Perplexing sponataneous drive renaming

footfootfoot · 12-21-2008, 10:47 AM

I recently installed a pair of Western Digital 750GB external drives to store my photos and to back up. The first drive installed was called G (not his real name) and the second drive was called M (also not his real name) The other day G spontaneously renamed itself K, thus obliterating several thousand pictures from Picasa. I named it G again, waited for Picasa to relocate all the pictures and it was fine. Until this morning when I opened Picasa, went to click on an image and all of a sudden all the thumbnails disappeared and it was because G drive was now K once again.

WTF?

I just changed it back again, making sure that no other drive (USB port) was assigned G. Picasa is doing its thing, we'll see how long this lasts

SteveDallas · 12-21-2008, 01:48 PM

This is starting to sound like either Kafka, or Men in Black. Or both.

Windows is a pain about this kind of thing. Do you have some other drives hanging around? It seems odd for it to jump from G to M without the other stuff being taken up. Anyway, I'm not sure if this will stick, but you might try setting the drive letter manually. Right-click "My Computer", choose "Manage", and open "Disk Management" under "Storage". You can right-click volumes to reassign letters.

footfootfoot · 12-21-2008, 07:14 PM

Yeah, that's how Ive been doing it. fingers crossed.

xoxoxoBruce · 12-22-2008, 12:17 AM

Have you other USB things you're plugging in intermittently? Things that could have been assigned those letters and they're claiming them when they return? I'm just guessing, btw.

busterb · 12-22-2008, 01:46 AM

Yes, but each time you plug or unplug Windows changes drive letters. You can stop this by assigning drive letters. I have a how-to on that, but it's 1:45am, I'm drinking and can't sleep and 26º. So stand by

busterb · 12-22-2008, 01:54 AM

Only thing I can find at this time is http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbdlm_e.html.
I have something else. Later. bb

ZenGum · 12-22-2008, 05:59 AM

It's just a glitch in the Matrix. Pretend you didn't notice.

BigV · 12-25-2008, 11:39 PM

You again?

Beestie · 12-25-2008, 11:42 PM

There's a way to assign a permanent drive letter to removeable drives but I'm too lazy to google it.

BigV · 12-26-2008, 01:26 AM

welcome back Beestie. You've been missed.

footfootfoot · 12-26-2008, 08:52 AM

I fixed it, I think it stemmed from not renaming the other G drive. When I named the other G drive Z everything was ok. Silly me assuming that the computer would realize that if I wanted to assign G to a drive, it would have to come up with another letter for the existing G drive.

[keeping my day job]

tw · 12-26-2008, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

I fixed it, I think it stemmed from not renaming the other G drive. When I named the other G drive Z everything was ok.

The fix is a kludge. As previously noted, There's a way to assign a permanent name to a peripheral. I never learned it because there was no reason to. For example, a USB port device may have the name USB1:. Or it can be named as a device called Dove. When that drive connects, the OS sees it as a piece of hardware called DOVE (not G

.

lumberjim · 12-26-2008, 12:46 PM

The parts manager at Family Jeep is named "Cludge."

somehow, that's short for 'Clothilde'

12-21-2008, 10:47 AM	#1
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	Perplexing sponataneous drive renaming I recently installed a pair of Western Digital 750GB external drives to store my photos and to back up. The first drive installed was called G (not his real name) and the second drive was called M (also not his real name) The other day G spontaneously renamed itself K, thus obliterating several thousand pictures from Picasa. I named it G again, waited for Picasa to relocate all the pictures and it was fine. Until this morning when I opened Picasa, went to click on an image and all of a sudden all the thumbnails disappeared and it was because G drive was now K once again. WTF? I just changed it back again, making sure that no other drive (USB port) was assigned G. Picasa is doing its thing, we'll see how long this lasts __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs Last edited by footfootfoot; 12-21-2008 at 11:02 AM.

12-21-2008, 07:14 PM	#3
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	Yeah, that's how Ive been doing it. fingers crossed. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

12-22-2008, 12:17 AM	#4
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Have you other USB things you're plugging in intermittently? Things that could have been assigned those letters and they're claiming them when they return? I'm just guessing, btw. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

12-22-2008, 01:46 AM	#5
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	Yes, but each time you plug or unplug Windows changes drive letters. You can stop this by assigning drive letters. I have a how-to on that, but it's 1:45am, I'm drinking and can't sleep and 26º. So stand by __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch.

12-22-2008, 01:54 AM	#6
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	Only thing I can find at this time is http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbdlm_e.html. I have something else. Later. bb __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch.

12-21-2008, 01:48 PM	#2
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	This is starting to sound like either Kafka, or Men in Black. Or both. Windows is a pain about this kind of thing. Do you have some other drives hanging around? It seems odd for it to jump from G to M without the other stuff being taken up. Anyway, I'm not sure if this will stick, but you might try setting the drive letter manually. Right-click "My Computer", choose "Manage", and open "Disk Management" under "Storage". You can right-click volumes to reassign letters.

12-22-2008, 05:59 AM	#7
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	It's just a glitch in the Matrix. Pretend you didn't notice. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

12-25-2008, 11:39 PM	#8
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	You again? __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

12-25-2008, 11:42 PM	#9
Beestie -◊\|≡·∙■·∙≡\|◊- Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Parts unknown. Posts: 4,081	There's a way to assign a permanent drive letter to removeable drives but I'm too lazy to google it. __________________ ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦

12-26-2008, 01:26 AM	#10
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	welcome back Beestie. You've been missed. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

12-26-2008, 08:52 AM	#11
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	I fixed it, I think it stemmed from not renaming the other G drive. When I named the other G drive Z everything was ok. Silly me assuming that the computer would realize that if I wanted to assign G to a drive, it would have to come up with another letter for the existing G drive. [keeping my day job] __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

12-26-2008, 12:46 PM	#13
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	The parts manager at Family Jeep is named "Cludge." somehow, that's short for 'Clothilde' __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan Last edited by lumberjim; 12-26-2008 at 12:57 PM.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)