Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Windows 7

Mar 24, 2015 3:20PM PDT

After installing DVD Cloner 2015 by Open Cloner (This condition may have existed before) when I turn on an external HD with 5 partitions (2Tbytes) I loose two of my three DVD writers.
Installed internal; 2 1.5 T one with 4 Part other 5, 1 500G 2 part, 1 160G and 1 80G.
Win7 32 Bit
How many Drive/Partitions can Win 7 see?
I have,count them, 14.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
Correction
Mar 24, 2015 3:32PM PDT

Total drives/Partitions 21.

- Collapse -
From memory partitions by the hundreds.
Mar 25, 2015 12:27AM PDT

But some new folk may think a partition would be accessible but that's not true. For today's Windows you would have to have a Windows supported file system there PLUS ONE LAST THING. A drive letter assigned to that partition.

That gives us 26 (A to Z) drives. 2 are usually gone for the legacy A and B drive.
Bob

- Collapse -
26. Ya that would explain it
Mar 25, 2015 12:17PM PDT

I have 1 more 2T with 4 partitions that I use for back up (Not plugged in except when backing up) and my Epson printer has a USB port that Windows assigned a drive letter. If it holds letters in reserve for that drive for when all would be plugged in then it would have to drop something. Thus the DVD drives. Somebody put some brains in the machine.
by the way the 500G is a PATA assigned the A & B. I used Easeus to do that.

Dwight

- Collapse -
Answer
It would seem,.....14
Mar 26, 2015 2:57PM PDT

or more. Limit might be based on alphabet, I've never checked it myself.

I don't know the problem you have, but probably can't create another partition you want to in unallocated space.

If so, then that would be because you used less than a full drive for 4 primary partitions on it, instead of having 3 primary partitions and making the last allowed primary to be an extended area where more volumes (or call them partitions if you must) could then be added.

If you ran out of drive letters, then map the next partition to a folder instead.

- Collapse -
You say what
Mar 26, 2015 11:42PM PDT

What do you think Bob?
Sounds real good to me. I could take all the partitions on each drive and folder them under one drive letter for each drive.
That way the programs that require install disks be running can still be used while all drives are accessible.

Thanks James

Dwight

- Collapse -
Your PC, your choices.
Mar 27, 2015 1:25AM PDT

Try the ideas, but if I find a machine with all 26 drive letters in use, the owner is usually balding and armed.
Bob

- Collapse -
Well
Mar 27, 2015 11:17AM PDT

At least I'm not bald. Yet!
I will try the folder thing this weekend. Let you know.

Dwight

- Collapse -
It works
Mar 30, 2015 6:58AM PDT

Simple process really. moved all partitions on one drive onto the first partition (Drive letter wise). ((M,N & O In L) Those three are listed under labels instead of drive letter and no longer are shown in Explorer. Will have to remember where they are.

- Collapse -
Glad it worked for you
Mar 30, 2015 12:07PM PDT

I give such folders easy to recognize names. Windows uses similar for things like the "my documents" folder, which is really just a symlink to any folder you designate no matter the drive it's own. My wife's computer shows My Documents on her C drive, but the files are actually on a separate physical hard drive. The Favorites folder works the same too.