Multiple external SATAs - Windows 7

[TimMatrix]

I am trying to find out whether it is possible or not, on the following scenario:_

Install W7 on main SATA HDD as a bootable and resides inside the PC tower, then, install programs, for example "Photoshop" onto 2nd External SATA HDD, "FSX" (Flight Simulator) on 3rd External SATA HDD, etc...

These external HDDs are not BOOTABLE, but to store only programs and data (no W7 OS on them).

The W7 from main HDD will run these programs only if the correct External HDD is plugged in.

Is that possible? Please advise, before I decide to buy more external SATA HDDs.

Thanks for your help.

 

[TimMatrix]

I can't really see any reason why it wouldn't work, other than that a program like Photoshop might install background processes which it would try to run from the external drive on Windows startup... you'd have to disable them.

What's your thinking behind this idea, though? It seems like an unusually complicated/expensive storage arrangement for games and applications... for me, having to plug in a particular HDD before I could open a certain program would get old pretty fast. It also limits the combinations of programs which you can have running at the same time. Couldn't you just get a 1-2TB internal HDD and put all your games and programs on that?

I agree, but then there's the risk in putting all the programs and game into a 1-2Tb HDD is akin to putting all your money into a single bank account. When the bank goes under, your money disappears! So, if the 1-2Tb HDD goes, all the programs and games are lost (okay, programs are replaceable but not the data within them, including configuration settings, etc).

Further, I like to keep the main disk drive totally for W7 OS only, and I'm considering putting the OS onto a SSD drive, something in the region of 60-80Gb (which is far, far adequate for the basic OS installation and some core programs such as Chrome/Firefox, etc). Then adding an external "Photoshop" SATA HDD will contain the program itself with its associated folders containing photos, etc. Same goes for FSX with associated scenery packs, flightplans, etc.

It's nice to keep them segregated and more importantly, "restricts" the viruses/trojan to "minumum" damage. (I use Comodo Internet Security (free version) on the master HDD (it'll be on SSD when I buy one soon).

Does any of the above make any sense? I hope so?

Thanks for all your replies.

 

[TimMatrix]

Whoa, most of you are against the idea of external HDDs in the way I suggested. I guess you've had the experience before?

Unless your external drives are e-sata or USB3 then you'll have a performance hit. For things like games with lots of addons or applications like Photoshop that want a swap file this will hinder your loading times.

Yes, it is eSATA, I was thinking of, for those 'external' SATA drives.


Anyway, I will reconsider and take aboard all your comments and may plump for the 1Tb-2Tb HDDs. I've been told to avoid 1Tb or 2Tb, since as they're notoriously unreliable in comparision with a 500Gb HDDs? Can anyone enlighten me on why is this (if the facts are true?) Was it something to do with the magnetic flux density on a platter being too tightly packed, causing occasional read/write errors?

Happy to listen to all your comments.

Many thanks.