[SOLVED] Windows XP Help
February 17th, 2014
I would like to know whether we are able to assign the Primary Hard Disk Letter (e.g. Local Disk to C when installing Windows XP as the Local Disk is being assigned to a letter which I am not used to.
Also, as I am installing on a laptop which is build by a computer manufacture which contains recovery partitions such as “System Reserved” etc. am I able to hide it from Windows Explorer as it is appearing on my “My Computer”,
Thanks in advanced.
The partition you installed/booted to will take the letter C no matter if logical or primary..
Sorry, but I do not get you. I would like to know how can I assign the Windows XP installation to installed at a empty partition and assign it as drive letter C.
As I said..The OS whether it’s XP or windows 7…Once booted it will assign itself the letter C…The boot sector always get written in the active partition..
If one of your partitions is active then it don’t matter which partition you chose..The partition that have the OS in always will be C..
Once in windows..You can assign any device what ever letter you want..Except C..You won’t be allowed to change that one..
The main problem is my “System Reserved” partition is currently taking up “C” which is storing the manufacturing boot files. How could I hide those partition and install my OS on the “C” then?
Acronis Disk Director can do that…Just right click on the partition and select hide..Then apply the changes..You can always unhide it if you changed your mind..
So after I hid the partitions which is installed by my computer manufacturer, the Windows Installation should automatically assign to the “C” drive as my Local Disk, am I right to say that?
Mate..I don’t know how many times I will say this..The partition you will install XP will be C..No matter if it appears the install stage as the second partition..And you don’t even need to hide any partition..
Sorry mate, but what I am currently experiencing is that my Local Drive where the Windows file are installed are allocated to the F drives. I have tried reinstalling twice already.
you dual booting ?
"System Reserved"
if changing from 7 to XP that “System Reserved” partition may be the 7 “system” partition and XP’s boot loader may be going on it, which makes it C
The partition you will install XP will be C.
is the partition you are installing XP to set to “active”, making it the boot partition ?
I am not dual booting. The manufacture comes with pre-branded and installed Windows Vista which I have later reformat to Windows 7 (keeping the recovery partition intact). For now, I am currently reformatting once again and installing a Windows XP. However, after installation, the Primary Hard Disk is allocated to F instead of the usual C. The C drive is taken by a partition named “System Reserved” which I believe that is required for reformatting back to the manufacturer’s pre-branded operating system. Hence, I would like to know how can I hide the partition and install Windows XP with partition letter allocated as C (as default).
Thank you.
Paragon Partition Manager might be able to hide the recovery partition
search apps section for “Paragon Partition Manager”
is the partition you are installing XP to set to “active”, making it the boot partition ?
is the partition that becomes F set to “active” or is the “recovery partition” set to “active”
Check the drive partitions using some partitioning software and see what type of partitions are already on the drive and where they are. If the recovery partition is at the start of the drive, which it shouldn’t be, and if it’s a primary partition then that will be assigned C:\ , it’s like a multi boot system except that the other partition is a recovery partition instead of a windows partition. A recovery partition should be a logical partition because it does not need to be a primary.
I recommend that you get Hirens BootCD v10 because that has some decent partitioning software that you can use. Later versions of Hirens only has freeware I believe. There might of been a later version than v10 which has the paid for appz but I only know of v10 containing them.
If they have put the recovery partition at the start of the drive (dumb idea) then it would be worth moving it to the end and converting it to a logical partition and then add a primary at the start where you can install windows.
think M_M might be on to something
is “F” a primary partition, it has to be to be bootable
if it’s a logical/extended partition then the primary partition handles the boot duties and hands off to the “F” partition to load windows
I always delete “recovery partitions” (I hate MFG’s bloated OS’s) and never use logical/extended partitions (useless IMO & if you loose an extended you loose all logicals within it)
Benjamin12345
says
The manufacture comes with pre-branded and installed Windows Vista which I have later reformat to Windows 7 (keeping the recovery partition intact). For now, I am currently reformatting once again and installing a Windows XP
to start with if you system came with pre-branded and installed Windows Vista you may up grade to win7, but downgrading to XP as you say I am currently reformatting once again and installing a Windows XP
may be a problem, as you are keeping The C drive is taken by a partition named "System Reserved" which I believe that is required for reformatting back to the manufacturer's pre-branded operating system. by your own words, you need to know the VISTA System Reserved" which I believe that is required will be rendered useless for XP, you will HAVE to use fdisk, or any partition prog, some were mentioned in above posts, delete ALL partitions re allocate for C: drive, format with the XP cd, then install XP. you will most likely need drivers, what you are attempting can be done however, you MUST do all the above to go from VISTA, and the pre-branded operating system that partition has important mnfg info need for your computer to operate properly, most propitery op systems are the same, my advice re-install the original op system, upgrade to win7, do not downgrade to XP. the other choice is to buy a new Hard drive it will work the XP cd will partition to C: drive automatically. you will still need to provide mfg drivers for the brand computer, btw all the posters that are trying to offer you solutions are correct. anyways th problem is your computer mnfg needs the info in that partition, and locks it for the original op preinstalled software to match the hardware, that’s why i personally never buy a dell, hp ect, just build your own, you will never have that problem again.
hope this answers your problem, it is the total answer
Benjamin12345 replied: I would like to know how can I assign the Windows XP installation to installed at a empty partition and assign it as drive letter C.
If you wanna change your installed os drive letter and if that drive is not assigned to the letter C then Right click My Computer–>Manage–>Disk Management right click on Drive C and select
Change drive letter and paths–>change–Choose a new drive letter–>Ok–>Yes–>Ok.
Now select your os drive right click on that Drive and select
Change drive letter and paths–>change–Choose C–>Ok–>Yes–>Ok.
You are done.
If you wanna change your installed os drive letter and if that drive is not assigned to the letter C then Right click My Computer-->Manage-->Disk Management right click on Drive C and select
Change drive letter and paths-->change--Choose a new drive letter-->Ok-->Yes-->Ok.
Now select your os drive right click on that Drive and select
Change drive letter and paths-->change--Choose C-->Ok-->Yes-->Ok.
——————————–this won’t work !!!
all the drive locations in his registry are set to “F” as the OS drive
edwoodweb replied: If you wanna change your installed os drive letter and if that drive is not assigned to the letter C then Right click My Computer-->Manage-->Disk Management right click on Drive C and select
Change drive letter and paths-->change--Choose a new drive letter-->Ok-->Yes-->Ok.
Now select your os drive right click on that Drive and select
Change drive letter and paths-->change--Choose C-->Ok-->Yes-->Ok.
--------------------------------this won't work !!!
all the drive locations in his registry are set to "F" as the OS drive
They certainly will change. After adding a new drive and primary partitions two of my Windows O/S’s both would not boot because the drive letters changed. It took a hell of a lot to get them booting. Hex editing the registry files. There are programs which are meant to do this, but they are paid appz with no working trial and for old Windoze installs, it wasn’t worth it.
As people have said, marking the recovery partition as inactive should do the trick.
A way around it would be to clone the recovery partition (with eg Acronis) save it somewhere, and delete it off the drive, then proceed with the Windows installation. Then you could add it back later on.
I often see people who are having issues with Windows installing to F/G/H etc, but usually because they have forgotten to disconnect an internal media card reader.
You can change the OS drive letter/location, but it is a major pain to do manually, and I wouldn’t recommend it.
Do you really need to keep the Recovery partition anyway ? You are well able to install Windows on your own should things go wrong in future, and chances are the only other items in that partition are sometimes the manufacturers diagnostics tools, that you can download from their website and run from CD.
edwoodweb replied: If you wanna change your installed os drive letter and if that drive is not assigned to the letter C then Right click My Computer-->Manage-->Disk Management right click on Drive C and select
Change drive letter and paths-->change--Choose a new drive letter-->Ok-->Yes-->Ok.
Now select your os drive right click on that Drive and select
Change drive letter and paths-->change--Choose C-->Ok-->Yes-->Ok.
--------------------------------this won't work !!!
all the drive locations in his registry are set to "F" as the OS drive
I forgot to mention, you must edit boot.ini file which is located in your current (before changing drive letter) C drive. You have to chenge the following line
"default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS".
or
You could mark C drive(after changing drive letter) as active partition and copy the boot file from previous c drive to new c drive. Then edit boot.ini
This article will help you to understand how to edit boot.ini
http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/bootini.htm
This article will help you to understand how to edit registry value of default os drive letter
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223188
I forgot to mention, you must edit boot.ini file
——————————–this still won’t work !!!
because the windows registry will be looking for “F” not “C”
and this has nothing to do with boot.ini
I’m quite lost as I don’t know which solution to follow. :/ Please advice on the most complete cut solution.
Thank you for your replies.
good place to start
is “F” a primary partition, it has to be to be bootable
if it’s a logical/extended partition then the primary partition handles the boot duties and hands off to the “F” partition to load windows
Please advice on the most complete cut solution.
trial & error is how most PC probs are solved so a “most complete cut solution” won’t reveal it’s self ’till is solved
Benjamin12345 replied: I'm quite lost as I don't know which solution to follow. :/ Please advice on the most complete cut solution.
Thank you for your replies.
Do you really want to keep the recovery partition is the main question I think ?
Benjamin12345 replied: I'm quite lost as I don't know which solution to follow. :/ Please advice on the most complete cut solution.
Thank you for your replies.
First get Hirens BootCD v10 and burn it to a CD. Then boot your PC and select the partitioning tools such as Paragon. Then check what the partitions are on your hard drive and their location. What type they are such as Primary or Logical extended and post back what you discover. Write down the information.
After that you can decide whether you want/need the recovery partition. You could either delete it, possibly convert the partition type if it is a primary partition or move it to the end of the drive if it is a primary. Any of these would solve your problem. Find out how your drive is laid out first. Don’t do anything else in Paragon except checking the partition types and locations.
Step 1:
If you wanna change your installed os drive letter and if that drive is not assigned to the letter C then Right click My Computer–>Manage–>Disk Management right click on Drive C and select
Change drive letter and paths–>change–Choose a new drive letter–>Ok–>Yes–>Ok.
Now select your os drive right click on that Drive and select
Change drive letter and paths–>change–Choose C–>Ok–>Yes–>Ok.
Step 2:
Now, you must edit boot.ini file which is located in your current (before changing drive letter) C drive. You have to chenge the following line
"default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS".
or
You could mark C drive (after changing drive letter) as active partition (from Disk Management) and copy the boot file from previous c drive to new c drive. Then edit boot.ini
This article will help you to understand how to edit boot.ini
http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/bootini.htm
Step 3:
Now Follow this instruction to change registry value
Click Start–>Run
Type regedit, click ok.
Make a full backup of your registry before you modify.
Go to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices
Click MountedDevices.
On the Security menu, click Permissions.
Verify that Administrators have full control. Change this back when you are finished with these steps.
Quit Regedt32.exe, and then start Regedit.exe.
Locate the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices
Find the drive letter you want to change to (new). Look for "\DosDevices\C:".
Right-click \DosDevices\C:, and then click Rename.
Note You must use Regedit instead of Regedt32 to rename this registry key.
Rename it to an unused drive letter "\DosDevices\Z:".
This frees up drive letter C.
Find the drive letter you want changed. Look for "\DosDevices\D:".
Right-click \DosDevices\D:, and then click Rename.
Rename it to the appropriate (new) drive letter "\DosDevices\C:".
Click the value for \DosDevices\Z:, click Rename, and then name it back to "\DosDevices\D:".
Quit Regedit, and then start Regedt32.
Change the permissions back to the previous setting for Administrators (this should probably be Read Only).
Restart the computer.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223188
You are done
edwoodweb replied: I forgot to mention, you must edit boot.ini file
--------------------------------this still won't work !!!
because the windows registry will be looking for "F" not "C"
and this has nothing to do with boot.ini
Are you sure?
This has to work, if not there is not other way to fix this.
If you use any software to do this its gonna do the same thing i posted here.
@ Benjamin12345,
I am assuming that your recovery partition is for Vista.
Lose it! Vista sucks anyway, and if you are thinking that saving the recovery partition so you can reinstall it in case anything happens to the computer so you can retain your warranty, forget it. If something happens it’s too late to reinstall it.
Just boot from your windows XP disk and delete all the partitions and let the install disk format the drive and install windows XP.
If XP won’t load due an “no media found” error, it means that your system probably has SATA drives and the XP install CD doesn’t recognize it. But since you said you’ve already installed it that should not be a problem.
The fact that you said that it always installs to drive (partition) “F:” could indicate that there are a couple of other devices that the system sees as storage media. Like a card reader or USB stick. If the recovery partition is deleted and you disable the devices in the system BIOS then the only remaining place WILL be drive C:
Give it a go, It’ll surprise Ya!
I’ve been thinking about this for hours now
If you want to keep the Recovery partition, and can’t mark it as “inactive” as people have already mentioned, you could try making it inactive using dos – diskpart
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc766465(WS.10).aspx
Your current boot.ini file will look something like this
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
So that will also need to be edited to reflect the Windows partition change from the recovery partition (EISA)
http://thpc.info/how/editbootini.html
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/289022
I think I am just rambling on now, lol, just brainstorming
~Removed~ replied: Are you sure?
This has to work, if not there is not other way to fix this.
If you use any software to do this its gonna do the same thing i posted here.
it ever work for you ?
it won’t work because all references to the OS are “F:\windows” in the registry, NOT “C:\windows”
so if he changes his OS partition to “C:\” the windows registry (not boot.ini which has nothing to do with drive letters) will be looking for every thing on “F:\”
and changing boot.ini is not even needed as it refers to partitions not drive letters
so even if you changed the drive letter the referred to partition in boot.ini WON’T NEED TO BE CHANGED
so for your method to work ~Removed~, you would need to change thousands of references to “F:\windows” to “C:\windows” in the registry
all other references to “F:\” (like diver locations & desktop shortcuts) would also need to be changed
the only way to fix this is to reinstall to a PRIMARY partition that’s marked active
So, Is it safe to delete “System Reserved”? As System Reserved is taking up C:
if you had 7 installed “System Reserved” is a remnant of that install and can be safely deleted
Benjamin12345 replied: So, Is it safe to delete "System Reserved"? As System Reserved is taking up C:
It will only be a recovery partition created by the laptop manufacturer so that they don’t have to send a Windows disc out any more. May also contain diagnostic apps, which you can usually download from the manufacturers site to run on CD.
*EDIT – if the hdd failed, and you put a new one in, that wouldn’t have a recovery partition on, and you seem more than cable of doing a Windows install.
gilly replied: Benjamin12345 replied: So, Is it safe to delete "System Reserved"? As System Reserved is taking up C:
It will only be a recovery partition created by the laptop manufacturer so that they don't have to send a Windows disc out any more. May also contain diagnostic apps, which you can usually download from the manufacturers site to run on CD.
*EDIT - if the hdd failed, and you put a new one in, that wouldn't have a recovery partition on, and you seem more than cable of doing a Windows install.
Okay. Let’s say I would like to retain this Partition and allocate to another drive letter as it is taking up “C”. How can I do so? And how can I hide the partition from My Computer (as default)?
Thank you for your replies.
Benjamin12345 replied:
Okay. Let's say I would like to retain this Partition and allocate to another drive letter as it is taking up "C". How can I do so? And how can I hide the partition from My Computer (as default)?
Thank you for your replies.
edwoodweb replied:
the only way to fix this is to reinstall to a PRIMARY partition that's marked active
I think everyone has already suggested most of the common ways to mark your recovery partition as inactive previously in the thread.
Thank you all for your solutions. I have decided to go ahead on deleting all System Partition to make things easier.
Topic have been marked as [SOLVED].