How to get drive letter assigned automatically ?


  1. Posts : 403
    Win10 32bit v20H2
       #1

    How to get drive letter assigned automatically ?


    Every week I clone my SSD to two other SSDs; when I connect the first of those target SSDs, a drive letter is assigned, and so it shows in File Explorer, and cloning can proceed. The second target SSD appears in Disk Manager - where I can allocate a drive letter to it, and only then it shows in File Explorer. I want a reason for that discriminatory behaviour, or better still, a remedy to make drive letter allocation as automatic for the second as for the first SSD clone.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    Hi, you can allocate a drive letter to one external drive using Drive Management, and that will remain true... ideal for backup drives e.g.

    However, you can only have one physical drive so assigned to that letter. Any other drive must be allocated a different letter.

    If both are assigned the same letter, the last inserted 'steals' it.

    Note: we strongly recommend using disk imaging to back up Windows, disks and partitions. E.g. Macrium Reflect (free).
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 5,478
    2004
       #3

    Alternatively, you don't need to use drive letters - you can use the GUID of the drive which (should be) unique.

    For example you can backup to \\?\Volume{e862fd21-bb78-4f82-8e79-30325125c9c2}\backups\ not F:\backups\.

    That may be an option depending what software you use to make the backup (or clone). Macrium and Paragon allow this so presumably all the others do too. This is the option in Macrium...

    How to get drive letter assigned automatically ?-capture.png

    Otherwise (as @dalchina said) just assign them different letters and as long as these letters aren't used by something else (like plugging in a USB stick) then they should remain the same. For that reason assign letters towards the end of the alphabet (but not Q as that is used by Office click-to-run).
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 403
    Win10 32bit v20H2
    Thread Starter
       #4

    I am quite satisfied with the cloning that I do and achieve; I am interested only in getting the second SSD allocated a drive letter as happens to the first. At the time of cloning they are BOTH INTERNAL HDDs - NOT externals. In case it needs saying, they are connected one at a time, NOT both together; so the PC has Primary-SSD and SSD1; OR Primary-SSD and SSD2.
    I have used Macrium before and see no reason to change back to it from the cloner that I use. The PROBLEM occurs before cloning is attempted.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #5

    Using internal disks for your only backup isn't a great option- think power failure, flood, fire, theft... which is why we assumed you were talking about external disks. Anyway, it's your choice of course..
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 4
    Windows 10
       #6

    Deleted.
      My Computer


 

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