Windows keeps track of your system's disks, volumes, partitions, and drive letters in the Registry.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices
When Windows boots, drive letters are assigned to volumes. Beginning with NT, users can change which letters are used. Because this information is not available at boot time, some other method is necessary to locate the data Windows needs.
On my system, where I have volumes both with and without drive letters, executing BCDedit reveals that if a letter is available, it's used in the Boot Configuration Database. Volumes without letters appear differently.
Example1: device vhd=[V:]\Taffy.VHD
Example2: device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume8
Example3: device partition=W:
Checking my Registry reveals the LBAs where the volumes begin, the Drive Signature, and assigned letter in the same key. (A separate key for each volume.)
Why Microsoft does this, I do not know.
But . . .
On a system with removable media, it is possible to "lose track" and overwrite valuable data accidentally. If the system checks Disk Signatures before writing, this disaster can be prevented. I see no reason why this should apply to fixed media, beyond applying a "one solution fits all" approach.
Cheers, PW. |
