Windows 10: Stop/Block the allocation of drive letter(s)

I want to be able to block the allocation/use of particular drive letters when external (USB) devices are attached.

For example, I never want my computer to have an E or F drive.

I can remember back in the dim distant past of a program TweakUI Powertoy for Windows XP/7 (1996) and one of the features was being able to select from a list of check boxes which drive letters were/were not available. Unticked boxes never saw a device allocated that drive letter.

This is different from simply hiding drive letters

Win 10 2004 19041.572

:)

 

Block drive letter group

Hi folks

Does anyone know how to block a group of drive letters available to external drives?

I have a NAS that has 5 drives mapped N O P Q R with specifc names that are easy to identify. I put the NAS to sleep for about 12 hours per day mainly to stop the fan from clogging up the works and to extend the life of the drives. If I plug in a USB drive
with the NAS off, Windows 10 picks the first available drive (N) but it still uses the allocated name (let's say NAS 1). What that means is I have to go looking for the USB drive as it's now not easily identified. I know I can get a specific USB drive to allocate
a drive letter but not if the drive is foreign. So what I want to do is block a group of drive letters (A through to R) from being allocated to an external drive.

Any clues?

Cheers

 

Drive Letter Allocation - Windows 10

Eileen,

Your response pushed me in the right direction. The missing drive letters were allocated to the memory card reader (6 different formats) in the case. I don't use these as I have a set of USB card readers on my desk. So I disabled and uninstalled the card
reader, the drive letters became available and I allocated them as necessary. Then re-booted my system and the card reader drive letters were reallocated when the system 'discovered' the new hardware.

Many thanks for the quick response.

Dennis

 

Drive Letter Allocation - Windows 10

I have installed a new SSD in my windows 10 Pro PC. When I create two volumes it allocates it a Drive Letter of G: to the first volume and R:. to the second volume. I currently have 4 volumes (C, D, E and F) but when I go into Disk Management to try and
change the Drive letter of the second volume it does not show and letters between H: and Q:. Windows seems to have allocated the remaining drive letters to something else which I don't see in Disk Management. How do I free up H: I: etc. for use by my hard
disk volumes?