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MikeTheRed6
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Assign Specific Drive Letter during Windows Server 2003 install

I want to install Windows Server 2003 without using C: as the default drive. I don't see anywhere in the setup that lets me choose a letter at all, it just picks C. After installation, I tried to change the drive letter in Disk Management but I get a message that reads, "Windows cannot modify the drive letter of your system volume or boot volume."

Any ideas? I just want to be able to pick a different letter.
Windows Server 2003Citrix

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Ayman Bakr

8/22/2022 - Mon
NikolasG

Hi,
You could try the following guide
http://www.petri.co.il/change_system_drive_letter_in_windows_xp.htm
It's intended for win XP but I think it's going to work.
The microsoft way is to install win 2003 twice.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/830577
which will also work but take more time..
hope it helps.
Ayman Bakr

When you boot from the CD and accept the EULA and press F8 you will be presented with the screen for creating/selecting the partition where Windows will be installed.

Assuming that your hard disk is unpartitioned, the first partition will assume the Drive letter C:.

You need to create two (or more) partitions and then select the partition with the drive letter you want to setup Windows on.
MikeTheRed6

ASKER
Creating additional partitions as suggested by Mutawadi did not work exactly as I wanted but it's good enough. I was able to install Windows on a driver other than C: but C: is still lingering as a "System" drive where the letter I picked is the "Boot" drive. This appears to be acceptable for my purposes.
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MikeTheRed6

ASKER
After installing Windows updates, the machine would no longer boot up. I got the following message before the Windows logo:

Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem.
Could not read from the selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware.
Please check the Windows documentation about hardware disk configuration and your hardware reference manuals for additional information.

Back to setting up partitions for a new install, still attempting to pick my own drive letter.
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Ayman Bakr

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