OS on SSD, Everything else on SATA - How??

P20

P20

P20

Associate
Joined
11 Aug 2006
Posts
40
I've just installed a ssd and a pair of sata's running in raid. I want the ssd for just the operating system, everything else to be on the sata's. So how do i move (or create new versions of) the program files and the user documents/files onto the sata's? I've tried and failed so far :confused:
I suspect part of my problem is that i installed windows 7 on the ssd, then added the sata's.
Any tips/links/guides?

Cheers :)
 
With Program Files, when you install other software just change the drive letter for the install path (I also take out the "(x86)" from the name, but that is just me) and it will install to the other drive. With documents you can just make a new directory and get into the habit of using the new directory in the other drive and change default download directories for your programs.

As far as changing Windows' defaults you may need to google for some registry tweaks, but it's probably not all that necessary if you follow the advice above. :)
 
You can't move your specific user directory to another drive without messing about with some code on install, but you can move the subfolders of the user folder over to another drive.

Just select the music, videos, favourities folder etc with the mouse, then whilst holding the right button mouse drag them to your other drive, release the right mouse button and you will have the option to copy them or move them, select move them here and volia all your personal folders are on this drive.

Apart from certain temp files and app files all downloads, music, files, save games will automatically be saved here.
 
Pretty sure you can change the My documents default by right clicking on it, going to properties and changing the path.
 
Right click my computer, go Advanced Properties, Advanced, Environment Variables, under System Variables click New, add in ProgramFiles and the value should be D:\Program Files

This should then in turn install all apps from then on after into D:\Program Files
 
MasterPlan1 said:
Right click my computer, go Advanced Properties, Advanced, Environment Variables, under System Variables click New, add in ProgramFiles and the value should be D:\Program Files

This should then in turn install all apps from then on after into D:\Program Files
Click to expand...

Never knew this, thanks. If the documents is moved too - is there a way to move the swapfile over to a different drive also? I'm guessing most people only use their ssd's as a boot drive and for applications that you want instant loading on?
 
Cheers guys. It does seem a little happier now I've done a new install with all the drives present.
 
Awesome. You bought a super fast SSD and now you are wasting it by moving all your programs to your mechanical SATA.
 
If you are moving everything to the mechnical RAID, the SSD is going to be pointless?, if it has to keep reading files from the other disks it will be just as slow as (guess what) them being on the other disks.

You will get a fast boot up sure, try running a program though and all that SSD wonderfullness goes to waste
 
Wor lass uses various programs for her work and i don't want to 'clog up' the ssd with these. My photoshop stuff will probably be put on the SSD.
 
If you use something most days or every day - put it on your SSD. This includes your temp directories, Documents*, PageFile and software. You will love your PC if you do this.

*You can move your music and other large media, MP3s and Video have virtually no benefit running off SSD unless you're editing them of course.

If you rarely use something, or it is simply too big [VM HDD images fly on SSD, but are usually mahoosive!], then put them on the cheaper/larger storage.

You want to use every last bit of your SSD to make it worth the money. People were the same with Windows Vista/7's SuperFetch. Waaa it's using my RAM! The more free space you have on your SSD or RAM, the more money you're wasting! :)
 
Don't listen to the haters about not using the SSD for apps... I do the same.

My SSD only has:

Windows 7
Adobe Products
Arma 2

All other applications that don't require a performance boost (HdTune / Malwarebytes etc etc) should be installed to another drive if you have the space.

P.s. Stromatolites, that is a great article!
 
Last edited:
rexehuk said:
Don't listen to the haters about not using the SSD for apps... I do the same.

My SSD only has:

Windows 7
Adobe Products
Arma 2

All other applications that don't require a performance boost (HdTune / Malwarebytes etc etc) should be installed to another drive if you have the space.

P.s. Stromatolites, that is a great article!
Click to expand...

So you've got a 100GB SSD and then barely put anything on it, what's the point? Most apps are less than 10MB what's the use of installing them to another drive?
 
33.6GB free. I do it for portability if you must know, if my C goes down I lose NOTHING not even my installed apps / tools, it's called spreading the risk. On top of that it keeps my C program files etc clean for me to manage it easier. If I lose my C drive I can be back in 25 minutes with a new reinstall, that is why I do it.
 
I have all my apps [aside from some games] on my SSD and I can recover it in the time it takes to write the disk image back to it. So how does me having apps all over the place make that easier? :/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom