members have any other solutions to Reg's
question, please let us know about it. The topic is open for
discussion and I look forward to see what you have to offer.
Have a fantastic weekend folks, thanks for all your efforts
in helping one another out.
Answer by alswilling
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=287775&messageID=2729941#2729941
Answer by bus
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=287775&messageID=2733679#2733679
Answer by techtype
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=287775&messageID=2729937#2729937
Please read thread below for more advice from our members. If you have any additional solution for Reg, click the reply link and in detail, post your recommended solution. Thanks!
Message was edited by: admin
Non-Microsoft drivers are often to blame.
by scottwilkins - 3/14/08 7:40 PM In reply to: How do I stop Windows from reassigning my external drive letters? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If you've loaded drivers for any of those devices, those drivers can often cause all types of headaches. Remember, Windows is not fully a 100% Microsoft creation on any given machine. There are a LOT of different companies and developers that go into the final product that you are using on your desk. Many drivers, many programs and many "features" that are outside the realm of Microsoft's ability to create a stable system. Hardware itself can also be to blame. Much of today's hardware includes it's own internal "smarts" and small routines to do tasks when they are turned on or plugged in. Those routines can also cause changes to occur that are not intended.
My first recommendation is to never load a driver unless you need to. So many devices already work out of the box without special drivers. Printers are usually the exception, but not always. Flash cards unfortunately are the worst for special drivers that are usually not needed, or are force installed upon the first insert of the card or USB flash stick. Be very wary of such devices that have "special software" included.
Best thing to do is to find the original maker of the machine, or the maker of the hardware that might be causing the problem and ask them if their drivers or hardware could cause such headaches. They may have an updated driver that fixes such problems.
Good luck.
LOL
by puma - 3/21/08 6:54 PM In reply to: Non-Microsoft drivers are often to blame. by scottwilkinsfortunately this is not an issue with other operating systems - mwahaHaHA!!!
You have to boot up with the same stuff every time
by GeoffreyRothwell - 3/14/08 7:58 PM In reply to: How do I stop Windows from reassigning my external drive letters? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I'm not an expert on Windows, but my experience tells me that to avoid this problem you need to boot up with the same configuration each time. After booting you can remove the device and when reattached it will end up with the same drive letter. I know this is an annoying, but life with Windows has much bigger annoyances: life with VISTA sucks.
reassigned drive letters
by JayBeePlayer - 3/14/08 8:44 PM In reply to: How do I stop Windows from reassigning my external drive letters? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Why fight them? Join them, accept their letter designations and see if it will remain stable. After that I dont know, but I sure wouldnt keep beating a dead horse.
How do I stop Windows from reassigning my drive letters
by ptnitz1369 - 3/14/08 9:01 PM In reply to: How do I stop Windows from reassigning my external drive letters? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
This goes way back to DOS. MicroSoft expects the drive letters to be consecutive, alphabetically.
So a floppy is always 'A', the first hard drive is always 'C', the second hard drive is expected to be 'D' and the next is the CD drive. If there is no second hard drive then the CD dive is 'D'. and so on and on.
This comes from the early versions of DOS ( before Windows. )
I know. I used to program little programs for DOS to automate the batch language.
I know that Windows XP and later are a little confused on this issue.
I would suggest that you take a hard look at the hardware configuration, with this in mind. If you have to disable something in order to abide by this simple rule in order to get things working like they should, then do it.
Once you understand the underlying roots of the problem, it's a piece of cake.
Reassignment of drive letters
by lorettagtss - 3/14/08 9:11 PM In reply to: How do I stop Windows from reassigning my external drive letters? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The solution is, get a Mac. The fact that you have to assign labels to the devices has always been a bother, even back in the days of DOS and CPM. The Mac has never had these issues. With USB and Firewire, you plug something in, it shows up on the desktop, you use it, unmount it when done, and unplug it. You don't have to poke a Mac in the eye to tell it what's hooked up.
Nope, you're wrong dude
by Etamar L. - 3/26/08 7:35 AM In reply to: Reassignment of drive letters by lorettagtssWindows does just that, like a Mac. The problem is not there. The issue is that the name of the device will be changed next time, and in Mac the device will be changed AFAIK as well, if you, for example, plug it in a different port than before.
I do not know the real solution, but I guess the right way to solve it is get a utility for maintaining each "volume label" or "disk id" with its own letter. Hey, I might even write one.
Sorry, pathnames are still a problem.
by TreknologyNet - 3/27/08 2:23 AM In reply to: Reassignment of drive letters by lorettagtssIf you've tried writing any software inside the Mac OS, it's just as bad as DOS and WINDOWS when people insist on putting things inside folders that are nested ridiculously deep.
Considering that the Mac can mount to drive volumes with identical names doesn't help things either.
Re: Lost settings
by smile_liley - 3/14/08 10:55 PM In reply to: How do I stop Windows from reassigning my external drive letters? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If your computer keeps losing its settings, the first thing I would do is check the date and time on the computer. If the computer has lost the correct time and date settings, then the cause of your issues could be a dead battery on your computer's motherboard.
Fortunately, batteries are usually fairly easy to replace. Most motherboards use CR-032 lithium batteries, which can be found in many stores. They have a similar shape as watch batteries.
To replace the battery, you would first have to remove the outside cover from your computer. As cover designs vary, follow the directions from your computer manufacturer on how to do this. If your computer is still covered by a warranty, you may have to take the system to the shop. If you open the computer, your warranty may become void. Check the terms and the conditions before opening your computer.
Once the cover is off, remove the old battery from the socket. You could use a small screwdriver to get the battery out. The new battery can be put into the socket.
After the new battery is installed, put the cover back on your computer, plug in the cables, and power on your machine.
When you first turn on the computer, you may be prompted to accept the computer settings. Follow the on-screen instructions as to which key you should press. If possible, choose to enter setup so that you can change the date and time. Save the settings and exit the CMOS Setup. Boot the computer up.
I hope this helps.
Use USB Drive Letter Manager (freeware)
by steve__w - 3/15/08 12:26 AM In reply to: How do I stop Windows from reassigning my external drive letters? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
USB Drive Letter Manager (USBDLM) is a freeware Windows program that gives users control over Window's drive letter assignment for USB drives.
With it you can define default letters for USB drives and much more. See http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbdlm_e.html for more info.
Steve
USB Drive letter manager
by JimBC - 4/9/08 12:50 PM In reply to: Use USB Drive Letter Manager (freeware) by steve__wTo avoid this problem the only real solution is indeed the USB drive letter manager.
It's BTW some kind of service that runs i/t bckground.
Why Windows until now still hasn't fixed this drive letter behaviour is typical of the whole Microsoft attitude.
Why can't it be fixed with some file that the OS is looking for when the drive is attached; that file that would contain the info for the letter to be assigned to is in fact what's needed.
It is what the USB Drive Letter Manager does through a service and a file on the drive.
suggestions
by bdsprings021 - 3/15/08 2:56 AM In reply to: How do I stop Windows from reassigning my external drive letters? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
well first you could try going into my computer set the name hit apply and then ok. If that doesn't work try going in to control panel and swithching the automatic updates off. IF YOU DO THIS YOU WILL HAVE TO DO THE UPDATES YOURSELF!!! and I can't stress how important it is to update your computer.
Assign drive letters
by melvynlaycock - 3/15/08 3:59 AM In reply to: How do I stop Windows from reassigning my external drive letters? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi! Make several empty folders then assign these with drive letters up to the number you want. Once you have done this windows will happily accept these and will not try to reassign any more.
Usb Ports
by deyanimay - 3/15/08 4:21 AM In reply to: How do I stop Windows from reassigning my external drive letters? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Try plugging them in the same usb ports every time because i think when you use a different port it reinstalls the device for that pot and then you lose your lettering and options.
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