Just thought I'd mention a free utility that has fixed (so far so good) a computer problem I've had for a long time.

I have three USB external HDs that I plug in to the computer when needed. Problem is they always get assigned the wrong drive letter such that a program  can't find a particular file because the path is different. I'd do the Administrative Tools thing
and change the drive letter, but that never seemed to make the letter stick.

I stumbled upon a utility that will assign permanent drive letters to all your ext USB drives, called USBDLM (USB drive letter manager)

http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbdlm_e.html

Can't say it was real easy to install (for me anyway) but it wasn't particulary difficult either once you understand the concept.
So now my J drive is always the J drive and not whatever letter Windows assigns to it.

you should be able to do that in windows without a separate "utility program."  here's a windows 10 tutorial
 
http://acer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/38112/~/windows-10%3A-change-a-drive-letter-in-disk-management
 

>>you should be able to do that in windows without a separate "utility program."  here's a windows 10 tutorial<<
 
I've been doing that but  the drive letters don't usually stick. The next time I plug in a drive it will be assigned some other letter.  The utility program forces the drive to have the letter I want it to be.
 

I have seen the same "non-stick" drive letter behavior - even after I change the assignments in disk manager. I'll try the utility you found.

As a feature, I wish Sonar used logical names or used the volume names for drives so I could update the logical mapping when Windows auto assigned a drive letter.

bjornpdx
>>you should be able to do that in windows without a separate "utility program."  here's a windows 10 tutorial<<
 
I've been doing that but  the drive letters don't usually stick. The next time I plug in a drive it will be assigned some other letter.  The utility program forces the drive to have the letter I want it to be.
 

Are you trying to assign your USB drives it to the next available drive letters in the chain?
 
If you assign it to an unused drive letter higher in the alphabet it should stick.
So if you have your boot drive on C: and DVD on D: and no further fixed drives assigning it to H: or S: or X: should be pretty static.  
Leave an open slot of two (for example E: & F:) for Windows to assign new devices to.
I keep my USB sample drive on H: and my backup drive on R: (when I need it) - rarely have to remap either of these.
My system has 2 HDs, DVD, and USB hub with a USB stick for my Wave license (it usually maps to F: but don't use it for anything else so don't care what drive letter it grabs).

^Agree with TheSteven, I've never had a problem, in fact even with my new computer I allowed windows to assign my 1T external SSD to "E" and then when I put in my USB thumb drive, it assigns it to "F" and each time I take those out, reboot, put them back in, not in the same order, etc...windows always assigns those drives to those letters.

I had two  external drives assigned to H and I via Administrator Computer Management and they would keep their letters for a while but then they would switch letters. I don't think I was doing anything different, I just plugged in the drive.
The utility program is working well so guess I'll keep using it.
Anyway, I appreciate the input.