Changing Default CDROM Drive
Keywords: Change Changing Default CDROM Drive Letter CD ROM Mounted Device
Question:
Can someone please advise what is the registry key to modify for changing the default
cdrom drive (ie from e: to r:) for NT4 workstation environment
Answer:
Maybe check out the registry key:
KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices
Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows
NT or Windows 2000, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).
To change or swap drive letters on volumes that cannot otherwise be changed using the Disk
Management snap-in, use the following steps.
All that is required is to simply name the \DosDevice\letter: value to any new drive letter not in use.
- Make a full system backup of the computer and system state.
- Log on as an Administrator. (or see RunWithLogon)
- Set permissions on the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices key (if necessary). Use the wntAccessAdd
function in the Win32 Network Extender. Make sure Administrators have full control. Change this back when you are finished with
these steps.
- Go to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices key and find the drive letter you want
to change to (new). For Example look for "\DosDevices\{CDROMLetter}:".
- Next you need to rename it to the new drive letter "\DosDevices\{new CDROMLetter}:". (This will free up drive letter C: to
be used later.) Inorder to rename the data item you will need to copy the contents of the existing data item (RegQueryBin), Then create
the new dataItem using RegSetBin. Finally delete the original dataitem using RegDelValue.
- Change the permissions back to the previous setting for Administrators (this should
probably be Read Only). See WntAccessAdd function in the Win32 Network Extender.
- Restart the computer. See IntControl 67.
Article ID: W15958
File Created: 2004:08:05:09:00:50
Last Updated: 2004:08:05:09:00:50