Will Windows Always Identify My Boot Drive as C:?
Asked by
TechNinja27
I have two identical SSDs installed in my ASUS ROG Strix Z890-F motherboard, one in the M2_1 slot and the other in the M2_2 slot. Currently, Windows 11 is installed on the SSD in the M2_2 slot, as the one in M2_1 wasn't recognized. I'm thinking of relocating the M2_2 SSD to the M2_1 slot to see if it gets recognized there. My main concern is: if I plug the SSD from M2_2 into M2_1 and set it as the boot drive, will it still be designated as the C: drive if it's recognized? Thanks for any insights!
Answers
Haha, I can relate! Back when the A: drive was all you had, having dual floppies felt so advanced. I remember those days of 5.25" floppies and cassette tapes!
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No worries about that! The drive letter is assigned by Windows based on the OS, not the physical slot. As long as the SSD is recognized, it will still be your C: drive after you move it around. Just double-check your motherboard manual for any M.2 slot configurations that might affect recognition.
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You're spot on! Windows typically assigns C: to the main OS drive unless you've made unusual modifications to the setup. Historically, A: and B: were for floppy drives, and C: became the standard for the OS.
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Exactly! Windows consistently labels the boot drive as C: regardless of where it’s plugged in. As long as the OS is on that drive, it’ll hold onto the C: designation without any issues.
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SSDExplorer32: Good point! I checked my manual and didn't see anything about lane sharing either, but it's good to keep that in mind.