Storage forum: Permanently assign drive letter to External HD - how to??

That was listed for XP but it's time to me to go somewhere.

BRB

I've seen a similar problem but as long as I can access the data, I let it go no matter what the drive letter. Look at this link:
http://www.online-tech-tips.com/computer-tips/how-to-change-the-drive-letter-in-windows-xp-for-an-external-usb-stick-or-hard-drive/

This shouldn't be a problem if you access the same port and use 1 ext. drive or at least it doesn't pop-up as often. However, once you plug-in several drives it seems the linage gets hosed. I think the term, "permanent" maybe the falsehood here as i see it. IMHO, use your different USB hubs to better control the issue, one per.

tada -----Willy

I went with Bobss suggestion and made them x y and z. lets see if it sticks.

the uwe stieger (?) german guys's app looks like worth a look too but i dont like it runs always as a service...call me paranoid...

I'm sure all the people here have different answers that might work or not, but please don't end up paying for something that is advertized to to correct this. I the only suggestion i will give you right now is try --- TweakUI and always skip 1 letter from C: which the next letter will be now E:
You have full power with this free app. Make it work for you and always read the help if you don't understand anything.

Ampyy

You can have your external drive mount itself into a directory whenever you plug it in -- at least in Windows xp pro.

Plug the drive in.
Right click "My Computer" and select "Manage"
Select "Storage", then "Disk Management"
Right click the external drive and select "Change Drive Letter and Paths"
Click the "Change" button
Select the option "Mount in the following empty NTFS folder" and type in the path to the folder you want to use. (Obviously your internal drive needs to be NTFS... You're still using fat32? For shame! )

Whenever you plug in the external drive, it will mount to the selected folder.

I stumbled on this by accident one day. Your drive might need to be NTFS for it to work. Any existing files in the directory will be unavailable, but should show up again after you unmount the external drive.

why don't you name your external drives? I was frustrated! I have 4 external drives and had a hard time telling one from another; so I have named each drive (music, photos, movies, artwriting) and it has done the job.

Misha

I found this in one of my "support" folders. I copied it from somewhere - never tried it...

Can I Assign a Drive Letter to a Removable Disk?
Question: I'd like to know if it is possible to "Reserve" a drive letter for my removable disk. Is this possible? - David W.
Answer: You can assign a permanent drive letter for a removable drive such as a flash memory drive. Here's how:
Log on with an administrator account.
Right click My Computer and select Manage.
In the management console's left pane, expand the Storage node and click Disk Management.
In the top right pane, right click the disk to which you want to assign a permanent drive letter and select Change Drive Letter and Paths.
Click Change and assign the desired drive letter.
Click OK.

That's not a solution. If you unplug the external hard drive and plug in some memory reader (4-5 letters to assign), the system will ignore your previous setting and steal the letter back. If you assigned L to your external hard drive, unplug it and plug in the memory reader, and the last occupied letter was G, then it will take the next 5 letters: HIJKL. Then L will not be available for the external hard drive. Even after you unplug the memory reader. The computer will give it either M (if the memory reader is plugged in) or H.

My issue is the same...but different..LOL

I have a cavalry ED and an Adata ED.

when I try and access them both, they both assign themselves the same letters to mount each time, OK so far ( F and G) - BUT when I log in to them ( via a drive password) they both open on the Z: drive...no matter what usb ports I use, no matter the order and naturally I can only access one of them....the one I password into first.

I run XP sp 3.