1. Welcome Guest! In order to create a new topic or reply to an existing one, you must register first. It is easy and free. Click here to sign up now!.
    Dismiss Notice

Drive letter shortage

Discussion in 'Windows Vista' started by Bill Wittmer, Oct 19, 2009.

  1. Bill Wittmer

    Bill Wittmer Guest

    With the advent of terabyte hard drives, is there a work around for the
    limitatation of 26 letters for drive designations. I have a new computer
    with 2 terabyte hard drives, two DVD's, several USB connections, and I am
    running three different programs from ISO files stored on the hard drive
    with Daemon Tools, all of which take up drive letters. I have Windows Vista
    Home Premium, but see no work around for this limitation. I have searched
    Microsoft KB finding nothing addressing this issue. I am hoping that some
    one knows of a work around for the problem.

    Regards,
    Bill
     
    Bill Wittmer, Oct 19, 2009
    #1
  3. Rick Rogers

    Rick Rogers Guest

    Hi,

    Vista is built on the NT core and follows the same conventions in this
    respect as do XP, Win2K, and NT4 before it. There is no workaround for it.

    --
    Best of Luck,

    Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

    Windows help -

    "Bill Wittmer" <wr.wittmer1@verizon.net> wrote in message
    news:866E6979-DACF-44C8-9F3B-97F464930FD1@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > With the advent of terabyte hard drives, is there a work around for the
    > limitatation of 26 letters for drive designations. I have a new computer
    > with 2 terabyte hard drives, two DVD's, several USB connections, and I am
    > running three different programs from ISO files stored on the hard drive
    > with Daemon Tools, all of which take up drive letters. I have Windows
    > Vista Home Premium, but see no work around for this limitation. I have
    > searched Microsoft KB finding nothing addressing this issue. I am hoping
    > that some one knows of a work around for the problem.
    >
    > Regards,
    > Bill <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
     
    Rick Rogers, Oct 19, 2009
    #2
  4. Brink

    Brink Guest

    Hello Bill,

    Depending on your setup needs, you can use GPT disks instead of the
    default MBR. A GPT disk supports up to 256TB per single partition
    instead.

    'Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk - Windows 7 Forums'
    ()

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn

    Bill Wittmer;1172169 Wrote: <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > With the advent of terabyte hard drives, is there a work around for the
    > limitatation of 26 letters for drive designations. I have a new
    > computer
    > with 2 terabyte hard drives, two DVD's, several USB connections, and I
    > am
    > running three different programs from ISO files stored on the hard
    > drive
    > with Daemon Tools, all of which take up drive letters. I have Windows
    > Vista
    > Home Premium, but see no work around for this limitation. I have
    > searched
    > Microsoft KB finding nothing addressing this issue. I am hoping that
    > some
    > one knows of a work around for the problem.
    >
    > Regards,
    > Bill<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->


    --
    Brink

    '*MS MVP - Windows Desktop Experience*'
    (    )
    *There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask
    them.*
    '*Windows 7 Forums*' (    )
    '*Windows Vista Forums*' (    )

    *Please post feedback to help others.*
     
    Brink, Oct 19, 2009
    #3
  5. Dusko Savatovic

    Dusko Savatovic Guest

    When it comes to NTFS volumes, you can mount NTFS volume to an empty folder
    on another NTFS volume.

    Example
    In your C: drive, create empty folders
    C:\Disk01
    C:\Disk02
    ....
    C:\Disk29
    etc

    Now, go to Disk Management console.
    Select partition/volume. If it uses a drive letter, delete drive letter.
    Right click inside partition/volume, choose 'Change Drive Letter and
    Paths..."
    Click Add...
    Select "Mount in the following empty NTFS folder:", click Browse and
    navigate to your empty folder.
    Click OK.

    Now you can access your new partition/volume as C:\DiskNN.


    "Bill Wittmer" <wr.wittmer1@verizon.net> wrote in message
    news:866E6979-DACF-44C8-9F3B-97F464930FD1@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > With the advent of terabyte hard drives, is there a work around for the
    > limitatation of 26 letters for drive designations. I have a new computer
    > with 2 terabyte hard drives, two DVD's, several USB connections, and I am
    > running three different programs from ISO files stored on the hard drive
    > with Daemon Tools, all of which take up drive letters. I have Windows
    > Vista Home Premium, but see no work around for this limitation. I have
    > searched Microsoft KB finding nothing addressing this issue. I am hoping
    > that some one knows of a work around for the problem.
    >
    > Regards,
    > Bill <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
     
    Dusko Savatovic, Oct 20, 2009
    #4
  6. Bill Wittmer

    Bill Wittmer Guest

    Thanks for the suggestion. This seems to be the best option for the moment.
    What we really need, in light of terabyte hard drives, is a change in Disk
    Management. I would like to see Microsoft allow a user to go into Disk
    Management and when one goes to change a drive letter, a box opens and one
    has to ability to enter two letters to designate a drive, such as Aa,
    Ab,...etc.

    Thanks again,
    Bill Wittmer

    "Dusko Savatovic" <savatovic@nospam.gmail.com> wrote in message
    news:eLPmstVUKHA.844@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > When it comes to NTFS volumes, you can mount NTFS volume to an empty
    > folder on another NTFS volume.
    >
    > Example
    > In your C: drive, create empty folders
    > C:Disk01
    > C:Disk02
    > ...
    > C:Disk29
    > etc
    >
    > Now, go to Disk Management console.
    > Select partition/volume. If it uses a drive letter, delete drive letter.
    > Right click inside partition/volume, choose 'Change Drive Letter and
    > Paths..."
    > Click Add...
    > Select "Mount in the following empty NTFS folder:", click Browse and
    > navigate to your empty folder.
    > Click OK.
    >
    > Now you can access your new partition/volume as C:DiskNN.
    >
    >
    > "Bill Wittmer" <wr.wittmer1@verizon.net> wrote in message
    > news:866E6979-DACF-44C8-9F3B-97F464930FD1@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    >> With the advent of terabyte hard drives, is there a work around for the
    >> limitatation of 26 letters for drive designations. I have a new computer
    >> with 2 terabyte hard drives, two DVD's, several USB connections, and I am
    >> running three different programs from ISO files stored on the hard drive
    >> with Daemon Tools, all of which take up drive letters. I have Windows
    >> Vista Home Premium, but see no work around for this limitation. I have
    >> searched Microsoft KB finding nothing addressing this issue. I am hoping
    >> that some one knows of a work around for the problem.
    >>
    >> Regards,
    >> Bill<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    > <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
     
    Bill Wittmer, Oct 20, 2009
    #5
  7. Gene E. Bloch

    Gene E. Bloch Guest

    OTOH, Mac OS's don't use drive letters, and it works quite well,IMO.

    To avoid confusion, you are well advised to give each drive a unique name,
    of course, although I bet the OS would accept two drives with the same
    name. I have no current access to a Mac, so I can't verify that suspicion,
    but I think I remember it being so.

    On Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:58:04 -0400, Bill Wittmer wrote:
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > Thanks for the suggestion. This seems to be the best option for the moment.
    > What we really need, in light of terabyte hard drives, is a change in Disk
    > Management. I would like to see Microsoft allow a user to go into Disk
    > Management and when one goes to change a drive letter, a box opens and one
    > has to ability to enter two letters to designate a drive, such as Aa,
    > Ab,...etc.
    >
    > Thanks again,
    > Bill Wittmer
    >
    > "Dusko Savatovic" <savatovic@nospam.gmail.com> wrote in message
    > news:eLPmstVUKHA.844@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    >> When it comes to NTFS volumes, you can mount NTFS volume to an empty
    >> folder on another NTFS volume.
    >>
    >> Example
    >> In your C: drive, create empty folders
    >> C:Disk01
    >> C:Disk02
    >> ...
    >> C:Disk29
    >> etc
    >>
    >> Now, go to Disk Management console.
    >> Select partition/volume. If it uses a drive letter, delete drive letter.
    >> Right click inside partition/volume, choose 'Change Drive Letter and
    >> Paths..."
    >> Click Add...
    >> Select "Mount in the following empty NTFS folder:", click Browse and
    >> navigate to your empty folder.
    >> Click OK.
    >>
    >> Now you can access your new partition/volume as C:DiskNN.
    >>
    >>
    >> "Bill Wittmer" <wr.wittmer1@verizon.net> wrote in message
    >> news:866E6979-DACF-44C8-9F3B-97F464930FD1@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:darkred--><span style="color:darkred <!--/coloro-->
    >>> With the advent of terabyte hard drives, is there a work around for the
    >>> limitatation of 26 letters for drive designations. I have a new computer
    >>> with 2 terabyte hard drives, two DVD's, several USB connections, and I am
    >>> running three different programs from ISO files stored on the hard drive
    >>> with Daemon Tools, all of which take up drive letters. I have Windows
    >>> Vista Home Premium, but see no work around for this limitation. I have
    >>> searched Microsoft KB finding nothing addressing this issue. I am hoping
    >>> that some one knows of a work around for the problem.
    >>>
    >>> Regards,
    >>> Bill<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    >><!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->


    --
    Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom
     
    Gene E. Bloch, Oct 20, 2009
    #6
  8. Tim Slattery

    Tim Slattery Guest

    "Bill Wittmer" <wr.wittmer1@verizon.net> wrote:
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    >Thanks for the suggestion. This seems to be the best option for the moment.
    >What we really need, in light of terabyte hard drives, <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

    I don't understand this argument. It seems to me that with ultra-huge
    disk drives, you would need fewer of them, therefore fewer letters. I
    guess you're thinking about partitioning them.

    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > is a change in Disk
    >Management. I would like to see Microsoft allow a user to go into Disk
    >Management and when one goes to change a drive letter, a box opens and one
    >has to ability to enter two letters to designate a drive, such as Aa,
    >Ab,...etc.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

    Yes, that would make sense. Or generalize that to the ability to give
    any name you want to the drive or partition.

    --
    Tim Slattery
    Slattery_T@bls.gov
     
    Tim Slattery, Oct 21, 2009
    #7
  9. Ken Blake, MVP

    Ken Blake, MVP Guest

    On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:21:45 -0400, Tim Slattery <Slattery_T@bls.gov>
    wrote:
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > "Bill Wittmer" <wr.wittmer1@verizon.net> wrote:
    > <!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    > >Thanks for the suggestion. This seems to be the best option for the moment.
    > >What we really need, in light of terabyte hard drives, <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    >
    > I don't understand this argument. It seems to me that with ultra-huge
    > disk drives, you would need fewer of them, therefore fewer letters.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->


    I'm with you entirely.

    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > I guess you're thinking about partitioning them.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->


    You're probably right, but I don't understand that argument either. It
    makes no sense to have more partitions simply because the drive is
    larger.

    --
    Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
    Please Reply to the Newsgroup
     
    Ken Blake, MVP, Oct 21, 2009
    #8
  10. Gene E. Bloch

    Gene E. Bloch Guest

    On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:22:19 -0700, Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:21:45 -0400, Tim Slattery <Slattery_T@bls.gov>
    > wrote:
    > <!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    >> "Bill Wittmer" <wr.wittmer1@verizon.net> wrote:
    >> <!--coloro:darkred--><span style="color:darkred <!--/coloro-->
    >>>Thanks for the suggestion. This seems to be the best option for the moment.
    >>>What we really need, in light of terabyte hard drives, <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    >>
    >> I don't understand this argument. It seems to me that with ultra-huge
    >> disk drives, you would need fewer of them, therefore fewer letters.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    >
    >
    > I'm with you entirely.
    >
    > <!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    >> I guess you're thinking about partitioning them.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    >
    >
    > You're probably right, but I don't understand that argument either. It
    > makes no sense to have more partitions simply because the drive is
    > larger.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

    In addition to what you and Tim Slattery wrote, I wondered how easy it
    would be for a mere human to keep track of dozens of drive letters or drive
    names...

    --
    Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom
     
    Gene E. Bloch, Oct 21, 2009
    #9
  11. Ken Blake, MVP

    Ken Blake, MVP Guest

    On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:48:40 -0700, "Gene E. Bloch"
    <not-me@other.invalid> wrote:
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:22:19 -0700, Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
    > <!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    > > On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:21:45 -0400, Tim Slattery <Slattery_T@bls.gov>
    > > wrote:
    > > <!--coloro:darkred--><span style="color:darkred <!--/coloro-->
    > >> "Bill Wittmer" <wr.wittmer1@verizon.net> wrote:
    > >>
    > >>>Thanks for the suggestion. This seems to be the best option for the moment.
    > >>>What we really need, in light of terabyte hard drives,
    > >>
    > >> I don't understand this argument. It seems to me that with ultra-huge
    > >> disk drives, you would need fewer of them, therefore fewer letters.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    > >
    > >
    > > I'm with you entirely.
    > >
    > > <!--coloro:darkred--><span style="color:darkred <!--/coloro-->
    > >> I guess you're thinking about partitioning them.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    > >
    > >
    > > You're probably right, but I don't understand that argument either. It
    > > makes no sense to have more partitions simply because the drive is
    > > larger.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    >
    > In addition to what you and Tim Slattery wrote, I wondered how easy it
    > would be for a mere human to keep track of dozens of drive letters or drive
    > names...<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->



    Yes, even leaving aside the dozens, I remember back in the Windows 3.x
    days having a half dozen or so partitions (to keep the cluster size
    small) and often having trouble remembering on what partition a
    particular file was.

    --
    Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
    Please Reply to the Newsgroup
     
    Ken Blake, MVP, Oct 21, 2009
    #10
  12. Gene E. Bloch

    Gene E. Bloch Guest

    On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:10:56 -0700, Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:48:40 -0700, "Gene E. Bloch"
    > <not-me@other.invalid> wrote:
    > <!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    >> On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:22:19 -0700, Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
    >> <!--coloro:darkred--><span style="color:darkred <!--/coloro-->
    >>> On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:21:45 -0400, Tim Slattery <Slattery_T@bls.gov>
    >>> wrote:
    >>>
    >>>> "Bill Wittmer" <wr.wittmer1@verizon.net> wrote:
    >>>>
    >>>>>Thanks for the suggestion. This seems to be the best option for the moment.
    >>>>>What we really need, in light of terabyte hard drives,
    >>>>
    >>>> I don't understand this argument. It seems to me that with ultra-huge
    >>>> disk drives, you would need fewer of them, therefore fewer letters.
    >>>
    >>>
    >>> I'm with you entirely.
    >>>
    >>>
    >>>> I guess you're thinking about partitioning them.
    >>>
    >>>
    >>> You're probably right, but I don't understand that argument either. It
    >>> makes no sense to have more partitions simply because the drive is
    >>> larger.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    >>
    >> In addition to what you and Tim Slattery wrote, I wondered how easy it
    >> would be for a mere human to keep track of dozens of drive letters or drive
    >> names...<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    >
    >
    >
    > Yes, even leaving aside the dozens, I remember back in the Windows 3.x
    > days having a half dozen or so partitions (to keep the cluster size
    > small) and often having trouble remembering on what partition a
    > particular file was.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

    I have several external hard drives with backups from old and new
    computers, and unfortunately, also created by different backup programs or
    methods. Some are unchanging archives from old computers and some are
    (relatively!) recent backups from current computers that get backed up less
    often that they should.

    I finally got smart (well, OK, a little bit smarter) and made up a
    spreadsheet listing everything :)

    I still get a bit confused, but that's not really a surprise, is it?

    --
    Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom
     
    Gene E. Bloch, Oct 21, 2009
    #11

Share This Page