Creating Many Partitions Causes Double Drive Letters

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

SYMPTOMS

If the system has more partitions created than there are available drive letters, after you start Windows NT, some partitions may have more than one associated drive letter.

For example, if 40 logical partitions are created using Disk Administrator, after restarting Windows NT, both C: and D: are assigned to Device\Harddisk0\Partition1. Drive letter assignments may vary from case to case.

The reason why the user needs more logical partitions than the number of available drive letters is for Oracle databases. Oracle databases can treat logical partitions without drive letters.

If another logical drive is created after using all available drive letters, Disk Administrator will display the following message:

   All available drive letters are already assigned. You will not be able
   to access the <drive letter> from Windows NT unless you rearrange drive
   letter usage.

   Do you want to continue and create the <drive letter> anyway?

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the following fix or wait for the next Windows NT service pack.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. A supported fix is now available, but has not been fully regression tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. Unless you are severely impacted by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Service Pack that contains this fix. Contact Microsoft Technical Support for more information.

Keywords          : kbbug4.00 kbfix4.00 ntsetup NTSrvWkst kbsetup
Version           : WinNT:4.0
Platform          : winnt
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix