Windows Disc Assignment

[DonH]

This is a fairly fundamental question that I'm almost too embarrassed to post-but here goes.

I realise that the fact that Windows is on Drive C is largely historical but I have just inserted a larger SSD in the second slot on my laptop on which I intend to load Windows. On installation I temporarily assigned it W.

If only for the sake of consistency I would prefer it to be C.

Now before I load Windows, can I safely reassign the current C drive to say E and the newly installed drive to C; then boot up from the flash drive?

 

[SpyderTracks]

This is a fairly fundamental question that I'm almost too embarrassed to post-but here goes.

I realise that the fact that Windows is on Drive C is largely historical but I have just inserted a larger SSD in the second slot on my laptop on which I intend to load Windows. On installation I temporarily assigned it W.

If only for the sake of consistency I would prefer it to be C.

Now before I load Windows, can I safely reassign the current C drive to say E and the newly installed drive to C; then boot up from the flash drive?

When you install windows, it always assigns the drive it's installed on as C:

 

[ubuysa]

Drive letter assignment is done within Windows, not in the hardware. The drive (specifically the volume) on which Windows is installed is traditionally (and by default) the C: drive. You can't simply change that (to E: as you suggest) within Windows because vast numbers of registry (and many other) entries will be pointing at C:\...something, so changing it will break Windows. (TBH I don't think it will allow you to change it in any case).

When you boot the Windows installation media choose a 'custom install'. You'll see your drives identified by a number (Drive 0, Drive 1, etc.). Your existing Windows drive - what is currently C: - will be obvious from the partitions on there. You want to delete all those partitions to remove the old Windows installation before you install the new one (to avoid any potential conflicts or confusion). Then create a new partition on that 'old' drive (and format it) so it will be usable in your newly installed system. Finally, highlight (click on) the new drive where you want Windows installed and click the Next button, the installer will do the rest.

When you boot the newly installed Windows system the drive on which Windows is installed will be C: and your 'old' drive will most likely be D: (but as you know you can change that to anything you like).

 

[DonH]

Drive letter assignment is done within Windows, not in the hardware. The drive (specifically the volume) on which Windows is installed is traditionally (and by default) the C: drive. You can't simply change that (to E: as you suggest) within Windows because vast numbers of registry (and many other) entries will be pointing at C:\...something, so changing it will break Windows. (TBH I don't think it will allow you to change it in any case).

When you boot the Windows installation media choose a 'custom install'. You'll see your drives identified by a number (Drive 0, Drive 1, etc.). Your existing Windows drive - what is currently C: - will be obvious from the partitions on there. You want to delete all those partitions to remove the old Windows installation before you install the new one (to avoid any potential conflicts or confusion). Then create a new partition on that 'old' drive (and format it) so it will be usable in your newly installed system. Finally, highlight (click on) the new drive where you want Windows installed and click the Next button, the installer will do the rest.

When you boot the newly installed Windows system the drive on which Windows is installed will be C: and your 'old' drive will most likely be D: (but as you know you can change that to anything you like).

Well it seems it wasn't such a naive question after all. Thank you for the clarification.

I've installed Windows before into a new machine, but please humour me further and check if I fully understand what to do i this case.

1. Disk Management shows my new drive as Disk 2.
2. There doesn't seem to be a Delete Partition option for the Windows partition on Drive 0 so should I simply delete the Windows folder from the C drive?
3. With the Flash Drive inserted restart hitting F2.
4 Select 'Boot from Device' and select the Flash Drive . I'm assuming I will see an option Custom Install and the option to select Disk 2.

Thank you

 

[ubuysa]

Forget options 1 and 2. Everything is done during the install.

Boot the install media, click Install, select Custom Install and that's where you select the drives. That's where you delete all partitions on your old drive, then highlight the new drive and then click the Next button.

 

[DonH]

Forget options 1 and 2. Everything is done during the install.

Boot the install media, click Install, select Custom Install and that's where you select the drives. That's where you delete all partitions on your old drive, then highlight the new drive and then click the Next button.

Thankyou. Have now installed Windows on to the new Drive 2.

I have a couple of remining problems if you wouldn't mind helping me again.

Please see Disc Management screen capture below.

1 I can no longer see Disk 0 using File Explorer
2. I am left with two partitions on the drive which ideally I'd like only one.

Don

 

[ubuysa]

I've no idea what's happened there, but the boot partition (the EFI partition) is on disk 0, whilst Windows is on disk 2. That will work but it's far from ideal.

The reason you can't see disk 0 is because there's no formatted partition on there.

Ive no idea how it ended up this way.

I would reinstall. Boot the install media and delete all partitions on disks 0 and 2. Make sure that both disks show all space as 'unallocated space'.

Then select (highlight) disk 2 and click the Next button. The installer should create all the UEFI partitions and install Windows on disk 2. Disk 0 should remain unallocated.

When you boot Windows after reinstall go into Disk Management again and check that all UEFI partitions are on disk 2. Then right click on disk 0, create a simple volume and format it.

 

[ubuysa]

It occurred to me in the night that it's possible that the new SSD on which you want to install Windows may not be supported as a boot device by your motherboard/BIOS. That would explain why the installer has put the EFI (boot) partition on a device that is bootable.

Can you please post the FULL specs from the original order please?
What make and model is the new SSD on which you want to install Windows?
From where did you get it?

 

[DonH]

I bought the SSD from PCS

Here is the email which they sent

---------------------------------------
Your new message is below. Please note that you can ONLY reply by logging into your account at www.pcspecialist.co.uk and clicking on "Inbox":

Dear Donald Harvey

Thank you for contacting us.

We have the following drive in stock 256GB INTEL® 760p M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 3210MB/sR | 1315MB/sW)

If you wanted to install it yourself it would cost £48.34 plus £7.20 for delivery.

If you wanted to return the machine for the upgrade it would cost £117.34 (which includes collection/re delivery and the SSD installation.

If we can assist you any further, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Many Thanks

Valentina Kruc

----------------------------------------------

 

[DonH]

It occurred to me in the night that it's possible that the new SSD on which you want to install Windows may not be supported as a boot device by your motherboard/BIOS. That would explain why the installer has put the EFI (boot) partition on a device that is bootable.

Can you please post the FULL specs from the original order please?
What make and model is the new SSD on which you want to install Windows?
From where did you get it?

Actually - I have set the unallocated area as simple and formatted it assigning it a disk E which I can see.

It does provide me with 119 GB useable space so should I leave it as it is?

 

[ubuysa]

Actually - I have set the unallocated area as simple and formatted it assigning it a disk E which I can see.

It does provide me with 119 GB useable space so should I leave it as it is?

Can you post your full specs please and the make snd model of the SSD?

 

[DonH]

Can you post your full specs please and the make snd model of the SSD?

Is this sufficient data?

Essentials​

• Product CollectionIntel® SSD 760p Series
• Code NameProducts formerly Harris Harbor
• Capacity256 GB
• StatusLaunched
• Launch DateQ1'18
• Lithography Type3D2 TLC

Performance Specifications​

• Sequential Bandwidth - 100% Read (up to)3210 MB/s
• Sequential Bandwidth - 100% Write (up to)1315 MB/s
• Random Read (8GB Span) (up to)205000 IOPS
• Random Write (8GB Span) (up to)265000 IOPS
• Power - Active50 mW
• Power - Idle25 mW

 

[ubuysa]

Is this sufficient data?

Essentials​

• Product CollectionIntel[emoji2400] SSD 760p Series
• Code NameProducts formerly Harris Harbor
• Capacity256 GB
• StatusLaunched
• Launch DateQ1'18
• Lithography Type3D2 TLC

Performance Specifications​

• Sequential Bandwidth - 100% Read (up to)3210 MB/s
• Sequential Bandwidth - 100% Write (up to)1315 MB/s
• Random Read (8GB Span) (up to)205000 IOPS
• Random Write (8GB Span) (up to)265000 IOPS
• Power - Active50 mW
• Power - Idle25 mW

Not really. Is this a PC Specialist build?

 

[DonH]

Not really. Is this a PC Specialist build?

No it is a standard Intel SSD7 256GB INTEL® 760p M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 3210MB/sR | 1315MB/sW)

 

[ubuysa]

No it is a standard Intel SSD7 256GB INTEL[emoji2400] 760p M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 3210MB/sR | 1315MB/sW)

Ah, didn't realise earlier. I'm sorry but we can't offer hardware advice on NON-PCS builds. I would try a more general site like Tom's Hardware if you need more help. Sorry.

 

[DonH]

Ah, didn't realise earlier. I'm sorry but we can't offer hardware advice on NON-PCS builds. I would try a more general site like Tom's Hardware if you need more help. Sorry.

It was purchased from PCS. I cannot imagine to they would do other than buy SSDs in.
Thanks for your help anyway.

 

[SpyderTracks]

It was purchased from PCS. I cannot imagine to they would do other than buy SSDs in.
Thanks for your help anyway.

Sorry, we need to know the full specs of the computer from the order page, not the drive?

 

[DonH]

Sorry, we need to know the full specs of the computer from the order page, not the drive?

Hear it is.

Showing Order Reference 1609789​
Chassis & Display​	Cosmos Series: 17.3" Matte Full HD IPS 60Hz 72% NTSC LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)​	Intel® Core™ i7 Six Core Processor 9750H (2.6GHz, 4.5GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)​	12GB Corsair 2133MHz SODIMM DDR4 (1 x 8GB 1 x 4GB)
Graphics Card​	NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1050 - 3.0GB GDDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1st Storage Drive​	500GB Samsung 860 EVO 2.5" SSD, SATA 6Gb/s (upto 550MB/sR | 520MB/sW)
1st M.2 SSD Drive​	128GB ADATA SU800 M.2 2280 (560 MB/R, 300 MB/W)
External DVD/BLU-RAY Drive​	8x Slim USB 2.0 External DVD-RW
Memory Card Reader​	Integrated 6 in 1 Card Reader (SD /Mini SD/ SDHC / SDXC / MMC / RSMMC)
AC Adaptor​	1 x 120W AC Adaptor
Power Cable​	1 x 1 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Battery​	Cosmos VIII Series 4 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Thermal Paste​	STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card​	2 Channel High Def. Audio + SoundBlaster™ Cinema
Bluetooth & Wireless​	GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (2.4 Gbps) + BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options​	1 x USB 3.1 PORT (Type C) + 2 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
Keyboard Language​	MULTI COLOUR BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System​	Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
Operating System Language​	United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media​	Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software​	FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365 (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus​	NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser​	Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Notebook Mouse​	INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam​	INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
Warranty​	3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery​	STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time​	Standard Build - Approximately 4 to 6 working days
Welcome Book​	PCSpecialist Welcome Book - United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland

 

[SpyderTracks]

So are you just wanting to wipe disc 0 and have it as a storage drive?

 

[ubuysa]

You now have two M.2 SSDs in there then? Are you certain that both M.2 ports are bootable?

What we see is that the installer clearly doesn't think your new SSD (disk 2) is bootable, which is why its put the EFI partition on your old SSD (disk 0) which is bootable.

The new SSD itself is bootable so I can only assume that the second M. 2 port doesn't support booting.

The solution is to swap the two M.2 SSDs around. Then you can install Windows on (and boot) your new SSD. Your old SSD will still be accessible and usable as a storage drive, it just won't be bootable.