Windows 10 - External Hard Drive Question

[DD716TED]

I should know the answer to this.. but just can't think of it.. I have an external WD Hard Drive installed on my Desktop.. It has three partitions (E) (F) and (G). The old drive is starting to get tired and I want to replace it. I would like to set up and keep the same partition designations on the new drive so.. can I rename the (E) (F) (G) partitions on the old drive to another letter, say (T) (U) (V) so I can establish (E) (F) on the new drive then just copy data from the old drive to the new drive? If possible, how do I change the letter designations?? I tried renaming the partition and the name changed ok, but not the letter. Thanks for any and all help.. If not possible, I will just copy contents of old drive to portable USB drive, then remove old USB Desktop drive, install new external USB HD and copy contents back ..

[rk911]

DD716TED wrote:
I should know the answer to this.. but just can't think of it.. I have an external WD Hard Drive installed on my Desktop.. It has three partitions (E) (F) and (G). The old drive is starting to get tired and I want to replace it. I would like to set up and keep the same partition designations on the new drive so.. can I rename the (E) (F) (G) partitions on the old drive to another letter, say (T) (U) (V) so I can establish (E) (F) on the new drive then just copy data from the old drive to the new drive? If possible, how do I change the letter designations?? I tried renaming the partition and the name changed ok, but not the letter. Thanks for any and all help.. If not possible, I will just copy contents of old drive to portable USB drive, then remove old USB Desktop drive, install new external USB HD and copy contents back ..

yup. i'm doing the exact same thing now. in File Explorer just right click the partition to change the letter and/or the label. if any of the partitions contain installed programs you may have to reinstall them.

[MitchF150]

You should not have to rename them. Sounds like you are going to install a new
external hard drive. Just unplug the old one. Plug in the new one. Create the new drive partitions on the new drive as you wish. Keep it plugged in.

Now, plug in the old external drive. The computer will just assign the next available drive letters on that old drive.

Copy the files from the old drive to the new drives as desired.

Good luck! Mitch

[DD716TED]

Thanks for the quick reply and answer...It just took a nudge to get my brain off "Top Dead Center" and working again.. all is fine now.. Have a nice day and stay safe.. Thanks again

[agesilaus]

Yes The drive letter may only matter to links that you have to files on that drive. Just use drive manager to rename them.

[2oldman]

Have you tried searching 'rename drive letters'