Solved How can I change system C: drive?

adamf

Banned
Messages
1,870
I have a VHDX which I sometimes boot from and sometimes use as a VM in Hyper V. It has Windows installed on the default C: drive.

This is somewhat confusing as the C: may be the original C: drive or the VHDX C: drive (with the original C: drive renamed to H: in my case). I want C: to always be the native boot and T: (for example) to always be the boot for the VHDX.

Can I change the VHDX to have Windows installed to say T:? I was thinking of renaming all instances of C: to T: in the registry and updating BCDEDIT. It is not possible to change system disk in disk management.

If this is not possible can I re-install windows on the VHDX and specify a different letter and C:?

This is how it looks when booting from VHDX:

Code:
DISKPART> list disk
  Disk ###  Status         Size     Free     Dyn  Gpt
  --------  -------------  -------  -------  ---  ---
  Disk 0    Online          465 GB  1024 KB
  Disk 1    Online          931 GB    31 GB        *
  Disk 2    Online          483 MB      0 B
  Disk 3    Online           65 GB   381 MB
 

Attachments

  • Capture.PNG
    Capture.PNG
    21 KB · Views: 46

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro Prieview x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MacBook Pro Core2Duo
    CPU
    T7600
    Memory
    3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon X1600
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Internal
    Screen Resolution
    1440 x 800
    Hard Drives
    40GB
    Keyboard
    Apple
    Mouse
    Apple
    Internet Speed
    Varies
    Browser
    Various
    Antivirus
    Defender
Thanks - I'll try it and see....
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro Prieview x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MacBook Pro Core2Duo
    CPU
    T7600
    Memory
    3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon X1600
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Internal
    Screen Resolution
    1440 x 800
    Hard Drives
    40GB
    Keyboard
    Apple
    Mouse
    Apple
    Internet Speed
    Varies
    Browser
    Various
    Antivirus
    Defender
By convention, when you install Windows, the letter C: is reserved for Windows and nothing you can do about it, ,not when the windows is active, disk management/dispart will not allow you to re-assign to any other letter on the current boot/pagefile volume.
Looking at the screen shot, I think you are currently booting from the virtual VHDX and your other Windows partition is re-asigned to H:, This is normal, you can re-assign to any other letter or even remove the drive letter to make it invisible but once you boot from it, its letter will be C: again and your Virtual VHDX will probably re-assigned to be H:. In another word, when you boot the VHDX, it will see your other Windows as another regular drive, and pick one letter available to assign it and vice versa.

I have 2 SSD's, both run Windows and that's how it works. The drive letter assignment is interchangeable, so not to be confused about it, I remove the letter to make it invisible and the same for the other. It'll be better so I don't mess around with the other currently not active.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1x64PWMC Ubuntu14.04x64 MintMate17x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brewed
    CPU
    I7 4970K OC'ed @4.7 GHz
    Motherboard
    MSI-Z97
    Memory
    16 GB G-Skill Trident X @2400MHZ
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450
    Sound Card
    X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual HP-W2408
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    256 GB M2 sm951, (2) 500GB 850EVO, 5TB, 2 TB Seagate
    PSU
    Antec 850W
    Case
    Antec 1200
    Cooling
    Danger Den H20
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    35/12mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
Decided not to change it in the end.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro Prieview x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MacBook Pro Core2Duo
    CPU
    T7600
    Memory
    3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon X1600
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Internal
    Screen Resolution
    1440 x 800
    Hard Drives
    40GB
    Keyboard
    Apple
    Mouse
    Apple
    Internet Speed
    Varies
    Browser
    Various
    Antivirus
    Defender
Back
Top