WinXP installs on e:, but I want it on c:

Hi all.

I've just set up a new system, and have moved over my old hard disk, divided in two (and now three).

Originally, it had a 30GB FAT32 (e, and a 90GB NTFS (f with about 30GB unpartitioned.

Now it has 30GB NTSF I want to have WINXP on, the 90GB NTFS, and 30GB FAT32 I made our of unpartitioned space (to store DOS stuff on, Ghost images etc.

When I install winxp, it shows the old 90GB NTFS as c:, the 30GB FAT32 as d: and the 30GB NTFS as e:

How do I force the system to show e: as c:? I don't want to install on c: as it has stuff I want on, but why does it keep showing up as c:?

I have tried setting it as active in fdisk, no luck.

I have tried changing the mounted devices arrangement in regedit (no luck, but a screwed system).

Is there anything else I could try, short of backing up the 90!!!GB partition, deleting the disk, and repartitioning the whole thing?

I would like winxp on c: as it fits with the drive naming I've had for years, and I want to have the system volume and the boot volume on the same drive.

My question is basically, what decides for winxp setup which partitions appear as which letters (or order), and how do I change it?

Thanks for any help and advice you might have, as this epic struggle has continued for days, with no sign of backing down on anyone's part.

lab.

remove all disks except the one you want to install windows on. Once windows is installed and running correctly add the other drives back in.
See if this works.

I think there is a way to do it in XP through 'administrative tools.'

Try going to 'computer management' > 'Storage' > 'Disk Management'. You should be able to right-click on the drives and change their drive letter and path.

You can't change the windows drive, or the pagefile drive, or the boot drive in drive management.

Delete the pagefile, or move it, reboot, yes you can change it, then put it back on.

There is a registry hack (dos devices in mounted storage,) but that just wrecked windows.

I guess repartitioning from scratch is my only option.

Thanks for the help anyway, people.
lab.