How do you organise......

Ernie

Ernie

Ernie

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Joined
30 Jan 2003
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484
Location
London
How do you organise your disk space and files, and how do you access them?

I've just built a new PC and a fresh install of windows, so I wanted to start off on the right foot, with some advice and examples of good 'housekeeping' so to speak.

My old PC ended up with virtually everying being stored in Program files in one form or another, game patches everywhere, applications all over the place.

What do you find is the easiest way to access them? Do you use Favourites, or right click start and 'Explore'

Any screenies are welcome, of file trees, desktops etc.

Thanks
 
At work atm, but something like this.

Program files - then depending on what the application is goes in it's sub folder like Internet / media / security / hardware etc

All games in it's own games subfolder on the same C drive ( as i have a raptor)

rest of my files are on a different hdd again just in different folders really, music / films / documents etc

normally if i download stuff i either run it and delete it straight away or file it away.

Oh alos have a programs folder where i store all the drivers and application installs / iso.
 
C: (10Gb) Windows only
E: (40Gb) Programs and utilities
F: (80Gb) Games & Patches
G: (40Gb) Downloads, My docs, Page file

like dat ^
 
My home PC:

C Drive - Windows install, programs etc

D Drive - Downloads folder (shortcut to this on the desktop), My documents, i386, Temp, Thunderbird, MP3, Backup(ghost files).

On D Drive:
Downloads folder - Split into sections, Games (patches/demos etc), Wallpaper, Drivers, Themes, Utilities, Humour (funny pics and movies) etc.

My Documents - the shortcut on the desktop points to here instead.

Thunderbird - Runs from this folder

MP3 - obvious really

i386 - XP install folder (just incase)

Temp - where I unzip things so I dont end up with files everywhere.

E Drive - Windows Swap file (small 2Gb Partition), nothing else.


Reasons: I image (Norton Ghost) my C drive onto the D drive into a folder called backup. Every now and then I'll restore this when I feel that C is getting messy or when things slow down. I have system restore turned off (it has a huge performance hit on PCs) and rely on Ghost instead.

The way I have things set up I don't have to worry about losing my email, downloads or my documents when I image as they're on a separate drive. I occassionally backup both the email and my docs folder onto DVDRW. That's the way I've done it for over 5 years, never had any problems. E is a dedicated swap partition as I find this helps performance.

No doubt someone has a much better method :) I find having a dedicated TEMP folder that I force myself to use is a great way of avoiding unzipped files everywhere, it was one of my bad habits in the past :p
 
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I use the desktop as my temp folder, all downloads download to it, any files I am working on go on it, but then anything I wish to keep or that is important gets put into it's relevant place.

That way I know when it times to have a clear out I can just highlight all on desktop and delete the lot.

works a treat :)

Oh and make use of the quicklaunch bar it's a winner :)
 
Some food for thought there thanks.

I only have the 1 drive atm, I may consider getting another as I'm going to load all my Photo's and home movies onto it. I was considering DVD back up for this. Maybe once everything is organised and I'm happy with it all I'll consider a second drive.
 
HDD0 (250Gb Hitachi T7K250)
c: 60Gb - OS & installed apps
d: 180Gb - Downloads & general carp

HDD1 (250Gb Hitachi T7K250)
f: 240GB - Swap file, Photoshop scratch files, RawShooter cache etc

HDD2 (8*250Gb Hitachi T7K250 in RAID5)
e: 1700Gb - Photos, Media, Application install packs etc

HDD3 (250Gb External Lacie)
k: 240Gb - Sync'd copy of d:, photos not on DVD, Favourites, My Docs etc
 
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