How do I change the CD Rom drive letter... little more complicated that it seems...?

Question

Please read my question thoroughly before attempting to answer :)

So, I have an external harddrive, and somehow its drive letter got switched with the CD Rom drive letter, and i have tried to change the letter but you cant change the CD rom drive letter unless theres a CD in it...
Seems simple, right? But whenever I put a CD in it uses the DVD drive. So...how do I get my computer to use the cd rom drive and not the dvd drive?

You see, the problem is that I have already done all that, but it won't let me change the CD rom settings because I don't have a CD in. It won't let me free up the letter that I need (which is J, because that's what my external harddrive letter used to be) in order to get all my programs working again.(i can't just change their path from their old letter to the new one, i tried it)

I dont think you guys understand...

It won't let me change the letter of the CD rom drive because I don't have a CD in. I need that letter.
It won't let me...
I know how to change the letters, but I just don't know why its not letting me do this one specific letter.

Answer 1

If you actually have 2 drives (1 CD and 1 DVD) then the PC is confused.

Right click MY COMPUTER, select MANAGE
Choose the "Local Disk Management" tool
Locate the drives in bottom window
Right click the drive you want to change, choose change letter
Set to a letter you like that is free.

If ext drive stole the CD's letter, start my moving that one up to something about M (for mobile hard drive)
then reset the other drives to their normal letters


Good luck

Answer 2

Goto Start -----> Run
type compmgmt.msc
Click Enter

Click Disk Management
Right-Click the device you want to change
Click Change Drive Letter

Now on the bottom pane is where you want to setup your drive letters. You will have to change a Drive or two to a temporary letter. So you can free up the drive letter you may need.

For example if you want the CD Rom drive to use D:\, and it is being used. Simply change this Drive to X:\. Then assign the CD-Rom drive with D:\. Swtich the device usign X:\ to the next available drive letter.

Answer 3

i'm not sure, as i've got not built a working laptop or laptop from scratch. i could think of that in case you unplug the optical drives (except you like them with a view to partition your difficult force), then re-partition. As I suggested, i'm not sure, yet this feels like it somewhat is wise. i could a minimum of supply it a attempt to see what happens. good success. with any luck somebody else might have the skill that may well be useful you extra useful. EDIT: feels like the two the different solutions (as of five:20 PM) have comparable solutions, which fits.