change drive letter parameter is incorrect

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14 Sep Cannot Change Drive Letter – “Parameter is Incorrect”

I opened Disk Management, right-clicked the drive I wanted to change, selected “Change Drive Letter and Paths” and picked an available drive letter. Lo and behold I got an error message that read “Parameter is Incorrect”.

After double-checking everything, making sure the drive letter is not in use, no errors in the event log, etc, I did a little research. It turns out other people had the same problem.

The issue: the drive in question had the paging file on it.

• Right-click computer and go to Properties | Advanced System Settings.
• In the Performance section click Settings | Advanced.
• In the Virtual Memory section click Change.
• Uncheck “Automatically manage paging…” if selected.
• Select the drive in question. Select the “No Paging File” radio button and click Set. You may have to select another drive for the paging file.
• Launch Disk Management and change the drive letter.

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• Partition Windows 10

The Parameter Is Incorrect in Windows 10 – How to Fix?

Get “The parameter is incorrect” error in Windows 10 especially on external hard drive? Find causes and solutions to get “The parameter is incorrect” fixed in different cases.

The error – The parameter is incorrect in Windows 10

Many a user report that they get an error message in Windows 10 that is “The parameter is incorrect”. As a matter of fact, that is an error that frequently occurs in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, XP and Vista. The cause for that error is various, so does the situation.

A majority of Windows 10 users say they get the error on external hard drive such as Seagate external hard drive and Western Digital external drive. When they try to open a drive on the external drive after connecting it to Windows 10, the error message box would prompt out as below: Location is not available. G:/ is not accessible. The parameter is incorrect.

Some users say they get the error under some other circumstances in Windows 10. For instance, the error appears when they try to transfer files from one location to another. Besides, changing a drive letter in Disk Management and Diskpart seems like to trigger the “The parameter is incorrect” error as well.

Facing such a common error, it is important to figure out what caused the issue and how to get it fixed using corresponding solutions.

Causes and fixes – The parameter is incorrect fixed in different situations

Before getting into a further step, it might be good to briefly learn about Parameter. According to Wikipedia, in computing, a parameter is defined as “a reference or value that is passed to a function, procedure, subroutine, command, or program”. Therefore, if the parameter is not correct, the function, procedure, subroutine, command, or program will not be able to continue normally.

Now, let’s get to know the specific causes and strategies for each condition.

The parameter is incorrect on external hard drive

When you get the error on an external hard drive, USB flash drive, SD card, memory card, or portable hard drive, you may find the hard drive becomes RAW in Windows 10 Disk Management. Virus infection would be the most possible explanation. Others would be USB port problem, bad sectors, improperly removing external drive, and corrupted file system.

If there are very important files on that drive, it is necessary to turn to professional data recovery software first. And then, take following measurements to resolve.

Perform disk check on the external hard drive

1. Type command prompt in Windows 10 Search box, right click it from the list and select Run as administrator .

2. Input chkdsk F: /f /r at the prompt and press Enter. You need to replace F: with the correct drive letter of your external hard drive partition.

Tips : if you get CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives returning message, it could be the problem of corrupted file system.

The command line will find and repair bad sectors on that drive. In the meantime, the data stored on those bad sectors will be lost. If it prompts to repair the external drive in restarting mode, type Y or Yes to support. For more information, please refer to check hard drive for errors in Windows 10 .

Restart your Windows 10 after the repairing. If the incorrect parameter error exists still, it implies the cause may be a different one. As a result, you can format the external drive completely and build a new file system for that partition.

Format external hard drive thoroughly

Note : this method would erase all data on the external drive. Make sure all vital data are recovered.

1. Open Command Prompt as instructed. Input diskpart and press Enter.

2. Type these commands in order and press Enter after each input.

select disk n (where n is the disk number of the external drive)

create partition primary

format fs=ntfs quick (you can replace ntfs with fat32 if the storage is smaller than 32GB)

assign letter=F

Tips : to format large external storage to FAT32, please visit format 500 GB external HDD to FAT32 .

In general cases, “The parameter is incorrect” on external hard drive should be solved till now. Nevertheless, there is another situation that may not be fixed with those solutions.

If you get the “Drive is not accessible. The parameter is incorrect” on external disk after upgrading from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, the remedy is different. A certain answer has not been found yet. So, reverting to the previous operating system seems like a solution. Also, check that if it is the problem of driver. Install a specific manufacturer driver for Windows 10 and have a try.

The parameter is incorrect copying files in Windows 10

Apart from external hard drives, you may receive “The parameter is incorrect” in transferring files in Windows 10. Reasons for this error are destination partition is formatted with FAT32 and you’re transferring a large file (larger than 4GB); there is not enough disk room on destination drive to store the file; the partition table of destination disk is damaged.

In terms of those causes, it is not difficult to find the corresponding solutions. In the event of FAT32 partition and 4 GB file limitation, you can either compress the file to make it smaller than 4GB, or convert FAT32 to NTFS in Disk Management .

As for the insufficient disk space, think of changing a bigger drive for the files. In addition, if the partition table, generally master boot record (MBR), is corrupted. You need to rebuild MBR for the destination drive. The task can be easily completed with Windows 10 installation disc (command user interface) or free AOMEI Partition Assistant (graphical user interface). Take the easier one for example. Only 3 steps needed.

1. Download, install and run AOMEI Partition Assistant. Right-click the disk that you used to store file and select Rebuild MBR .

2. Select the MBR type for your Windows OS in the pop-up window.

3. Click Apply and then Proceed to execute.

Tips : you may also want to learn how to fix MBR in Windows 10 of internal hard drive.

The parameter is incorrect in Windows 10 when change drive letter

After formatting an external hard drive, Windows will assign a drive letter for that partition. If the drive letter is in use, you have to manually assign a different drive letter in Disk Management. In the process of changing drive letter and path, you’re likely to receive the error.

Besides, the similar error “Virtual Disk Manager: The parameter is incorrect” would emerge if you assign a drive letter in Diskpart. If you have a virtual swap partition, remove the partition, reboot your computer, change drive letter and path, and finally add the virtual swap partition again.

If that method does not work, try changing drive letter with aforementioned free partition manager AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard. The steps are also as easy as ABC.

1. Open AOMEI Partition Assistant, right click said partition and select Advanced > Change Drive Letter .

2. Specify the new drive letter for your partition.

3. Click Apply and Proceed to commit the pending operations.

Diskpart has encountered an error: The parameter is incorrect

When you try to clean or format a disk/volume in Diskpart, at the moment of process reaching 100%, you may receive the error “Diskpart has encountered an error”. In the event of clean command, try typing clean all may be a cure. If that does not work, you can perform disk partition cleaning or formatting with AOMEI Partition Assistant.

1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, right-click the partition you want to format and select Format Partition .

2. Specify the partition file system, label and cluster size.

3. Also, click Apply and Proceed to take effect.

1. as for cleaning an external hard drive completely, please refer to wipe external hard drive in Windows 10 with detailed steps and screenshots.

2. You can recover lost data after formatting .

The “The parameter is incorrect” error in Windows 10 is a widely discussed problem in normal computer use. However, you don’t have to worry too much if you find the fix accordingly.

AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard is a good help in solving normal disk partition issues. Its advanced version AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional provides more powerful features for advanced users. For example, you can perform disk partition operating with command line operations. Or, allocate free space from one partition to another directly without formatting or resizing.

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Can’t change drive letter the parameter is incorrect.

• Comments Off on Can’t Change Drive Letter The parameter is incorrect?
• November 5, 2022

Right-click computer and go to Properties | Advanced System Settings. In the Performance section click Settings | Advanced. In the Virtual Memory section click Change. Uncheck “Automatically manage paging…” if selected. Select the drive in question. Reboot. Launch Disk Management and change the drive letter.

1. Type command prompt in Windows 10 Search box, right click it from the list and select Run as administrator. 2. Input chkdsk F: /f /r at the prompt and press Enter. You need to replace F: with the correct drive letter of your external hard drive partition.

• Download and install the software.
• It will scan your computer for problems.
• The tool will then fix the issues that were found.

Table of Contents

Why can’t I change the drive letter?

The player you want to change can be used, but you are not allowed to make individual changes to it. Just close the current program or window that frequently uses the drive and try again. The disk you are working with is in some cases the system or sneaker partition. You cannot change this.

• Why does my hard drive say the parameter is incorrect?

Summary: “Invalid parameter” is undoubtedly the most common problem associated with external drives. This can be due to logical and physical damage to the external hard drive and makes the external hard drive very inaccessible.

How do I change drive parameters?

As you can see, press Windows key + R at the same time to read the window, start sysdm. When this property system window opens, make your decision on the Advanced tab. Navigate to the advanced type and click the Edit button.

How to change drive letter on Windows 10 computer?

Open Windows Settings. Press the Windows key and just click the gear icon to read the Windows settings. Open the System page. In settings, click “System”. Open Volume and Disk Management. Once you’re on the System webpage, click on Storage and then select Manage Volumes and Hard Drives. This will open your page in the most secure location.

How to change CD drive’s letter?

Step 7: Open Windows Settings. Press the key while clicking the gear icon to open Windows Settings. Step 2: Open the System page. In Windows Settings, click System. Step 3: Open Disk and Volume Management. Once you’re on the System page, click Storage, then click Disk Management and open Properties. Click “Properties”. Step 5: Click “Data Volume” to “Change drive letter”, “Advanced”.

Updated: November 2023

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• Step 1 : Install PC Repair & Optimizer Tool (Windows 10, 8, 7, XP, Vista).
• Step 2 : Click Start Scan to find out what issues are causing PC problems.
• Step 3 : Click on Repair All to correct all issues.

How to fix the parameter is incorrect?

Invalid parameter FAQMethod 1. Run the letter “chkdsk drive the car /F”: to repair the inaccessible surface drive: Method 2: Type SFC /scannow in a CMD window to repair missing and working corrupted system files. Method 1: Use antivirus software to scan your external hard drive to isolate the infection. Fixing a parameter is a complete bug. method 4

Right-click on the computer, going to Properties | go to “Advanced system settings”. Under Performance, click Options | Progressive. In virtual memory, click the Edit section. Disable “Automatically process page numbering…” if selected.

Right-click “Computer” and navigate to “Advanced | System settings properties. Under Performance, select Settings | Progressive. In the Virtual Memory section, click Change. “Automatically disable paging control…” if selected.

I’m Ahmir, a freelance writer and editor who specializes in technology and business.   My work has been featured on many of the most popular tech blogs and websites for more than 10 years.   Efficient-soft.com is where I regularly contribute to my writings about the latest tech trends.   Apart from my writing, I am also a certified project manager professional (PMP).

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• How to paging with sorting, filtering and paging?
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Why does my hard drive say the parameter is incorrect?

Table of Contents

Quick Answer

There are a few common reasons why you may see an error message saying the parameter is incorrect when trying to access your hard drive:

• Corrupted system files – Issues with important system files like the registry, boot sector, or partition table can prevent Windows from properly communicating with the hard drive.
• Driver problems – Outdated, corrupted, or missing drivers for the hard drive/controller can result in connectivity issues.
• Damaged hard drive – If the hard drive itself has physical damage or corrupted sectors, it may not be accessible with normal parameters.
• Incorrect drive letter – If the drive letter assigned to the hard drive changes or becomes invalid, parameter errors can occur.
• RAID configuration issues – For RAID arrays, if the configuration gets corrupted or desynchronized, parameter errors may appear.

What Does “Parameter Is Incorrect” Mean?

The “parameter is incorrect” error message indicates that one or more parameters that are being used to access or communicate with the hard drive are invalid or unsupported.

Parameters refer to the specific settings or options used when interfacing with system components like hard drives. Some examples include:

• Drive letter/path
• Partition or volume number
• Geometry – cylinders, heads, sectors per track
• Interface mode – PATA, SATA, USB, etc.
• Transfer mode – PIO, UDMA, SATA version
• Timeout values

If any of these parameters are incorrect or unsupported by either the hard drive itself or the system’s drivers/firmware, the operating system will be unable to properly communicate with the drive, resulting in this error.

Common Causes of a “Parameter Is Incorrect” Error

There are a number of different potential causes for the “parameter is incorrect” message to appear when trying to access a hard drive:

Corrupted System Files

Critical system files like the Windows registry, master boot record, or partition table can become corrupted or damaged and prevent proper communication with the hard drive when using standard parameters. This can occur due to things like:

• Power outages/unexpected reboots during drive access
• Malware, viruses, or other system infections
• Registry editing errors
• Partitioning software bugs
• General file system corruption

If key data in these critical system files gets corrupted, common access parameters may no longer be valid for the drive.

Outdated, Corrupted, or Missing Drivers

Drivers play an essential role in allowing the operating system to interface with hardware components like hard drives. If the drivers are outdated, corrupted, or entirely missing, communication issues arise:

• An outdated storage driver may not support parameters used by a newer hard drive
• Corrupted driver files may incorrectly set parameters
• Missing drivers will prevent proper interface with the drive

Updating to the latest drive controller/SATA/USB drivers from the manufacturer often resolves parameter errors if they are caused by driver problems.

Damaged or Failing Hard Drive

If the hard drive itself has physical damage, corrupted sectors, or is beginning to fail mechanically, it may not be able to properly accept common access parameters:

• Scratched platters, failed read heads, and motor issues can prevent drive spin up or data access using standard parameters
• Developing bad sectors may make certain data blocks unreadable when using normal block sizes
• SMART parameters may become invalid as internal drive sensors detect failures

With physical drive damage, parameter errors are often intermittent until failure occurs. Running drive diagnostics and checking SMART data can help identify a failing drive.

Incorrect Drive Letter Assignment

In order for Windows to locate a hard drive, it relies on the correct drive letter assignment. If the drive letter changes or becomes invalid, parameter errors can occur:

• Boot order changes may alter Windows drive letter assignments
• Partitioning/RAID configuration changes can shuffle drive letters
• External drives may be assigned different letters each connection

Using disk management to verify and correct the drive letter assignment may resolve this issue.

RAID Configuration Issues

For RAID arrays using multiple physical hard drives, configuration corruption or synchronization issues can prevent proper communication:

• Missing or failed RAID members can corrupt the array
• Synchronization loss between RAID members may invalidate parameters
• Some RAID types like ZFS rely heavily on parameter accuracy

Restoring RAID integrity or reformatting and recreating the array can rectify parameter errors stemming from RAID issues.

How to Fix “Parameter Is Incorrect” Hard Drive Errors

If you are receiving a “parameter is incorrect” message when trying to access your hard drive, here are some steps to take:

1. Run CHKDSK

Using the CHKDSK utility will scan for and repair logical file system errors, which can potentially fix corrupted system file parameters:

• Open an elevated Command Prompt
• Enter “chkdsk C: /f” (replace C: with problem drive letter)
• Allow scan to complete; reboot to apply repairs

2. Update or Reinstall Drivers

Check online for updated drivers from the hard drive or motherboard manufacturer and install them. Or uninstall then reinstall the existing driver to refresh it.

3. Change Drive Letter Assignment

Use Disk Management to change the drive letter assigned to the hard drive to see if a fresh assignment allows proper communication.

4. Replace Failing Hardware

If CHKDSK finds unrepairable errors, or the drive is making physical clicking/grinding noises, replace any failed hard drives and attempt access again.

5. Repartition Drive and Reformat

As a last resort, wiping and repartitioning the drive using Disk Management, then reformatting, can eliminate residual parameter issues. But this will erase all data on the drive.

Recovering Data from a Hard Drive with Parameter Errors

If the parameter issue is severe enough that you cannot boot into Windows or access files on the drive normally, data recovery is still possible:

• A Linux live CD may be able to mount the drive outside of Windows
• Data recovery software can interface with the raw disk ignoring parameters
• Specialist data recovery services can rebuild the drive manually

This allows you to recover important data before attempting repairs or reformatting the drive to fix parameter errors.

How to Avoid Parameter Issues in the Future

To help minimize parameter errors happening again with your hard drive, some best practices include:

• Install surge protectors and UPS battery backups to prevent sudden power interruptions
• Maintain up-to-date backups of critical data
• Use antivirus software and practice safe web browsing to avoid malware
• Periodically defragment your hard drives
• Monitor drive health statistics with tools like SMART
• Keep firmware and drivers updated

Following good preventative maintenance practices will help keep your system and drives functioning optimally and avoid issues like parameter errors as much as possible.

Receiving a “parameter is incorrect” message when trying to access your hard drive can be concerning but is often repairable. The most likely causes include corrupted system files, driver problems, physical drive failures, RAID issues, or incorrect drive letter assignments. Updating drivers, running CHKDSK, replacing faulty hardware, and correcting drive lettering can all help resolve the issue. And data recovery options exist even if the drive cannot be accessed normally. While parameter errors can happen periodically, taking preventative measures will help minimize their frequency.

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What to Do When the Change Drive Letter and Paths Option Is Greyed Out

Table of Contents

Reasons Why Change Drive Letter and Paths May Be Greyed Out

Knowing why the Change Drive Letter and Paths option is greyed out can help you determine which fix is appropriate, as well as help you pick the best option to secure your data.

Some things that can lead to a greyed out Change Drive Letter and Paths option are:

How to Fix the Change Drive Letter and Paths Option Greyed Out Issue

There are several ways to diagnose a greyed out Change Drive Letter and Paths option. In the worst-case scenario, you will need to format the drive for the option to become accessible. That’s why, it’s best to back up all your important data from the drive, especially if the drive exhibits symptoms of logical damage.

If the drive works flawlessly, you can simply copy the required files to a safe location. But, in case you suspect the disk is logically damaged, or you’re unable to access it in Windows Explorer, you’ll need to create a disk image of the drive. A disk image is essentially a soft copy of the entire drive. You can use it to restore your existing data, and even recover deleted files.

We recommend you use Disk Drill to create the disk image, since it’s compatible with all types of storage drives and works with Windows, Linux, and macOS file systems. You can also mount the disk image in Disk Drill and use it to recover existing, as well as deleted files .

Here’s how to create a disk image (backup) of your drive using Disk Drill:

• Download and install Disk Drill.
• Open Disk Drill, and go to Drive Backup under Extra Tools .

• Disk Drill will create the disk image.

Once your files are secured, you can proceed to fix the Change Drive Letter and Paths option not available issue.

Method 1: Run Disk Management as an Administrator

All user accounts on your PC do not have the same privileges. To ensure you have the highest level of access, run Disk Management using an Administrator account. Here’s how to do this:

• Click on the Start button or press the Windows key.

• On the log in screen, select the Administrator user account or any account that has Administrator level access and sign in using that.
• Search for “disk management” in Windows Search ( Windows Key + S ). Click on Create and format hard disk partitions from the search results.

Method 2: Connect the Drive to a Mac

If your drive worked properly on macOS, it’s best to reconnect it to a Mac and format it to a Windows-recognized file system. You can also take this chance to copy any important files to another location.

Once you’ve connected your drive to a Mac, format it to FAT32, and it should work properly with Windows. Here’s how to format the drive in macOS:

• Go to Finder > Go > Utilities > Disk Utility . You can also search for “Disk Utility” in macOS’ Spotlight Search ( Command + Spacebar ).

• Once the drive has been formatted, reconnect it to your Windows PC. The Change Drive Letter and Paths option should no longer be greyed out.

Method 3: Change the Drive Letter Using the Command Prompt

Whether you’re using an ancient version of Windows, or the relatively newer Windows 7/8/8/1/10/11, you can force Windows to perform drive letter assignment. How? Well, using Diskpart , a command-line tool that can be run using the Command Prompt.

Here’s what the process looks like:

• Search for “cmd” in Windows Search ( Windows Key + S ). Right-click on Command Prompt > Run as administrator .

• Identify the partition whose drive letter you wish to change. You can do this by looking at the values in the Size and Fs (file system) fields.

• Windows will assign the requested drive letter.

Method 4: Format the Drive

If all else fails, you’ll need to format the drive in order to fix a greyed out Change Drive Letter and Paths option. Formatting will clean the disk and rewrite the file system to your drive, giving you a fresh start. It can also fix minor logical issues on the drive.

Here’s how you can format a drive in Windows:

• Press Windows Key + R to open the Run app. Type diskmgmt.msc in the text box and press Enter.

• Windows will format the drive.

How to Recover Data From a Drive that You Had to Format

If you created a disk image of your drive, your’e good to go and we’ll describe how you can recover data from it. If you didn’t, and had to format your drive, you can still scan the drive directly and recover data, provided the Quick Format option was enabled while formatting. But, you may not be able to recover all your data, especially if you wrote new files to the drive after formatting it.

For our tutorial, we’ll use Disk Drill to perform data recovery as it’s easy to use, has a proven track record, and will work with your drive regardless of its file system and manufacturer. It can also recover data from drives that are RAW, i.e., have no file system at all. On Windows, you can take advantage of Disk Drill’s free trial that lets you recover up to 500 MB of files for free.

Let’s see what the data recovery process looks like in Disk Drill:

• Download Disk Drill if you didn’t earlier.
• Open Disk Drill and ensure you’re on the Storage Devices screen. Skip the next step if you didn’t create a disk image earlier.

• Disk Drill will recover the selected files.

What To Do If You Encountered “Can’t Change Drive Letter Parameter Is Incorrect”

A common error that you may face when attempting to change the drive letter of a disk or partition, is the “Parameter is incorrect” message .

Use one of these methods to combat this error:

• Use CHKDSK to resolve possible file system errors and bad sectors on the drive.
• Convert the partition to NTFS , if it is RAW.
• Update outdated drivers to ensure the best possible communication between your drive and Windows.

Often, a greyed out Change Drive Letter and Paths option is a result of an incompatible file system or insufficient user account permissions. But, since logical and physical damage can also lead to the issue, it’s best to back up all important files from the drive as soon as you can. Thereafter, you can proceed to resolve the problem using the methods described above.

Importantly, do not attempt DIY data recovery on a drive that’s physically damaged. It’s best to contact a professional data recovery service in such a case.

How do I change the drive letter and path?

Does changing the drive letter affect programs, how do i force a drive letter to be assigned, how long does it take to change a drive letter.

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Change a drive letter

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Applies To: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2016

If you want to change a drive letter assigned to a drive, or you have a drive that doesn't yet have a drive letter, use Disk Management to change it. You can also mount the drive in an empty folder so that it appears as a folder. For more information, see Mount a drive in a folder .

If you change the drive letter of a drive that already contains Windows or apps, apps might have trouble running or finding the drive. We suggest not changing the drive letter of a drive that already contains Windows or apps.

The following steps show how to change the drive letter.

Open Disk Management with administrator permissions.

In Disk Management, select and hold (or right-click) the volume on which you want to change or add a drive letter and select Change Drive Letter and Paths .

If you don't see the Change Drive Letter and Paths option or it's grayed out, the volume either isn't ready to receive a drive letter or it's unallocated and needs to be initialized . It might also be that the drive isn't accessible, which is the case with EFI system partitions and recovery partitions. If you've confirmed that your volume is formatted with a drive letter that you can access but you're still unable to change it, that's beyond the scope of this article. We suggest contacting Microsoft Support or the manufacturer of your PC for more help.

To change the drive letter, select Change . To add a drive letter if the drive doesn't already have one, select Add .

Select the new drive letter and choose OK . Then select Yes when prompted about how programs that rely on the drive letter might not run correctly.

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Additional resources

How-To Geek

How to change a drive letter on windows 10 or windows 11.

You can change your drive letters in Windows 10 and 11 using the Disk Management utility.

Quick Links

What changing a drive letter does, how to change a drive letter, how to fix programs broken by changing a drive letter.

Changing the letter of a drive is easy on Windows 10 and Windows 11, but you should do it as soon as you add the drive to prevent future hassles. Find out how to change a drive letter here.

Windows assigns drive letters alphabetically --- starting with C --- when they're initialized. If you want to change a drive letter, you should do it before you install anything on the drive. Changing a drive letter after programs are installed could break them since there will be references to an installation location that is no longer there.

Windows has gotten pretty smart about updating shortcuts so that programs work after changing a drive letter. Most of your applications' shortcuts will probably be automatically corrected. Unfortunately, Windows isn't as good about updating file associations. You'll have to manually set the default apps associated with files to fix file associations if they were broken by changing the drive letter.

It is possible to change the boot drive letter to something else, but we don't recommend it. Changing C:\ to another letter is likely to result in severe issues, like a PC that cannot boot into Windows at all. Even if it were able to boot, there would be a huge number of programs that would not be able to run.

Technically speaking, while they are commonly called drive letters, each letter actually refers to a partition on a disk. If you have multiple partitions on a single disk, you will need to assign a letter to each partition to make them all accessible. If a disk has just a single partition, it will just have a single letter pointing to that partition. (However, you do not have to assign a letter to each partition. Partitions without drive letters will not appear in File Explorer and elsewhere.)

Changing a drive letter is pretty simple. Click the Start button, type "Disk Management" in the search bar, and then hit Enter.

The program name displayed in the search will not be Disk Management. It will be "Create and format hard disk partitions."

You could also hit Windows+X or right-click the Start button, and then click "Disk Management."

Identify the drive you'd like to change in the Disk Management Window. In this example, we'll change the letter of the D:\ drive to J:\. You can right-click the drive on the text list, or on the menu below. Either works.

Select "Change Drive Letter and Paths" in the right-click menu that appears.

In the window that pops up, click "Change."

Select whatever letter you want from the drop-down menu. Then click "Ok."

Two popups will warn you about changing your drive letter. Click "Yes" on both of them, and then restart your computer.

Once Windows has restarted, the drive letter should be changed.

There are a few ways you can fix a program broken by changing the drive letter.

Fix The Shortcut

If you're lucky, the only thing that is broken is the shortcut. Fix a shortcut by right-clicking the shortcut on your desktop, and then click Properties.

You need to change the target of the shortcut to the new drive letter.

For example, if GIMP was previously installed at " D :\GIMP 2\bin\gimp-2.10.exe," and you changed the D drive to J, change the target of the shortcut to " J :\GIMP 2\bin\gimp-2.10.exe."

Finalize the change by clicking "Apply" and then "Ok."

Reinstall the Program

Reinstalling the program will generate new entries in the registry, so everything on the computer will know where to look for the program. Some installers won't like reinstalling directly over existing files, so you may need to rename or delete the old installation first.

Change the Drive Letter Back

If you changed the drive letter of a drive with a lot of programs installed, it might be easier to change the drive letter back. Changing the drive letter back should automatically fix any programs and file associations that were broken.

Edit the Registry

You can break programs, or even Windows itself, by editing the registry. Be careful, and learn about how to edit the registry before you try it. Make sure you backup the Windows registry first. You should not attempt this method unless you have no other options.

Windows, and a lot of programs, track where programs are installed via the Windows registry. It is possible to manually adjust the registry to fix broken programs. Keep in mind that there could be dozens of registry entries you need to edit. A program like GIMP can have registry entries for the context menu, for the "Open With" menu, for any file associations, and for the location of its executables. Other programs may only have a few entries related to where it is installed.

If you're not deterred, here's how you do it.

First, you need to know where the program was previously installed. In this case, the program was installed to the "D:\GIMP 2" folder, and the executables were found the "D:\GIMP 2\bin" sub-folder. It is now located at "J:\GIMP 2" instead.

We need to update the registry to reflect the change in location. Click the Start button, type "regedit" into the search bar, right-click Regedit, and click "Run as administrator."

In Regedit, hit Ctrl+F to bring up a search window. Type in the old location for the program you're trying to fix --- "D:\GIMP 2" for our example --- then click "Find Next."

Once Regedit has found something with "D:\GIMP 2" as part of a path, it'll show it to you. Here is an example from the GIMP search.

To actually change them, double click the name of the registry entry you want to modify. Then change the drive letter to J, or whatever you chose. If you didn't otherwise move the folder, leave the rest of the path alone. Then click "Ok."

You'll need to repeat this multiple times. To find the next result using your search term, you can hit the F3 key. There will be a popup once you've found all of the entries.

Changing drive letters can be a simple way to customize your PC. Do it before you install anything on the drive, however. You'll prevent any problems before they occur, and probably save yourself quite a bit of troubleshooting.

How to Fix ‘The Parameter is Incorrect’ Effortlessly [Updated]

Picture this: you’re ready to access the essential files or back up your cherished memories from your external hard drive, but suddenly, an error message appears – “Drive is not accessible the parameter is incorrect.” You can feel frustration and even a touch of panic as the thought of potentially lost data crosses your mind. But fret not, for you’re not alone in encountering this problem. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the common culprits behind this issue & provide clear steps to resolve it. Let’s dive right in and bid farewell to any worries about fixing ‘the parameter is incorrect’ on the external hard drive.

Section 1: The Meaning of ‘The Parameter is Incorrect’

When you see the error message ‘Drive is not accessible the parameter is incorrect’ on the external hard drive, it means that the instructions your computer is giving to the hard disk (external) are not valid/not in your required format. You will be unable to access the drive, copy files to or from it, or perform other drive-related operations.

Section 2: Common Reasons Behind ‘The Parameter is Incorrect’ on External Hard Drive

To resolve the error “the parameter is incorrect”, you’ll need to investigate the specific cause of the issue. Some common reasons include:

• A defective or damaged USB cable or port.
• Outdated or incompatible disk drivers.
• Corruption in your file system of the hard disk (external).
• Malware or viruses might corrupt data on the external hard disk.
• When multiple storage devices are connected to your computer, there can be conflicts with drive letters.
• The drive may be formatted with a file system that is not supported by your operating system.

Section 3: Recover Lost Data Before Fixing ‘The Parameter is Incorrect’

Before addressing the issue “the parameter is incorrect”, we strongly recommend to back up all files on your hard drive. Failing to do so may result in potential data loss during the resolution process. Alternatively, you can use any of the pro data recovery tools like Tenorshare 4DDiG to recover lost data.

This powerful tool is designed to access and retrieve data from problematic hard drives efficiently. It can restore files from over 2000 storage media, including external hard disks, USB flash drives, SD cards, and more. In addition, this software also allows you to find and retrieve lost files from different loss scenarios, such as lost partitions, corrupted or formatted hard drives, emptied Recycle Bin, RAW drives, etc.

Download the tool and then follow the instructions below to get back lost data from your inaccessible drive:

Now, you can start fixing ‘the parameter that is incorrect’ on the hard disk (external) with complete confidence.

Also Read: How to Replace Hard Disk with SSD without data loss

Section 4: How to Fix ‘The Parameter is Incorrect’ in Windows 11

Solution 1: quick fixes.

To avoid wasting too much time resolving the ‘the parameter is incorrect’ error on the external hard drive, start by performing basic checks.

• Ensure Proper Connection: First of all, ensure that the hard disk (external) is securely connected to your computer.
• Check your USB Cable: Examine your USB cable for any visible signs of physical damage.
• Try a Different USB Port: Unplug your USB cable from the current port and plug it into a different one.
• Restart Your Computer: Many software and hardware issues can be resolved simply by restarting your computer.

Solution 2: Complete Scan and Repair File System Errors

As mentioned earlier, file system errors can lead to the error message “ the parameter is incorrect ” in Windows 11/10. You can easily resolve this issue by running error checking or disk repair tools . Here’s a detailed explanation:

Error Checking:

Step 1: Open File Explorer by pressing the Win+ E keys on your keyboard.

Running CHKDSK (Advanced):

Solution 3: Use the SFC and DISM Scans

If you receive the error message ‘Drive is not accessible the parameter is incorrect,’ you might need to run an SFC scan . This built-in utility can help resolve various issues that are related to corrupted or missing system files. Follow the below procedure:

Step 3: If the error ‘the parameter is incorrect’ persists, you can try running a DISM scan to repair the Windows image. Within the same Command Prompt window, enter the following command and hit Enter:

Step 4: After running both scans, it’s a good idea to restart your computer.

Also Read: Windows 10 Disk Management: Get Complete Help in Disk Management

Solution 4: Update Disk Drivers

Another solution to resolve the error ‘the parameter is incorrect’ is to update your disk drivers. Outdated or corrupted USB drivers can sometimes lead to connectivity and compatibility issues. Although this method is not 100% effective, it is still worth a try.

Solution 5: Check Decimal Symbol Setting

You might encounter the error message “the parameter is incorrect” on an external hard drive due to improper decimal symbol settings. This is especially relevant if you’re using regional formats other than English, like Spanish. However, you can resolve this issue by simply adjusting your Region settings to use a period symbol instead. Here is how to do it:

Step 2: Navigate to “ Clock and Region ” and select the “ Region ” option.

Also Read: Windows 10 100% Disk Usage In Task Manager [Fixed]

Solution 6: Run Windows Troubleshooter

The Windows troubleshooter, an integrated tool in Windows, can help users diagnose and resolve a range of computer issues, including the ‘the parameter is incorrect’ error in Windows 11/10. Here is how to use it:

Step 1: Launch Command Prompt as an administrator using the previous method.

Step 3: A dialog box will then open. Simple click on the “ Next ” button.

Solution 7: Format Your Drive

As a last resort to fix this error ‘the parameter is incorrect’, if nothing works, try reformatting the hard disk (external). This will help you delete the entire data present on your drive, so please ensure that you’ve always backed up all and any important data first. Here is how:

Step 2: Now, right-click the problematic external hard disk & click “ Format .”

Also Read: [Fixed] “The Disk Is Write-protected” Error On Windows 10/8/7

In summary, encountering the error ‘Drive is not accessible the parameter is incorrect’ on the external hard drive may be a stressful experience. However, armed with the knowledge and solutions provided in this write-up, you are well-equipped to resolve this issue. Remember to back up your data before attempting any solutions, especially when you need to reformat the hard disk (external).

Remy Thomas

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Changing drive letter in Windows 7

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Is a drive letter already assigned to the USB hard drive?

The error "Parameter is Incorrect" is an indication that the drive is in use.

Make sure that the drive is not in use on the computer, no other windows are open for the drive.

I would suggest you to remove the drive letter associated with it and then assign a new drive letter.

Change, add, or remove a drive letter

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Change-add-or-remove-a-drive-letter

Note: Some programs make references to specific drive letters. If you change a drive letter, these programs might not work correctly.

Hope this helps.

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Posts Tagged ‘the parameter is incorrect change drive letter’

Fix: the parameter is incorrect when changing drive letter in windows 10.

Recently when I attempted to change drive letter using Disk Management , it kept giving out the error message “ The parameter is incorrect ” even though the new drive letter is unused.

It turns out that this problem happens with only drives which are holding page files. To fix the “ The parameter is incorrect ” issue in Windows 10, you need to temporarily disable paging files on the drive which you want to change the drive letter for.

How to Fix: The parameter is incorrect when changing drive letter

• Click OK . Restart your computer and Windows will delete the paging file automatically. The next time you log back in to Windows 10, you should be able to change the drive letter successfully using Disk Management.

After changing drive letter, you can enable paging file again on your original drive if necessary. That’s it!

Comments Off on Fix: The parameter is incorrect when changing drive letter in Windows 10 »

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