Win7x64 intermittently recognizing external HD

Win7x64 not recognizing external HD

Greetings,

OK, now it is seen, isn't, is...The drive now appears to be recognized...I just want to rename it (the volume?)

I am running Win7x64, one 80-GB SSD (Disk0 - /C: ), two 1-TB internal HDs (Disk1-/D: and Disk2-/R: ), and one 300 GB eternal HD, intermittently recognized, currently Disk3-/G:

I also have "System Reserved" on the SSD 100 MB labeled /F:

I recently (and foolishly) marked a second drive as "active" and recovered with the Win7 Install Disk which "repaired" my startup routine. It was a very welcome sight to see my desktop again.

I am not being uber-careful by posting this question:

Can I, without disasterous consequences, go into Computer Management/Disc Management/ and right-click to "change drive letter and path" and change the System Reserved space from "F" to "B", and then with the same routine rename my "G" drive back to "F" like it was? (so that established shortcuts that point to "F" function again?)

I want to name the 300 GB drive "F"....and I do NOT want to corrupt my system and lose everything.

TIA

drcarl

 

I'll add that I would like to know how to make the drive remain accessible, too. It appears to disappear. If I turn the power off, then on again, it reappears!?!

 

You might want to check the cable on your external drive, exchange it for another one to see if that helps.

 

Great minds...I actually thought of that. Tried a different USB socket, too...and, although I admit I have not yet changed the cable, I wonder why turning the power to the drive off, then on makes it 'visible'?

Thanks for the idea...I'll hunt down another USB like the on that's in service now.

 

OK - how about H or K or T or something?

 

ploder - I forgot to say "hi" - long time...and thanks for the idea not to use "B", and, um, this is a really easy question, right?

Can I use "X" or "Y" or "Z" for the system reserved space? Does some part of Windows know what its current volume name is? Or, is it just accessed as a bootable part of "C" (no matter what the volume name/letter is)? Or, does renaming the reserved space let Windows know of the new name at the time of naming...?

Sorry for the stupid questions...

 

You can hide the "System Reserved" partition, using the Disk Management tool.

1. Open Administrative Tools located in your Control Panel
2. Open "Computer Management"
3. Choose "Disk Management" in the left pane of the MMC
4. Right Click your System Reserved partition and click "Change Drive letter and Paths"
5. Click "Remove"

This doesn't delete the partition, just makes it inaccessible. This partition hold the bootloader for x64 bit installations of Windows, and the Bitlocker decryption key, if applicable.

Here's my old HD set up and new (if it helps):

OLD:
C:\ System
D:\ Sys Reserved
E:\ DVD
F:\ 3TB HD

NEW:
C:\ System
D:\ 3TB HD
E:\ DVD

I use the last letters (W, X, Y, Z, etc.) for network drives, and F-M for removable drives.

 

Thanks ploder and xernicus.

If I rename the system reserved space to [any letter such as J, K, M], without marking it "remove", will the system still boot?

Although I suppose it's arguable that I don't need to, I kind of like being able to see the System Reserved area within the Disk Management area for the small 80GB SSD "C" drive, and want to rename my external HD as "F" - the name taken by the System Reserved area now.

I just want someone to tell me it's OK/safe, and that my system should boot.

(And, thanks, I'll not name it "A" or "B")

 

Windows doesn't use drive letters during boot, it just boots to the Active partition. So it's irrelevant whether it has a drive letter to make it visible in Explorer, or no drive letter at all. Whether you give it a drive letter or not it will still appear in Disk Management.

 

^This is a perfect explanation. You can delete or change the System Reserved drive letter as often as you like, and your computer (and Windows) will continue to work just fine.

Out of all of the options in Disk Management, I'd say the one thing you do not want to mess with is "Mark Partition as Active", as that will throw your bootloader and the BCD out of whack. The rest of the options (except for deleting/formatting partitions) are safe.