Cannot Change Drive Letter

Anonymous
2009-04-24T12:33:27+00:00

Vita 64 Ultimate. I have an external eSATA unit for backups. Recently got SSD for second drive in my laptop. After formatting, Vista assigned the SSD drive F: which had been being used by the external drive.  Disk Management->Change Drive Letter and Paths->Change Drive Letter returns a Logical Disk Manager error message saying Parameter is Incorrect.  Removing the drive letter appears to work, but rescanning or refreshing Disk Manager causess the letter to reappear.  I need to swap these drive letters.  Can you assist?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2010-11-17T01:46:44+00:00

ACTUALLY I got it to work, finally.  I am not technical.  So just use minitool partition wizard, found here:

http://download.cnet.com/Partition-Wizard-Home-Edition/3000-2094\_4-10962200.html?tag=mncol;6

  1. open the program, right-click on the drive you want to change
  2. select "change letter"
  3. click the drop down box by "new drive letter"
  4. select the letter you want to change it to
  5. click "ok"
  6. at the bottom left corner of the program click "apply"

and that's how you do it

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Anonymous
2009-04-25T01:17:05+00:00

Hello kd4wat,

 Thank you for your reply!

 The error "Parameter is Incorrect" is an indication that the drive is in use.  I have added some steps below that I hope will correct your issue.  Please let me know status.

To change the drive letter or paths in Windows Vista, just follow these simple steps:

  1. Right click on Computer and select Manage to open and access Computer Management Console.
  2. Navigate to and expand the Storage section, and click on Disk Management to access Disk Management Console.
  3. Disk Management Console display the details of all available volumes and disk drives in the computer configuration in the right pane.
  4. Right click on the volume or disk drive that you want to change the drive letter, and select “Change Drive Letter and Paths).
  5. Then click on “Change” button.
  6. Use the drop down list to select the new and your desired drive letter to assign to the disk volume.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Click Yes to confirm.

Any letter between C and Z can be assigned to a hard disk drive, CD drive, DVD drive, portable external hard disk drive, or USB flash memory key drive, while floppy disk drives use up letters A and B. Beside, the drive letter for the system volume or boot partition cannot be modified or changed. And if you install some applications or programs in the drive that you have just changed the drive letter, they may not functioning properly after the change due to the possibilities that the programs will also refer to the specific drive letter or original path used when installation as environmental variables.


James Microsoft Answers Support Engineer Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-11-11T14:39:16+00:00

    Hello kd4wat,

     Thank you for your reply!

     The error "Parameter is Incorrect" is an indication that the drive is in use.  I have added some steps below that I hope will correct your issue.  Please let me know status.

    To change the drive letter or paths in Windows Vista, just follow these simple steps:

    1. Right click on Computer and select Manage to open and access Computer Management Console.
    2. Navigate to and expand the Storage section, and click on Disk Management to access Disk Management Console.
    3. Disk Management Console display the details of all available volumes and disk drives in the computer configuration in the right pane.
    4. Right click on the volume or disk drive that you want to change the drive letter, and select “Change Drive Letter and Paths).
    5. Then click on “Change” button.
    6. Use the drop down list to select the new and your desired drive letter to assign to the disk volume.
    7. Click OK.
    8. Click Yes to confirm.

    Any letter between C and Z can be assigned to a hard disk drive, CD drive, DVD drive, portable external hard disk drive, or USB flash memory key drive, while floppy disk drives use up letters A and B. Beside, the drive letter for the system volume or boot partition cannot be modified or changed. And if you install some applications or programs in the drive that you have just changed the drive letter, they may not functioning properly after the change due to the possibilities that the programs will also refer to the specific drive letter or original path used when installation as environmental variables.


    James Microsoft Answers Support Engineer Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

    I have done everything explained above but the letter I want isn't there and it isn't being used with any other drive... how can I get my drive letter back.  Some of my programs require that drive letter to work.  OR, how do I change my program to look for another drive letter???

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-08-03T15:46:25+00:00

    Theres paper in my xbox one disk holder

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-04-13T22:39:15+00:00

    "Happens in windows 7 64 bit ultimate. The drive might have page file in use. Go to control panel/system/Advanced system settings/Advanced Tab/Performance SETTINGS/Advanced tab again. Under virtual memory click the change button. Select the drive you want to change the letter of - select no paging file (radio button) and click SET button. Then REBOOT. Assuming you have Administrator rights you should now be able to change drive letter."

    the drive I'm trying to change has "none" listed under paging. still getting the parameter incorrect notification.

    Man, I can't thank you enough. I tried everything (of course, except your solution) and your solution was what I needed! Now, everything works like a champ!

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