What is the maximum number of drive letters assigned to hard drive partitions on a system?

The maximum number of drive letters that can be assigned to hard drive partitions on a Windows system is 26, representing the letters A through Z. However, traditionally, drive letters A and B are commonly reserved for floppy disk drives, even though floppy drives are largely obsolete. Therefore, in practical scenarios, the maximum usable drive letters available for hard drive partitions would typically be 24.

In the context of the question and provided choices, the correct interpretation aligns with the understanding of partition assignments in operating systems. The option indicating 24 reflects this maximum effectively, as most systems will limit the use of drive letters to ensure compatibility and avoid conflicts with historical hardware allocations.