A. Let’s look first at the way Windows assigns letters:

• Letter A : - reserved for a 3.5” floppy (removable) disk drive, though on most new personal computers (PCs) this is optional.
  
  
• Letter B: - reserved for a second 3.5” floppy drive (or 5.25’’ drive in the past).
  
  
• Letter C: - the main hard (fixed) drive.

From here on it’s a little tricky because hard drives can be divided or partitioned into several sections and each section is assigned a different letter. Also, there can be more than one hard drive if there is room in the case and proper cables available. When there are multiple drives or multiple partitions, it is helpful if each drive partition is given a distinguishing label or name such as Old Drive, Data, Second, etc. that will precede the letter the Windows operating system assigns. Then no matter what letter is assigned, you’ll know where you’re sending files.

• Letter D: - Usually (if the main drive is one partition), a CD ROM ( Reads CDs Only), CD-RW ( Reads and Writes CDs), combination CD RW - /DVD ROM (Reads and Writes CDs and Reads Only DVDs), DVD ROM (Reads Only CDs & DVDs), or DVD-RW (Reads and Writes to CDs and DVDs).
  
  
• Letter E:, F:, G:, etc - Can be any of those listed under letter D: or a memory card reader, camera, jump drive or other external storage device. When any storage device is connected, usually to a USB port, it is assigned the next available alphabet letter. For example, if a printer has a card reader built in, and a memory card is inserted, a device letter will be assigned to that card reader.

Now maybe we can give you some clues to help you identify drives. When you open My Computer, three categories are listed:

1. Files Stored on This Computer - This includes the My Documents folders for all users set up on the computer and the Shared Documents folder.
2. Hard Disk Drives – Local Disk (C:) plus any others
3. Devices with Removable Storage – DVD- RW Drive (D:), Removable Disk (E:) memory card for camera, Removable Disk (F:) jump drive, etc.

he icons give clues, too. Hard drives have icons that look like rectangular boxes or sandwiches, CD & DVD drives show a round disk next to a sandwich,” and memory cards look like little blue memory cards. Also, if a CD or DVD has been given a label, or name, that label appears behind or to the left of the letter.