How to change boot drive letter back to C?

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poptart999

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Hi, I tried to install a new OS (dual booting) and while trying to install it, I formatted the partiton to a different drive and it somehow changed the Windows 7 Partition letter to E: instead of C:. How can I change it back? I've tried a lot of different solutions and they haven't worked.
 
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drtweak
That won't work. You CAN"T change OS drive letter while you are in windows. Now YES there are a few ways that require some skill to change the drive letter but from what I have seen its a 50/50 chance of it working or just having to reinstall.

Your better of just reinstalling. Backup all your files and wipe it out. THIS TIME THOUGH!!! Unplug ALL devices but the hard drive you wish to install to, Any USB Card Readers, Zip drives, USB Thumb drives ect. CD/DVD rom drives are fine. ALSO! when you go to customize the install and for the partition it will show you drive letters that are currently there. Windows 7 is pretty good about making the OS drive the C drive UNLESS there is another Formatted Drive in there (Mainly Zip Disk) that it...
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Akashdeep

Akashdeep

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Ok. Lets assume you have partitions as C, D & E.

Now go to Control Panel-> Administrative Tools->Computer Management->Storage->Disk Management.

You can see all your drives.

Look at the 2nd half of the Middle panel. You will see your drives and unallocated spaces.

Change E to F through right click on the drive and "Change Drive Letters and Paths...".

Then D to E.

Then C to D.

Now you won't have C drive.

Now comes the way.

Change E to C and change the others accordingly.

Let me know if it works for you or not.
 
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drtweak

drtweak

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Sep 17, 2012
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That won't work. You CAN"T change OS drive letter while you are in windows. Now YES there are a few ways that require some skill to change the drive letter but from what I have seen its a 50/50 chance of it working or just having to reinstall.

Your better of just reinstalling. Backup all your files and wipe it out. THIS TIME THOUGH!!! Unplug ALL devices but the hard drive you wish to install to, Any USB Card Readers, Zip drives, USB Thumb drives ect. CD/DVD rom drives are fine. ALSO! when you go to customize the install and for the partition it will show you drive letters that are currently there. Windows 7 is pretty good about making the OS drive the C drive UNLESS there is another Formatted Drive in there (Mainly Zip Disk) that it may pick up as C: Drive. This is a big issue with XP and any kind of formatted drive, Zip drive, Thumb Drive, or USB Card readers even if there is no memory card it in it will pick up all of those drive letters first THEN assign the first avaliable drive letter to the OS.

Trust me save your self a head ache. Backup your files and just start over. EVEN if you do follow someone else's instructions or some tutorial online ALWAYS BACK UP YOUR FILES and Be warned now!
 
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Phillip Corcoran

Phillip Corcoran

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Sep 7, 2013
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Yes, as drtweak says, you need to re-install Windows with all other hard drives removed from the system so that drive letter C: is not already being used.

If you change the existing drive letter for the Windows partition now (using a boot disc to bypass Windows), all the software paths in the Registry will become invalid so the affected applications (that's most if not all of them) will not work.

It's highly likely that Windows wouldn't be able to start anyway, never mind the applications.
 
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poptart999

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Sorry this is so late, but idk what any of you are talking about. After a few times using the Windows 7 disk (the one that installs Windows 7) it said it detected a problem and I let it scan. It said it fixed the problem, it restarted and all is well :) Thank all of you anyway!
 
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