windows xp - Correcting drive letters after a partition clone

I have an old XP computer with 3 drives:

• Disk0 = C: D: E: F: (my current boot drive)


• Disk1 = I: (a data drive)


• Disk2 = J: K: L: M: (A new 2x bigger drive in an USB external case)

J is a "partition clone" of C (but J is double the size)
(Same "partition clone" done for D>K E>L F>M) No "disk cloning" was done.

Computer Management reports:

• C is System (but no reference if it's BOOT or ACTIVE)


• J is Active (but no reference if it's BOOT or SYSTEM)

How can I remove Disk0 from the machine... and install Disk1... and have
Disk1 become my new C: D: E: F: boot drive?

I know I have already done this poorly... but I need to do this WITHOUT
another very long cloning process. (I've already cloned again and again
trying to get this working.)

I can't use Disk Management:

• To change C to J... or any letter at all.


• I can't change J to C... already in use.


• I can't "remove" C to allow its latter reuse as J.


• I can't "swap" letters C and J. Directly... or indirectly... with a "temporary go-between letter".

I'm sure Microsoft had its reasons for making this so complex, confusing, and time consuming... but I can't guess why.

Help!