Drive Uncompress Fails Because Drive Letter Change Not Allowed

 Last reviewed: June 6, 1996
Article ID: Q136789
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you try to uncompress a drive compressed with DriveSpace or DoubleSpace, you may receive one of the following error messages:

  • Windows files are installed on drive <x>. Uncompressing this drive moves its files to drive <y>. Because Windows refers to drive <y> to find its files, you cannot uncompress drive <x>.
  • Windows files are installed on host drive <x>. Uncompressing drive <y> will cause the drive letter for drive <x> to change. Because Windows refers to drive <x> to find its files, you cannot uncompress drive <y>.

CAUSE

These error messages can occur for any of the following conditions:

  • You compressed an existing drive and then installed Windows 95 on the compressed drive.
  • After you compressed a drive, you installed Windows 95 on the uncompressed (host) portion of the drive.
  • If a Windows-based program was installed on the host drive, there may be references to the program's components in the registry or System.ini file. For example, a .386 file may be referenced in the System.ini file.

Uncompressing a compressed drive changes the path of the Windows folder, but the Windows folder path is not updated in the registry.

RESOLUTION

You cannot uncompress the drive. If you want Windows 95 to be located in a folder on a different drive, reinstall Windows 95 on that drive, and then reinstall your programs.

NOTE: Installing Windows 95 in a new folder causes you to lose all the Windows configuration information. Make sure to back up all the unique data in the Windows folder before you perform this procedure.

MORE INFORMATION

The Windows 95 registry contains many entries that refer to the path for the Windows folder. These values are created when you install Windows 95. If you change the path for the Windows folder by modifying its installed drive letter, the entries become invalid.

KBCategory: kbtool
KBSubcategory: win95 drvspace
Additional reference words: 95

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Last reviewed: June 6, 1996
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