[SOLVED] Drive letters keep changing, can't boot

[malinst]

Win10 x64

Hello, something happened this morning and I wasn't able to boot. I've tried all I can think of to remedy the situation. Note: all of these attempts have been done by booting from the Windows DVD and using the command prompt.

While running chkdsk on "C:" I noticed that the volume name of that drive was something else. It changed a little 100Gb SSD that I use as a scratch disk for Photoshop into C:.

I have tried multiple times to rename this "scratch disk" drive using diskpart and it keeps switching back to naming it C: Meanwile the real C: primary partition is renamed to D: and the 'hidden' windows partition that was D: is now E:

I've tried renaming all of these correctly using diskpart. but on restart, it switches everything back and won't boot.

After renaming the Real C: I also make it the ACTIVE partition so it will boot from it. It still won't boot. When I check the names with diskpart again after restart I notice that it has been renamed again.

Could this be a virus that's doing this? everything worked great yesterday then this morning the nightmare started.

Any ideas? My next step will be to Make D: Active and run chkdsk on it first and see if I can boot from it.

if that won't boot, I will physically disconnect the "scratch disk" drive that's being renamed as C: to see if it will allow the real C: with Windows to be named C: and boot.

A HUGE THANKS IN ADVANCE TO ANYONE WHO CAN HELP ME!

 

[USAFRet]

Please show us a screencap of your Disk Management window.

You can't change the drive letter of the currently running OS. Doesn't work like that.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

first i would disconnect all drives but the main OS drive.

there shouldn't be any other accessible partitions on the boot drive.
so now "C:" should be the only drive letter in use.

use Windows repair tools through Settings > Update & Security > Recovery to see if startup options can be repaired or reset to normal.

 

[malinst]

Please show us a screencap of your Disk Management window.

You can't change the drive letter of the currently running OS. Doesn't work like that.

Thank you but I guess I wasn't clear in my description - I cannot get to disk management - I can't boot into windows user interface.

The Drive in use is the CD drive I booted the Windows Media from to access the command line. I can't take a screenshot because I am not in windows. I can use my phone to take a pic of a diskpart screen? Would that help?

 

[malinst]

first i would disconnect all drives but the main OS drive.

there shouldn't be any other accessible partitions on the boot drive.
so now "C:" should be the only drive letter in use.

use Windows repair tools through Settings > Update & Security > Recovery to see if startup options can be repaired or reset to normal.

I will disconnect and report back - currently, I cannot access the startup options you mention. THe 'repair options" on the Windows DVD say that they cannot repair the problem.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

use Windows repair tools through Settings > Update & Security > Recovery to see if startup options can be repaired or reset to normal

or through the Windows installer disc you have.

though creating an up-to-date Windows 10 USB installer may prove a better option.
i get very tired of waiting for CD\DVD access times these days.

 

[malinst]

first i would disconnect all drives but the main OS drive.

there shouldn't be any other accessible partitions on the boot drive.
so now "C:" should be the only drive letter in use.

use Windows repair tools through Settings > Update & Security > Recovery to see if startup options can be repaired or reset to normal.

The Second Partition on the Primary hard drive with OS is named "Recovery" I did not create this. I can only assume Windows did. I built the machine, I installed the OS, I didn't make a second partition of 500 some MB for 'recovery'.

Are you saying the recovery partition should not be there? OS should be C: then this D: is hidden (I never saw it until I found it in diskpart today)

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

OS recovery partitions should not have a drive letter assigned.
it's perfectly normal for them to exist but they should be system partitions with no access.
i currently have two ~500MB "Healthy (Recovery Partition)" on my OS drive.

this could be part of the issue if a 3rd party software is altering the parameters of these partitions.

the easiest option may just be to wipe the drive and go for a fresh install.

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forums.tomshardware.com

 

[malinst]

Disconnected the "scratchdisk" drive - now the system recognizes my primary drive as C: however it's still not loading windows. I tried sfc /scannow but it gave me a resource protection could not... error. now I'm running chkdsk on that C: drive. will be a while...

then I'll attempt the startup repair option again.

I'll let you know what happens. Thanks to all for your time.