Static USB drive letters assigned??

Discussion in 'General Microsoft Certifications' started by itdaddy, Aug 24, 2006.

  1. itdaddy

    itdaddy Byte Poster

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    hey gurus

    i want to have assigned drive letters for USB pen/HDDs
    can I do this in windows XP??

    there has to be a way that is not too crazy
    maybe registry edit???
    hack??
    thanks IT gurus!

    :rolleyes: :blink
     
  2. Gaz 45

    Gaz 45 Kilobyte Poster

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    I don't think it's possible but then I'm no authority on this!
    I'm sure someone will be along soon to give a more definite answer.
     
    Certifications: MCP (70-229, 70-228), MBioch
    WIP: MCDBA (70-290)
  3. Boycie
    Honorary Member

    Boycie Senior Beer Tester

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    unless you assign a drive letter using disk management, XP will assign the next availible drive letter by default.

    For example, say your machine currently has a DVD writer.
    By default, Windows will be <C>, the DVD writer <D> and should you put a USB stick in <E>

    What is it you want to achieve?

    Si
     
    Certifications: MCSA 2003, MCDST, A+, N+, CTT+, MCT
  4. riaz.hasan

    riaz.hasan Kilobyte Poster

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    u can do it through computer management, here r the steps:

    1. right click my computer
    2. click on manage (mmc opens up)
    3. expand storage
    4. click on disk management (on the right hand side u will see all the drives come up)
    5. right click the drive u want to change the drive letter for
    6. click 'change drive letter and paths'
    and take it on from there :)

    u will be able to do it this way otherwise computer gives a drive the next letter available by default
     
    Certifications: Degree, A+, HDA, MCP(270 finally!!)
    WIP: MCDST, MCSA2k3
  5. itdaddy

    itdaddy Byte Poster

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    hey dudes

    you guys are awesome but this guy has is it on the money;

    go to link: http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=32563

    freaking on the money; i tried what you guys were saying
    and windows xp and or 2000 would reassign it..
    but his way is genius; creates a network share
    (shares the pen drive as a volume) so when pen drive is plugged in it equals the same data in the newly network drive
    and letter which is static the drive letter for the pen drive
    can change but will always reference the new share(network)
    as the static drive letter cool huh!

    "i just love when something works!" funny thing the other day.
    i have used the sfc /scannow and never had it work on anything i mean actually fix something but yesterday i tried it on my work PC and worked slick as snot! wow! freaking MS$$ works;;

    also i have to laugh i take my XP 70-270 exam next week 8 sep 2006 at 10 am...i am learning

    there is the right way
    there is the wrong way
    there is my way
    and there is Microsofts way

    and MS$$ way is what they want! hahahaa
    ithink that is so funny

    hahhahahaha:eek:


    thanks mates for trying but i thought i woiuld share this link
    and hope you guys keep it in your IT tech archives like i have
    sweet!!!!!
     
  6. r.h.lee

    r.h.lee Gigabyte Poster

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    itdaddy,

    Why do you need a static drive assignment for USB pen/HDDs?
     
    Certifications: MCSE, MCP+I, MCP, CCNA, A+
    WIP: CCDA
  7. r.h.lee

    r.h.lee Gigabyte Poster

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    itdaddy,

    Good luck on your 70-270! :)
     
    Certifications: MCSE, MCP+I, MCP, CCNA, A+
    WIP: CCDA
  8. itdaddy

    itdaddy Byte Poster

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    r. h. lee,

    IT people like you and me can understand how to handle when drive letters change; it aint no big deal right? right!

    i do side jobs for small businesses and
    I have designed a backup system for this business using 6 GIG pen drive and a 80 gig ext usb hdd. both have usb and both
    have their drive letter change when plugged in to an XP pro machine. well my backup program i set up for this business
    changes the path when the lady puts in the pen drive.
    The drive letters get switched. and are assigned wrong.
    and the backup screws up.

    So, to fix this; you need fixed (assigned static drive letters)
    so when i setup the backup icons, they just work no matter what order she plugs the devices in; they are statically assign to each specific device no matter what order you plug them in.
    freaking sweet! work great; i tried it!

    i freaking hate it when they change like that! IF YOU have a program designed to work a certain way depending on the path,
    it doesnt intelligently change the drive when XP or 2000 pro decides to change it! THIs iS A NICE TRICK

    yeah, i am nervous about MS 70-270. I am drilling myself to death, i studied hard for A+ took 30 minutes per test which is
    lighting fast for me and passed both in the 800s or so; i just wanted to get out of there took both exams A+ back to back
    talk about a solo beer party afterwards! HAAHAA

    MS$ exams spook me but this tech exam forum and other; all you dudes and dudettes are awesome; we need each other
    it is us against MS$$


    thanks hear goes
     
  9. r.h.lee

    r.h.lee Gigabyte Poster

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    itdaddy,

    Does the physical computer have enough space and resources for an additional hard drive? That would help towards the "static drive" requirement problem. Then if the data needs to be taken offsite, then copy the contents of the additional hard drive to the USB pendrive.
     
    Certifications: MCSE, MCP+I, MCP, CCNA, A+
    WIP: CCDA
  10. Baba O'Riley

    Baba O'Riley Gigabyte Poster

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    Windows is very flaky on this issue. I have an external HDD that I wanted to have the same drive letter every time I connected and Windows was having none of it. I tried the network share method as well as a third-party utility and it still got assigned a different letter every time. However, I rebuily my system a few months back, and ever since then, my drive gets the same letter every time just by my assigning it once in Disk Manager.

    IMO, Windows is still not 100% faultless when it comes to USB devices and drivers (nobody ask me why or you'll get a very long story about some USB headphones I bought recently).
     
    Certifications: A+, Network+
    WIP: 70-270
  11. itdaddy

    itdaddy Byte Poster

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    BRO

    i believe you..but the pen drive or ext USB HDD letter can change but the network share that it created should never change; should be static; once you create the network share
    the letter should technically stay static; wow
    that is weird; its working for me so far
    we shall see over time
    ay!
    tanks
    ;D
    MR Lee;

    i am making a system that is 1 2 3 done; for a user
    who is not very computer savvy though she has been using PC
    since the 90s?

    tanx:biggrin
     
  12. Baba O'Riley

    Baba O'Riley Gigabyte Poster

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    To be honest, I can't remember the exact problem I had with the network share method, the drive letter stayed the same for the share for sure, but I couldn't get it to work for one reason or another.

    [EDIT]Just read my last post and I can see I didn't really explain myself properly. Sorry about that. :)
     
    Certifications: A+, Network+
    WIP: 70-270

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