XP Disk cleanup Article.

deejay100six · 06-03-2008, 08:29 AM

I remember that i once renamed my C: drive "Brain" and couldn't remember where i got the idea. Well, here it is;

Disk cleanup article.JPG

While researching a problem with my PC, i seem to remember being advised that renaming C: is not a good idea, the explanation being that your system will be looking for Local Disk (C:) and won't be able to find it because it is now called Brain.

While i am sure that an expert could make this work, the novice user may well just think it might be "cool" to rename the drive without realising that there may be consequences.

Perhaps i was mis-informed, if so please accept my apologies.

If not then maybe it is a valid point.

Zazula · 06-03-2008, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deejay100six

While researching a problem with my PC, i seem to remember being advised that renaming C: is not a good idea, the explanation being that your system will be looking for Local Disk (C:) and won't be able to find it because it is now called Brain.

I label all my partitions at the time of creation, before anything at all is written on them. I use Acronis Disk Director Suite 10.0 for this task. After that, I'm moving on with installing the Operating System(s). I've never had a single problem as a result of the custom label on my partitions in any of the computers I set up - and these (i.e. computers) are quite numerous.

deejay100six · 06-03-2008, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deejay100six

While i am sure that an expert could make this work, the novice user may well just think it might be "cool" to rename the drive without realising that there may be consequences.

So it is a valid point in that, its ok to do it as part of an install, but not afterwards?

Zazula · 06-03-2008, 08:28 PM

Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) allows you to change the labels in all partitions. You shouldn't change only the drive letters for the system and the boot partition through Disk Management. The reason I'm performing the label setting at the very beginning (i.e. before anything is written on any partition), is because in a multi-OS scenario one cannot rely on the drive lettering scheme - as each OS assigns drive letters on its own. The only way to positively identify each partition is to use labels.

deejay100six · 06-04-2008, 10:54 AM

Zazula, your advice is very enlightening and i have certainly gained more useful information, which, in the long run, is my ambition. However, that is not the reason i started this thread.

Putting all the installation stuff aside, a novice computer user is browsing the site and comes across this article where he see's the screenshot of Brain (C:), and thinks to himself, oh, i didn't realise you could do that.

He then goes to start> my computer> right clicks on Local Disk (C:)> rename, then types in a new name for (C:).

I do apologise if its just me not being able to interpret the information you have supplied, but i still can't see how you have answered my original question, (maybe you are a politician

)

Would it be safe for him to do this and if not, do you think its possible that your article might make him think it is safe to perform what might seem like a harmless tweak?

Or do you assume that people in general do not go messing with stuff they shouldn't be messing with?

Keep up the good work, by the way. Perhaps there is an idea here somewhere for a new article?

chauffeur2 · 06-05-2008, 01:07 AM

Hi Dave,

Just to clarify, it is quite safe to rename the Drives, so long as you don't change the Drive Letters.
For another example, Icons:...the "My Computer" Desktop Icon on my machine has been renamed to "The Engine Room"; after all that's what it is!

No problems at all with the change.

deejay100six · 06-06-2008, 02:06 PM

Thanks Dave, glad i asked though cos Zazula has given me a load more info than i expected.

Thanks again Zazula, hope i didn't get on your nerves.

chauffeur2 · 06-07-2008, 01:29 AM

APOTS Dave..

06-03-2008, 08:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
deejay100six Tech, Microsoft Support Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Doncaster, England. Posts: 2,760 OS: win xp pro sp2 My System	XP Disk cleanup Article. I remember that i once renamed my C: drive "Brain" and couldn't remember where i got the idea. Well, here it is; Disk cleanup article.JPG While researching a problem with my PC, i seem to remember being advised that renaming C: is not a good idea, the explanation being that your system will be looking for Local Disk (C:) and won't be able to find it because it is now called Brain. While i am sure that an expert could make this work, the novice user may well just think it might be "cool" to rename the drive without realising that there may be consequences. Perhaps i was mis-informed, if so please accept my apologies. If not then maybe it is a valid point. __________________ Regards, Dave. A stranger is only a friend you have yet to meet.

06-03-2008, 08:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
Zazula Manager Emeritus, I'm blond, James Blond Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 7,644 OS: Win XP Pro SP2	Re: XP Disk cleanup Article. Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) allows you to change the labels in all partitions. You shouldn't change only the drive letters for the system and the boot partition through Disk Management. The reason I'm performing the label setting at the very beginning (i.e. before anything is written on any partition), is because in a multi-OS scenario one cannot rely on the drive lettering scheme - as each OS assigns drive letters on its own. The only way to positively identify each partition is to use labels. __________________ "Time is the wisest because it discovers everything" Thales of Miletus (ca.624BC-ca.546BC) "Everything flows, nothing stands still." Heraclitus of Ephesus (ca.535BC-475BC) "One thing I know, that I know nothing" Socrates of Athens (ca.470BC–399BC)

06-04-2008, 10:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
deejay100six Tech, Microsoft Support Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Doncaster, England. Posts: 2,760 OS: win xp pro sp2 My System	Re: XP Disk cleanup Article. Zazula, your advice is very enlightening and i have certainly gained more useful information, which, in the long run, is my ambition. However, that is not the reason i started this thread. Putting all the installation stuff aside, a novice computer user is browsing the site and comes across this article where he see's the screenshot of Brain (C:), and thinks to himself, oh, i didn't realise you could do that. He then goes to start> my computer> right clicks on Local Disk (C:)> rename, then types in a new name for (C:). I do apologise if its just me not being able to interpret the information you have supplied, but i still can't see how you have answered my original question, (maybe you are a politician ) Would it be safe for him to do this and if not, do you think its possible that your article might make him think it is safe to perform what might seem like a harmless tweak? Or do you assume that people in general do not go messing with stuff they shouldn't be messing with? Keep up the good work, by the way. Perhaps there is an idea here somewhere for a new article? __________________ Regards, Dave. A stranger is only a friend you have yet to meet.

06-05-2008, 01:07 AM	#6 (permalink)
chauffeur2 Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 9,910 OS: Xp Sp3 with all updates + Vista™ Ultimate SP1. My System	Re: XP Disk cleanup Article. Hi Dave, Just to clarify, it is quite safe to rename the Drives, so long as you don't change the Drive Letters. For another example, Icons:...the "My Computer" Desktop Icon on my machine has been renamed to "The Engine Room"; after all that's what it is! No problems at all with the change. __________________ Dave T. Submit New Articles If it works, Don't fix it! Especially if Bill Gates had anything to do with it!!

06-06-2008, 02:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
deejay100six Tech, Microsoft Support Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Doncaster, England. Posts: 2,760 OS: win xp pro sp2 My System	Re: XP Disk cleanup Article. Thanks Dave, glad i asked though cos Zazula has given me a load more info than i expected. Thanks again Zazula, hope i didn't get on your nerves. __________________ Regards, Dave. A stranger is only a friend you have yet to meet.

06-07-2008, 01:29 AM	#8 (permalink)
chauffeur2 Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 9,910 OS: Xp Sp3 with all updates + Vista™ Ultimate SP1. My System	Re: XP Disk cleanup Article. APOTS Dave.. __________________ Dave T. Submit New Articles If it works, Don't fix it! Especially if Bill Gates had anything to do with it!!