Why is your primary hard drive almost always assigned the letter C?
In short: The convention of using letters to label storage devices traces back to early computing history. This video explains the origins of this system and how it transitioned from logical designations to physical hardware identification.
The practice of assigning letters to storage devices originated in the 1960s with IBM's virtual machine operating systems, specifically the CP-40 and CP/CMS platforms. These early systems primarily used letters to identify logical drives rather than specific hardware components.
This naming convention was later adopted by the CP/M operating system, developed by Digital Research, Inc. In these subsequent systems, the letter designations evolved to specify individual physical storage devices, establishing the standard that persists in modern computing.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Why “C” Is The Default Hard Drive Letter
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/ideas-why-c-is-the-default-hard-drive-letter.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
