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Q71715: MS-DOS: Unable to Change Volume Label

Article: Q71715
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:3.x,4.x,5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 17-DEC-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 3.1, 3.2, 3.21, 3.3, 3.3a, 4.0, 4.01, 5.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you attempt to change the volume label with the LABEL command, it remains
the same.

CAUSE
=====

The volume label is stored in a directory entry in the root directory. A root
directory entry that has the volume label attribute set is regarded as the
volume label by MS-DOS. If the volume label entry is in lowercase, MS- DOS will
be unable to modify it.

MS-DOS will never write a lowercase volume label to a disk. However, it is
possible that a third-party program could write a lowercase volume label.

When MS-DOS displays the volume label, such as in a DIR or LABEL command, it
converts it to uppercase. This means that the volume label may appear in
uppercase when MS-DOS displays it, but in actuality it could be lowercase.

MS-DOS is unable to correct this problem. A third-party disk editor must be used
to change the volume label to uppercase. Only a person familiar with MS-DOS
directory structures should attempt to modify the root directory.

The only other alternative to using a disk editor to correct this problem is to
reformat the drive. Formatting will erases all the information stored on the
drive including the volume label.

Additional query words: 3.30 4.00 4.01 4.01a 5.00 noupd

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS321 kbMSDOS400 kbMSDOS320 kbMSDOS330a kbMSDOS310 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS330 kbMSDOS401
Version           : MS-DOS:3.x,4.x,5.0

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