Re-naming drives

[Boyo]

When I built my rig one of my WD's was a DOA, so it just got installed today. Since it is larger than 137GB, I had to use the WD utility to format. It formatted fine but gave it the name DRV5_VOL1 (E. I want to change my drives so that it is more logical. Here is my current drive letters:
C: Local Host (OS 74GB)
D: DVD-RAM
E: DRV5_VOL1 (Storage 320GB)

I would like it like this:
C: OS
D: Storage
E: DVD

Can I do this? There is nothing on the E: storage drive, it just got formatted. Also, can I re-name the starage drive to Local Host or will this cause problems? I'm not sure why WD gave it that weird name.

 

[RPB]

Can I do this?

Yes

With Disk Managemet

 

[Boyo]

I'm wondering if by changing the DVD/CD from D: to E: it will affect my programs that use the DVD/CD? Will this cause instability?

 

[Aluvus]

To rename drives, right-click on them in My Computer and choose Properties. Type a new name into the box at the top. Hit OK.

To change drive letters you will indeed need to fire up Disk Management.

Newer software generally doesn't care if the optical drive's letter changes. I've had occasional problems with fairly old programs.

 

[neutralizer]

Originally posted by: Boyo
I'm wondering if by changing the DVD/CD from D: to E: it will affect my programs that use the DVD/CD? Will this cause instability?

Some programs look at the original install path to find the DVD/CD drive. That would cause some programs to not work if you change the drives.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: neutralizer

Some programs look at the original install path to find the DVD/CD drive. That would cause some programs to not work if you change the drives.

That is true, but all you have to do is then tell each of those programs where to look.

 

[imported_Ned Flanders]

If you have installed any programs on your Storage drive, they may not work. Any registery paths would be incorrect, also any start menu shortcuts would be wrong.

I believe Partition Magic can change drive letters and make all the nessisary changes to the registery. But I'm not 100% on that.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: Ned Flanders
If you have installed any programs on your Storage drive, they may not work. Any registery paths would be incorrect, also any start menu shortcuts would be wrong. I believe Partition Magic can change drive letters and make all the nessisary changes to the registery. But I'm not 100% on that.

That is correct. The latest version of PM 8 (Symantec) has a utility called "Drive Mapper," and it does exactly what Ned alludes to. In older versions, it used to be called "Magic Mover."

DM

 

[Boyo]

I had just intalled and formatted the storage drive, so there were no programs on the drive. I ended up changing the drive paths through Disk Management before anyhing was loaded onto the storage drive. My new lettering is now:
C: OS
D: Storage
E: DVD/CD

Everything went fine with no problems. After the change I started putting things on my D: drive, and I got rid of that stupid WD name for the drive too.

Thanks for all the help and advice. Even you RPB, with your detailed analysis helped out.