How to make a USB port/connection letter persistent?


  1. Posts : 271
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       #1

    How to make a USB port/connection letter persistent?


    The USB port drive letter periodically switches between D and E messing up my scheduled Macrium Reflect daily backup.

    The free version will not send an error email so I frequently end up missing a number of days before I happen to check my wife's laptop.

    I'm not sure of the 'solution' I found on search and wanted to confirm it with you.

    After I changed the drive letter in Reflect to match that which file explorer indicated (changed from D to E), ran and completed the Reflect profile, I then proceeded to do the following to make the drive letter persistent.

    1. Search machine 'create and format hard disk partitions'.
    2. Disk Management window
    3. Right click USB drive letter
    4. Change Drive Letter and Paths...
    5. Change

    Since I had previously corrected the drive letter, there was no letter to change. But without changing it in this manner I'm sure that the problem would continue. So I figured I'd change the letter from E (correct) to D (incorrect) then after saving change the letter back to E (good). I got as far as changing the letter from E to D when Windows popped up saying that the port was in use (external hard drive) and wouldn't change until post post. I guess after boot, with the external drive still connected, it'll show up as D and then I'll do the same, change to E and be done?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #2

    You need to assign the USB drive (whether it be a flash drive or external hard drive) a drive letter that is way out there, like P for portable. Or start at Z and work your way backward. Then that same USB drive when connected to the same computer will keep that drive letter. If you set it for the next drive letter available such as D or E you take the chance of a previously connected device stealing that drive letter and bumping the next connected drive further down.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 271
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Sounds reasonable. I will do so and thanks.

    Mark
      My Computer


 

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