# Computer question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 20, 2002, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question/115039 "2002-06-20T12:00:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![papertiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce73a5/32.png) [@papertiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papertiger)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question/115039/1 "2002-06-20T12:00:55Z")
Prognosis: my comp has developed an advanced case of binary dementia. Physical drives: 2 HD’s 2Gb and 6Gb, 1 CD drive. It has mixed up my logical drives as follows: Original configuration: HD1 = C:, HD2 = D:, CDD = E: Messed up for no apparent reason config: HD1 = C:, HD2 = E:, CDD = D:. The registry of course maintains the old drive letters making it impossible to do anything. I considered the possibility of a virus, but have no internet connection, and have not loaded any new software in ages. Could anyone supply a possible cause or solution (other than re-installing Windows) to this annoying problem. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question/115039/2 "2002-06-20T12:05:26Z")
What version of Windows are you running? ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question/115039/3 "2002-06-20T12:06:15Z")
Go to the device manager and go to the properties of the CDD and you will see you can reserve a letter for it forcing the second HDD to take a later letter. maybe this got selected for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![papertiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce73a5/32.png) [@papertiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papertiger)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question/115039/4 "2002-06-20T13:39:40Z")
Number: I am running Win 98. ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question/115039/5 "2002-06-20T13:58:55Z")
Win98 has the drive letters assigned the same way they are in DOS: HD0 primary = C, HD1 Primary =D, HD0 extended/logical = E, etc. The CD gets assigned a drive letter by Win98 since DOS has no inherent support for CD’s. WinNT/2K/XP can assign drive letters any way you want. Try this: force the CD to a lower drive letter, like F. Reboot and see what your second HD letter is. If it’s where you want it then force the CD to letter E. ---
**Author:** ![inertia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d07c76/32.png) [@inertia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inertia)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question/115039/6 "2002-06-20T14:04:17Z")
If nothing else works, go to start-\>settings-\>control panel find the System icon and under the hardware tab delete the CDRom and/or the d: drive hard drive. I don’t think you can delete the C: drive unless you boot in safe mode, but don’t delete it anyway. i ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question/115039/7 "2002-06-20T16:58:03Z")
Actually W98 assigns drive letters as determined by FDISK. Try deleting your CD-ROM drive to see if things are restored. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question/115039/8 "2002-06-20T17:16:07Z")
\>\> Actually W98 assigns drive letters as determined by FDISK. Try deleting your CD-ROM drive to see if things are restored. What? Can you verify that? In my computer WIN98 assigns drive letters in ways which have nothing to do with Fdisk.