PC Hardware in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition

Changing CD-ROM Drive Letter Assignments

By default, all versions of Windows assign a CD-ROM drive the next available drive letter following those for any local volumes. If you subsequently install an additional hard disk or repartition your drive to create additional volumes, the letter assigned to the CD-ROM drive may change, which may confuse installed software that attempts to access the CD-ROM drive as the old letter. You can avoid this “musical chairs” reassignment of CD-ROM drive letters by manually assigning the CD-ROM drive a drive letter that is higher than the drive letter for any existing local or network volume. We use R: for the CD-ROM drive by long-standing habit, although there is something to be said for assigning it to Z. To assign a different drive letter to the CD-ROM drive, proceed as follows:

Windows 95/98/98 SE/Me

Right-click the My Computer icon, choose Properties, and then click the Device Manager tab. Double-click the CD-ROM drive to display its Properties sheet, and then click the Settings tab. Use the spinner to assign an unused drive letter to the CD-ROM drive and then restart the system.

Windows 2000/XP

If you have not already done so, right-click the Task Bar, choose Properties, click the Advanced tab, and mark the Display Administrative Tools checkbox in the Start Menu Settings pane. This adds Administrative Tools to the Programs (2000) or All Programs (XP) menu (it is also available in the Control Panel regardless of this setting). From the Control ...