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General discussion

Portable HDD changed letters

Apr 2, 2011 10:07AM PDT

My portable hdd has changed letters on me from U to E. I tried to change back to U but U is not in the designation. How do I get it back?

Discussion is locked

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Could be something else is using U:
Apr 2, 2011 10:28AM PDT

Look around the drives.

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I generally label the drive...
Apr 2, 2011 12:43PM PDT

instead of depending on the drive letter. The label never change, like maybe "U drive" or "drive U". Just a suggestion. But I guess sometime labeling just will not do.

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Portable HDD changed letters
Apr 3, 2011 1:11AM PDT

Nothing else is using the letter U. I use this drive for my itunes. And unless I want to reconfigure all of my itunes to the e drive, which will take way to long. I thought there might be a way to get the U back in the designation area. I f I rename the drive U isn't still E but with the name U. Sorry trying to explain the best I can. Thank you

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There is a chance
Apr 3, 2011 1:23AM PDT

That U is hidden from Explorer. I read this post again and can't find what OS is in use so YOU get to adjust my replies to match your OS.

1. Look at the drives list in Tweakui. Make sure U is not hidden.
2. What happens when you browse U: in Explorer?
3. What happens when you click Start, Run and U: then press enter.
4. What happens when you plug the USB drive into other ports?
5. Did you check in Disk Management? http://www.wikihow.com/Change-a-Drive-Letter-in-Windows-XP

Good luck,
Bob

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Portable HDD changed letters
Apr 3, 2011 3:15AM PDT

OOps Sorry! Windows XP sp3.

1- Not hidden in Tweak, at least I see it in there the box is checked

2- not in Explorer

3- When I click Start Run U: enter it Does not exist

4- When I plug that drive into other usb it Shows up as E:

5- U: is not in disk management. It use to be not any more.

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Re: drive letter changed.
Apr 3, 2011 1:23AM PDT

Sometimes they do. It's not the drive itself, it's the way the OS determines the drive letter when booting.

Your OS might have the option in Disk Management to assign a fixed drive letter. But you didn't tell what OS you have.

Kees

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Portable HDD changed letters
Apr 3, 2011 3:26AM PDT

Sorry! Windows XP sp3. U does not show up in Disk Management. Only about half of the letters are there when referenced with Tweakui.

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All skill levels show up here.
Apr 3, 2011 3:22AM PDT

Excuse me for checking but do you know how to scroll that box of letters in Disk Management?

And are you using Disk Management?
Did you try Device Manager to change it?

" Windows offers other ways to change the drive letters, either through the Disk Manager (Windows NT, 2000, XP and later) or through the Device Manager found in the Control Panel. "

Try both.

If this fails there is a way in the REGISTRY but I will only try that after you backup your system. Hint: Regedit, search for U:

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Only about half of the letters are there when referenced
Apr 3, 2011 3:40AM PDT
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Got It!!!
Apr 3, 2011 4:00AM PDT

Its Back. Thanks for all of your help. Not sure what it was though. I just restored back to yesterday when it was working. Again Thanks for all of your help.

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Just from my experiences
Apr 8, 2011 1:35PM PDT

Letter designations all depend on what you have plugged in when you reboot. Flash drives, external hard drives, cameras and so on. So if you're like me and not good with registries, management or whatever tweek is. Just find a configuration that you like, and make sure it's always the same before you reboot.