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- 24 Jan 2002
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This is usually because you are dual booting two windows operating systems
before you start, backup your entire hardrive, I would create an image if you have the applications to do it.
No matter what letter you assign the partition for any windows it will see itself as the letter "c" once it mounts that operating system
for instance, if while in vista you format for dual boot and give the new partition the letter "e", install windows 7 to that "e" partition, once you boot windows 7 will think it's running on "c" even though it's really running on "e".
it does this so that writing programs is that much easier, programs won't get confused and can always be written for "c" regardless of which drive the OS is mounted
the workaround is simple;
from your NEW operating system, (NOT THE ONE ON THE REAL "C" DRIVE) paste "diskmgmt.msc" into run, with or without quotes.
in the applet you'll see the partition that windows 7 can't yet use, it will have no letter assigned since it can't see two "c" drives
highlight the drive that you know is your original windows install, right click and run through the wizard to assign a new letter, the OS will suggest the next available letter which should be fine, if you have a personal preference go right ahead and type it in
complete the wizard and that's it, the new letter is just referance for the new os, your original install will still see it's own partition as "c" when you boot
I must remind you again, you MUST do this from the NEW operating system NOT the original
if you want to play it safe the applet will also offer to mount the drive as an ntfs folder, while I haven't tried that yet it should work fine and be a safer procedure.
PS
do not follow this sequence till you have SAFELY mounted both operating systems to insure you have not broken the startup sequence when you installed your dual boot
going to stick this thread till windows 7 goes live
before you start, backup your entire hardrive, I would create an image if you have the applications to do it.
No matter what letter you assign the partition for any windows it will see itself as the letter "c" once it mounts that operating system
for instance, if while in vista you format for dual boot and give the new partition the letter "e", install windows 7 to that "e" partition, once you boot windows 7 will think it's running on "c" even though it's really running on "e".
it does this so that writing programs is that much easier, programs won't get confused and can always be written for "c" regardless of which drive the OS is mounted
the workaround is simple;
from your NEW operating system, (NOT THE ONE ON THE REAL "C" DRIVE) paste "diskmgmt.msc" into run, with or without quotes.
in the applet you'll see the partition that windows 7 can't yet use, it will have no letter assigned since it can't see two "c" drives
highlight the drive that you know is your original windows install, right click and run through the wizard to assign a new letter, the OS will suggest the next available letter which should be fine, if you have a personal preference go right ahead and type it in
complete the wizard and that's it, the new letter is just referance for the new os, your original install will still see it's own partition as "c" when you boot
I must remind you again, you MUST do this from the NEW operating system NOT the original
if you want to play it safe the applet will also offer to mount the drive as an ntfs folder, while I haven't tried that yet it should work fine and be a safer procedure.
PS
do not follow this sequence till you have SAFELY mounted both operating systems to insure you have not broken the startup sequence when you installed your dual boot
going to stick this thread till windows 7 goes live
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