Directory changed itself.. how to change it back?

[Froggman]

Maybe this is the wrong forum for technical and geared more towards hardware, but Im hoping some of you know enough: Problem is I accidentally unplugged an external hard drive without ejecting it first. When plugging back in, the files were still there, but the directory changed from I: to J: so when attempting to run any programs off of the hard drive, the PC will not recognize them. I am now running into the problem of I cannot uninstall programs on the hard drive and reinstall them. In windows 'add remove programs' they are recognized as if they are in the old I.. which was replaced with J... so I cannot uninstall them there either.

How can I change the J back to I for specific files so I can at least uninstall (this I prefer if possible)
How can I change it back alltogether? Prefer not to go this way, but whatever ends up working

If you need to know:
windows 7 64bit home premium
updated drivers throughout
dell xps 8700 i7-4770
external hard drive is toshiba convo hard drive 1tb (the one Im talking about)

 

[lodders]

control panel, system and security, create and format hard drive partitions, disk management, click on the drive, change drive letter
MAKE SURE YOU CHANGE THE DRIVE LETTER OF THE CORRECT DRIVE.

 

[utroz]

Use windows disk management to change the drive letter.. To do this open windows explorer and right click on "Computer" and select 'Manage" then select "Disk Management" then find your drive and right click and select "Change Drive Letters and Path" then change to the desired drive letter or path..

 

[Froggman]

Use windows disk management to change the drive letter.. To do this open windows explorer and right click on "Computer" and select 'Manage" then select "Disk Management" then find your drive and right click and select "Change Drive Letters and Path" then change to the desired drive letter or path..

disc management > found the external hard drive that was renamed from I: to J: > right click > change drive letter > scroll through alphabetical options > found that I: (the drive letter I need that I used to have) was not in the list

 

[Nerumph]

Hello Froggman,

Have you checked to ensure you do not have any extraneous peripherals plugged into the computer which would be utilizing that letter assignment? This would include thumbdrives, CD/DVD ROM drives, and other external hard drives.

Keep in mind, virtual DVD drives and VHDD (such as RAM drives) will also take the same lettering scheme as Hard drives do, so ensure you do not have any programs such as Power ISO or Daemon Tools taking up that path assignment.

 

[Froggman]

Good point, I do have many things connected, but nothing is listed within disc management as using I: currently.

 

[Nerumph]

CD and DVD drives will not show up under the disk management window. You will have to open your main computer directory under an explorer window to check for those assignments.

They should be under the "Devices with Removable Storage" category.

 

[Froggman]

Ok I opened computer > see all my HDD three total C K and J > see both dvd drives under devices with removable storage listed as D and E > see F G H and I listed as removable disk.

So I can see I: .. its just no longer assigned as a HDD. And its not in use, It looks like it might have changed itself to something standby for lack of better term.. like an unused usb port .. some sort of unused port. I wish I could post a screenshot but I dont know if I can on here

 

[Nerumph]

You can, and I actually encourage you to post an image of at least the disk management window here so we can see if there is anything peculiar about the hdd setup

 

[Froggman]

You can, and I actually encourage you to post an image of at least the disk management window here so we can see if there is anything peculiar about the hdd setup

Hm well when I figure out how to post a picture I sure will, I have one ready

 

[Nerumph]

I host my screenshots over on Imgur and paste the direct link between the [*IMG][*/IMG] tags. (removing the * from them of course 😉)