Creating Many Partitions Causes Double Drive Letters

ID: Q175266


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition


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 latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4.

Keywords : kbsetup NT4SP4Fix kbbug4.00 ntsetup kbfix4.00.sp4 NTSrvWkst
Version : WinNT:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug


Last Reviewed: April 10, 1999
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