Tip #2372 - Hard disk...why C?
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Q:
Why is the hard disk drive automatically set as the C: drive?
A:
That is a very good question and many others have
probably wondered the same thing. For anyone who is using an IBM compatible
computer (that is based on such factors as the CPU and DOS system) and
uses a Microsoft operating system (all versions of Windows) has a default
hard disk drive of the letter C.
The
reason for this is that the letter C is the first available drive letter
for all of the hard disk drives. The letters A and B are assigned to other
media drives. For example, the A: drive is always used for floppy disks.
The rest are used for removable media devices and other items of the sort.
When
you install other hard disk drives on your computer or make any new partitions,
they are then assigned a drive letter. If you have a CD ROM or a DVD drive,
they are usually assigned the letter D and then so forth to E, F, etc.
Most
computers today come with a hard disk drive, of course, and a CD ROM/DVD
drive. Several people also get external floppy drives (since they are
becoming phased out, but some people still like to use that method of
saving files) and many use some sort of flash or thumb drive. All of these
devices are assigned a letter after C, mainly because of the removable
status they hold.
The
hard disk drive is pretty much the main drive on any computer, so by default,
it comes first in the assignment of drive letters.
~
Erin
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