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C: drive not system cause it's logical? How to fix?

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by krypticChewie, 2007/12/29.

  1. 2007/12/29
    krypticChewie

    krypticChewie Inactive Thread Starter

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    My boot.ini, NTDETECT.COM, ntldr are on my D:\ drive, which is my My Documents folder.

    In Computer Management C: is Boot, D: is System, E: is Page File

    C: is logical and the others are primary. I was told this is why the files are on D: I figure I could use Partition Magic or something to make C: a primary partition but what will I need to do for Windows to recognise C: as System?
     
    krypticChewie,
    #1
  2. 2007/12/29
    surferdude2

    surferdude2 Inactive

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    Forgive me, but as long as your system is working, you have nothing to fix. XP is quite happy to run from any partition you choose to place it upon. It only requires a primary partition to place it's bootloader files on. You seem to have met all requirements so why change things?
     
    surferdude2,
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  4. 2007/12/30
    krypticChewie

    krypticChewie Inactive Thread Starter

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    Ok. Well I don't have to but wouldn't it be better if the boot drive was also the system drive and it was a primary?
     
    krypticChewie,
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  5. 2007/12/30
    surferdude2

    surferdude2 Inactive

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    Nope, XP couldn't care less where you put it. The system drive and boot drive are often different drives, that's by design so as to enable placement of the OS anywhere you like. It aids in multi-booting. There is only one system volume. However, there is one boot volume for each operating system in a multiboot system.
     
    surferdude2,
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  6. 2007/12/30
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    I have installed a system with a mixed hard disk setup, one SATA intended as the boot and system drive and a PATA intended as a backup drive. If my memory serves me correctly, this is what happened:

    The first time, both were connected, partitioned and formated. The installer put the boot files on the PATA even if I directed the installer to install XP on the SATA. I was confused, when in Windows Explorer, I noticed that the system partition was D:. I removed the PATA with C: and the thing wouldn't boot.

    It was explained to me that the BIOS looks for and lists the hard disks - IDE (PATA) first and SATA there after. The first partition on the PATA became C: with the boot files and the first partition on the SATA became D: with the system files.

    The next time, the PATA was not connected during the installation and the first partition on the SATA became C: with the boot files as well as the system files.

    Any similarity?

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #5
  7. 2007/12/30
    krypticChewie

    krypticChewie Inactive Thread Starter

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    Well no PATA here. But I don't know why when XP installed on the Sata why it made the install partition logical.
     
    krypticChewie,
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  8. 2007/12/30
    noahdfear

    noahdfear Inactive

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    Was the drive partitioned already when you installed XP, or did you create the partitions with Partition Magic after installing XP? Did you do any resizing of the partitions using PM?

    The only problem I see arising from the current setup is if you formatted D: with the intention of installing another operating system, yet failed to install it upon restart. If D: gets formatted, the computer will not boot again until those three files are placed back on the system, whether by another installation or via recovery console (placing them back on C: ) and possibly a fixboot or fixmbr command.
     
    noahdfear,
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  9. 2007/12/30
    krypticChewie

    krypticChewie Inactive Thread Starter

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    Nope. It was a new drive.
     
    krypticChewie,
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  10. 2007/12/30
    noahdfear

    noahdfear Inactive

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    Please give us a bit more detail.

    • When did it get partitioned ........ before or after XP was installed?
    • Was Partition Magic used to do the partitioning?
    • Was partitioning done only once?
    • What are your future plans for this drive?
    • Expecting to make any changes, such as dual booting?
    • If so, do you plan to install another operating system on this drive or a separate hard drive?
     
    noahdfear,
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  11. 2007/12/30
    krypticChewie

    krypticChewie Inactive Thread Starter

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    The drive was partitioned by XP CD at install. I have installed XP 64bit on another drive and am dual booting XP 32, XP 64. I want to install XP 64bit over the XP 32bit when I've played around with it more.
     
    krypticChewie,
    #10

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