Hard drive relettering

[MGriff]

I have a friend who has one 60 gb drive, and is having problems with the
computer reporting the C drive as 10 gb and D drive as 50 gb. The XP OS
shows as being on the D drive. This happened after an upate to SP2.

Something else happening is that there have been several messages that
Windows is adjusting virtual memory.

If I use computer management to change the D to C, will that correct the
issue?

ps-She also can't get IE working right, or she would have sent this request.

Thanks for you help.

[Ken Blake, MVP]

MGriff wrote:

> I have a friend who has one 60 gb drive, and is having problems with
> the computer reporting the C drive as 10 gb and D drive as 50 gb.
> The XP OS shows as being on the D drive.


Why is that a problem? Although having WIndows on C: is more common, it
doesn't really matter what drive letter it's on. I have it on F: here.


> This happened after an
> upate to SP2.


Are you saying that installing SP2 changed the Windows drive from C: to D:?
No way. SP2 can't do that. If it's on D:, it was on D: before SP2 was
installed.


> Something else happening is that there have been several messages that
> Windows is adjusting virtual memory.


Read this article by the late MVP, Alex Nichol, "Virtual Memory in Windows
XP," at http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm


> If I use computer management to change the D to C, will that correct
> the issue?


No, you can change any drive letter *except* the one Windows is installed
on.


> ps-She also can't get IE working right, or she would have sent this
> request.


Just saying "can't get IE working right" tells us nothing about what the
problem might be. Please help us to help you. What does "can't get IE
working right" mean? What happens when she tries? If she gets an error
message, please quote it verbatim.

For information on how to make a good newsgroup posting, read
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.html

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

[MGriff]

Ken

I'll get more detail on the IE problem.

Although SP2 couldn't have changed the windows drive, I do know that this
computer has only 1 drive, and previously had only 1 partition. I know it
still has only 1 drive, but appears to have 2 partitions. Windows used to be
on the C drive.

I was just wondering if having the 2 drive letters could be cause for
virtual memory problems.

Thanks

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

> MGriff wrote:
>
> > I have a friend who has one 60 gb drive, and is having problems with
> > the computer reporting the C drive as 10 gb and D drive as 50 gb.
> > The XP OS shows as being on the D drive.
>
>
> Why is that a problem? Although having WIndows on C: is more common, it
> doesn't really matter what drive letter it's on. I have it on F: here.
>
>
> > This happened after an
> > upate to SP2.
>
>
> Are you saying that installing SP2 changed the Windows drive from C: to D:?
> No way. SP2 can't do that. If it's on D:, it was on D: before SP2 was
> installed.
>
>
> > Something else happening is that there have been several messages that
> > Windows is adjusting virtual memory.
>
>
> Read this article by the late MVP, Alex Nichol, "Virtual Memory in Windows
> XP," at http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm
>
>
> > If I use computer management to change the D to C, will that correct
> > the issue?
>
>
> No, you can change any drive letter *except* the one Windows is installed
> on.
>
>
> > ps-She also can't get IE working right, or she would have sent this
> > request.
>
>
> Just saying "can't get IE working right" tells us nothing about what the
> problem might be. Please help us to help you. What does "can't get IE
> working right" mean? What happens when she tries? If she gets an error
> message, please quote it verbatim.
>
> For information on how to make a good newsgroup posting, read
> http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.html
>
> --
> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
> Please reply to the newsgroup
>
>
>

[Ken Blake, MVP]

MGriff wrote:

> Ken
>
> I'll get more detail on the IE problem.
>
> Although SP2 couldn't have changed the windows drive, I do know that
> this computer has only 1 drive, and previously had only 1 partition.
> I know it still has only 1 drive, but appears to have 2 partitions.


Installing SP2 didn't create a second partition either.


> Windows used to be on the C drive.
>
> I was just wondering if having the 2 drive letters could be cause for
> virtual memory problems.


No, not at all. Many people have two partitions amd don't have virtual
memory problems.


> Thanks


You're welcome. Glad to help.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup


> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
>
>> MGriff wrote:
>>
>>> I have a friend who has one 60 gb drive, and is having problems with
>>> the computer reporting the C drive as 10 gb and D drive as 50 gb.
>>> The XP OS shows as being on the D drive.
>>
>>
>> Why is that a problem? Although having WIndows on C: is more common,
>> it doesn't really matter what drive letter it's on. I have it on F:
>> here.
>>
>>
>>> This happened after an
>>> upate to SP2.
>>
>>
>> Are you saying that installing SP2 changed the Windows drive from C:
>> to D:? No way. SP2 can't do that. If it's on D:, it was on D: before
>> SP2 was installed.
>>
>>
>>> Something else happening is that there have been several messages
>>> that Windows is adjusting virtual memory.
>>
>>
>> Read this article by the late MVP, Alex Nichol, "Virtual Memory in
>> Windows XP," at http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm
>>
>>
>>> If I use computer management to change the D to C, will that correct
>>> the issue?
>>
>>
>> No, you can change any drive letter *except* the one Windows is
>> installed on.
>>
>>
>>> ps-She also can't get IE working right, or she would have sent this
>>> request.
>>
>>
>> Just saying "can't get IE working right" tells us nothing about what
>> the problem might be. Please help us to help you. What does "can't
>> get IE working right" mean? What happens when she tries? If she gets
>> an error message, please quote it verbatim.
>>
>> For information on how to make a good newsgroup posting, read
>> http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.html
>>
>> --
>> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
>> Please reply to the newsgroup

[Jim]

"MGriff" > wrote in message
...
> Ken
>
> I'll get more detail on the IE problem.
>
> Although SP2 couldn't have changed the windows drive, I do know that this
> computer has only 1 drive, and previously had only 1 partition. I know it
> still has only 1 drive, but appears to have 2 partitions. Windows used to
> be
> on the C drive.
>
> I was just wondering if having the 2 drive letters could be cause for
> virtual memory problems.
"Virtual memory problems" are almost always the result of a page file which
is too small.

If the page file for whatever reason resides on the smaller drive and if
there isn't enough room to allow expansion of the page file, then the 2
drives (as reflected by 2 drive letters) is part of the problem.

However, it is up to the administrator to locate the the page file properly.

SP2 most assuredly did not create the extra partition by itself.

Jim

>
> Thanks
>
> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
>
>> MGriff wrote:
>>
>> > I have a friend who has one 60 gb drive, and is having problems with
>> > the computer reporting the C drive as 10 gb and D drive as 50 gb.
>> > The XP OS shows as being on the D drive.
>>
>>
>> Why is that a problem? Although having WIndows on C: is more common, it
>> doesn't really matter what drive letter it's on. I have it on F: here.
>>
>>
>> > This happened after an
>> > upate to SP2.
>>
>>
>> Are you saying that installing SP2 changed the Windows drive from C: to
>> D:?
>> No way. SP2 can't do that. If it's on D:, it was on D: before SP2 was
>> installed.
>>
>>
>> > Something else happening is that there have been several messages that
>> > Windows is adjusting virtual memory.
>>
>>
>> Read this article by the late MVP, Alex Nichol, "Virtual Memory in
>> Windows
>> XP," at http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm
>>
>>
>> > If I use computer management to change the D to C, will that correct
>> > the issue?
>>
>>
>> No, you can change any drive letter *except* the one Windows is installed
>> on.
>>
>>
>> > ps-She also can't get IE working right, or she would have sent this
>> > request.
>>
>>
>> Just saying "can't get IE working right" tells us nothing about what the
>> problem might be. Please help us to help you. What does "can't get IE
>> working right" mean? What happens when she tries? If she gets an error
>> message, please quote it verbatim.
>>
>> For information on how to make a good newsgroup posting, read
>> http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.html
>>
>> --
>> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
>> Please reply to the newsgroup
>>
>>
>>

[MGriff]

Thanks for the replies guys. Have either of you ever heard of this happening
before, other than user intervention? I guess the concern is that whatever
else caused this is a sign of an underyling problem.

As far as the IE problem, opening IE will display a home page, but the
program does not respond to any mouse clicks, or to the keyboard. No further
web pages will display. Nothing responds either from the menu or toolbar.
The task manager does not show that the program is "not responding", it shows
as running.

Thanks



"Jim" wrote:

>
> "MGriff" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Ken
> >
> > I'll get more detail on the IE problem.
> >
> > Although SP2 couldn't have changed the windows drive, I do know that this
> > computer has only 1 drive, and previously had only 1 partition. I know it
> > still has only 1 drive, but appears to have 2 partitions. Windows used to
> > be
> > on the C drive.
> >
> > I was just wondering if having the 2 drive letters could be cause for
> > virtual memory problems.
> "Virtual memory problems" are almost always the result of a page file which
> is too small.
>
> If the page file for whatever reason resides on the smaller drive and if
> there isn't enough room to allow expansion of the page file, then the 2
> drives (as reflected by 2 drive letters) is part of the problem.
>
> However, it is up to the administrator to locate the the page file properly.
>
> SP2 most assuredly did not create the extra partition by itself.
>
> Jim
>
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
> >
> >> MGriff wrote:
> >>
> >> > I have a friend who has one 60 gb drive, and is having problems with
> >> > the computer reporting the C drive as 10 gb and D drive as 50 gb.
> >> > The XP OS shows as being on the D drive.
> >>
> >>
> >> Why is that a problem? Although having WIndows on C: is more common, it
> >> doesn't really matter what drive letter it's on. I have it on F: here.
> >>
> >>
> >> > This happened after an
> >> > upate to SP2.
> >>
> >>
> >> Are you saying that installing SP2 changed the Windows drive from C: to
> >> D:?
> >> No way. SP2 can't do that. If it's on D:, it was on D: before SP2 was
> >> installed.
> >>
> >>
> >> > Something else happening is that there have been several messages that
> >> > Windows is adjusting virtual memory.
> >>
> >>
> >> Read this article by the late MVP, Alex Nichol, "Virtual Memory in
> >> Windows
> >> XP," at http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm
> >>
> >>
> >> > If I use computer management to change the D to C, will that correct
> >> > the issue?
> >>
> >>
> >> No, you can change any drive letter *except* the one Windows is installed
> >> on.
> >>
> >>
> >> > ps-She also can't get IE working right, or she would have sent this
> >> > request.
> >>
> >>
> >> Just saying "can't get IE working right" tells us nothing about what the
> >> problem might be. Please help us to help you. What does "can't get IE
> >> working right" mean? What happens when she tries? If she gets an error
> >> message, please quote it verbatim.
> >>
> >> For information on how to make a good newsgroup posting, read
> >> http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.html
> >>
> >> --
> >> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
> >> Please reply to the newsgroup
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

[Ken Blake, MVP]

MGriff wrote:

> Thanks for the replies guys. Have either of you ever heard of this
> happening before, other than user intervention?


No. I would bet money that you've simply been misinformed about what
happened. Either the drive letters were always the way you've reported them,
or there was a Windows reinstallation you don't know about.


> I guess the concern
> is that whatever else caused this is a sign of an underyling problem.


Highly unlikely.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup


> As far as the IE problem, opening IE will display a home page, but the
> program does not respond to any mouse clicks, or to the keyboard. No
> further web pages will display. Nothing responds either from the
> menu or toolbar. The task manager does not show that the program is
> "not responding", it shows as running.
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
> "Jim" wrote:
>
>>
>> "MGriff" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Ken
>>>
>>> I'll get more detail on the IE problem.
>>>
>>> Although SP2 couldn't have changed the windows drive, I do know
>>> that this computer has only 1 drive, and previously had only 1
>>> partition. I know it still has only 1 drive, but appears to have 2
>>> partitions. Windows used to be
>>> on the C drive.
>>>
>>> I was just wondering if having the 2 drive letters could be cause
>>> for virtual memory problems.
>> "Virtual memory problems" are almost always the result of a page
>> file which is too small.
>>
>> If the page file for whatever reason resides on the smaller drive
>> and if there isn't enough room to allow expansion of the page file,
>> then the 2 drives (as reflected by 2 drive letters) is part of the
>> problem.
>>
>> However, it is up to the administrator to locate the the page file
>> properly.
>>
>> SP2 most assuredly did not create the extra partition by itself.
>>
>> Jim
>>
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
>>>
>>>> MGriff wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I have a friend who has one 60 gb drive, and is having problems
>>>>> with the computer reporting the C drive as 10 gb and D drive as
>>>>> 50 gb.
>>>>> The XP OS shows as being on the D drive.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Why is that a problem? Although having WIndows on C: is more
>>>> common, it doesn't really matter what drive letter it's on. I have
>>>> it on F: here.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> This happened after an
>>>>> upate to SP2.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Are you saying that installing SP2 changed the Windows drive from
>>>> C: to D:?
>>>> No way. SP2 can't do that. If it's on D:, it was on D: before SP2
>>>> was installed.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Something else happening is that there have been several messages
>>>>> that Windows is adjusting virtual memory.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Read this article by the late MVP, Alex Nichol, "Virtual Memory in
>>>> Windows
>>>> XP," at http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> If I use computer management to change the D to C, will that
>>>>> correct the issue?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> No, you can change any drive letter *except* the one Windows is
>>>> installed on.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> ps-She also can't get IE working right, or she would have sent
>>>>> this request.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Just saying "can't get IE working right" tells us nothing about
>>>> what the problem might be. Please help us to help you. What does
>>>> "can't get IE working right" mean? What happens when she tries? If
>>>> she gets an error message, please quote it verbatim.
>>>>
>>>> For information on how to make a good newsgroup posting, read
>>>> http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.html
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
>>>> Please reply to the newsgroup

[John]

MGriff wrote:
> I have a friend who has one 60 gb drive, and is having problems with the
> computer reporting the C drive as 10 gb and D drive as 50 gb. The XP OS
> shows as being on the D drive. This happened after an upate to SP2.
>
> Something else happening is that there have been several messages that
> Windows is adjusting virtual memory.
>
> If I use computer management to change the D to C, will that correct the
> issue?
>
> ps-She also can't get IE working right, or she would have sent this request.
>
> Thanks for you help.


What does this *new* C: partition contain? I seriously doubt that an MS
update could create a new partition on the fly, the OS itself can't even
do this. So I suspect that the partition was always there but didn't
have a drive letter assigned to it, a recovery partition perhaps?

John

[MGriff]

I'll get another look at the computer tomorrow and see what's on each drive.

Thanks.

"John" wrote:

> MGriff wrote:
> > I have a friend who has one 60 gb drive, and is having problems with the
> > computer reporting the C drive as 10 gb and D drive as 50 gb. The XP OS
> > shows as being on the D drive. This happened after an upate to SP2.
> >
> > Something else happening is that there have been several messages that
> > Windows is adjusting virtual memory.
> >
> > If I use computer management to change the D to C, will that correct the
> > issue?
> >
> > ps-She also can't get IE working right, or she would have sent this request.
> >
> > Thanks for you help.
>
>
> What does this *new* C: partition contain? I seriously doubt that an MS
> update could create a new partition on the fly, the OS itself can't even
> do this. So I suspect that the partition was always there but didn't
> have a drive letter assigned to it, a recovery partition perhaps?
>
> John
>