Drive Not Displayed in My Computer After Adding New Hard Disk

• Microsoft Windows 95
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

After you add a new hard disk, either the new hard disk or a preexisting drive (such as a CD-ROM drive) may no longer be listed in My Computer. The drive remains accessible from a command prompt.

CAUSE

When you create a compressed hard disk volume, the compressed volume receives the drive letter of the original drive (for example, drive C), and the original uncompressed (or host) drive is relocated to a higher drive letter (for example, drive E).

When the compressed volume is created, Explorer.exe is instructed to not show the host drive in My Computer (in this example, drive E.)

When you add a new hard disk, it receives a drive letter assignment (for example, drive D), causing all subsequent drive letters to shift by one. For example, if a CD-ROM was drive D, it is relocated to drive E.

When Explorer.exe follows its instructions not to show drive E, it inadvertently hides the CD-ROM drive instead of the actual host drive (which has now moved to drive F).

RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

NOTE: For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat) before you edit the registry.

To work around this issue delete the "NoDrives" value in the following registry key:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
      Policies\Explorer

This instructs Explorer.exe to show all drives.