Windows 8 install questions

You don't need any more than 16 Gb of memory, but make sure it shows in BIOS the specs that you expecting. For example, your memory is 1866 Mhz but most likely will run at 1333 or 1600 Mhz by default and you may need to enable XMP profile.

I install all programs in C, libraries on other drive. The problem with it is that I had to reinstall Windows 8 and now have all useless folders on D drive that lost C drive root directory. Most programs will still install something on C.

Look at your disks that came with motherboard- it may have some useful software like COP-Z and such. Also not all of them work if you install Windows 8.1. If you planning to update to Win. 8.1, I would do it now, before you install all other stuff that may not work with Win 8.1 later. You may need to look for the drivers on the manufacturer web site that support 8.0 and 8.1. Windows 8 have generic drivers for everything but you still need specific drivers, including graphics and monitors.

I am sorry- not sure what you asking. Are you asking how to look at memory specs in BIOS and enable XMP profile or telling me that you already did it?

SSD is great idea, but 120 Gb is small now days. But you should be ok, just use it wisely. Do you have "Programs Files" folder? When you install chipset drivers from manufacturer web site, it would create this folder if you don't have it. I installed the Games on D drive, and will be figuring out what went where after reinstall of OS in the next couple of days. The good news is that I was able to disable D drive and not lose all my data, only C drive lost the data (which is annoying). You have to decide on case by case basis.

There is a lot of issues with Windows Photo app in Win 8.1. I heard- it only looks for locations on C drive. However, you can use another Photo app that would work fine from any drive. Look at Software section of this forum- there is sticky for free software. Not all of them would work with 8.1, if you updating, but I have try few with Win. 8, it was fine. My pictures are on D drive.

for #1 you can try to route new apps to your Hard drive but a lot of the files will still be stored based upon some system variables. there are hidden directories on your c: drive that a lot of programs really abuse. You actually have to figure out how to configure the individual programs not to do this. It can take some time and effort to figure why your space on your SSD slowly disappears over time. (windows update, hidden java cache files, macromedia cache, log files, tmp files being dumped on your drive and not being removed. things like that, and they are in a hidden directory that the OS hides from windows explorer so most people can not find them)
#2 Microsoft provides a device driver kit that often has a basic driver for a device. The OEM will often modify the driver and add special functions that will only work on their device and not their competitors device. Microsoft windows will often detect your device and load a limited generic driver for it but you don't get the OEM functions until you load the OEM driver. A OEM can also give the driver back to Microsoft if they want or even have Microsoft test and certify their driver. Most OEMs don't do this for various reasons (don't want to pay the testing cost or they want to control all the special code they wrote)

best to get the drivers from a major manufacture. for example you might have asus motherboard with a intel cpu. you want to get the intel chipset drivers from intel not asus (in general). or you have a AMD graphics, get the driver directly from AMD not ASUS the one asus will have will be quickly out of date.
you generally do have to get the BIOS update from ASUS, skip most of the special utilities they have unless you have a really a need for one, then run it and make sure it does not start up again until you want it to. They might put it in startup but often they will put it in task scheduler and a week later it will show up running on your system.

#3 16 gb is pretty good. what you are looking for to have enough memory so windows does not have to page out active memory to your hard drive, that can be a slow process. The amount of free memory is all that really matters in that case. if you start doing large databases, CAD, or running several operating systems at the same time on your machine you should be fine. Adding extra memory can increase heat output and might require a larger pagefile to be created on your SSD (eats up more pagefile space)


-oh, get some cloud storage for your photos, only store photos on your system while viewing and editing them


sorry, getting long winded.

This will help your SSD
http://thessdreview.com/ssd-guides/optimization-guides/the-ssd-optimization-guide-ultimate-windows-8-edition/
And to keep data off the SSD this solves the problem...
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4275-user-profiles-relocate-another-partition-disk.html
It's a bit complex, though and employs the Sysprep cmd.
Personally I find it simpler and easier to re-locate each folder manually. I create 5 'New Folders' on the target drive, navigate to each personal folder in turn in 'Users' (My Name). e.g. 'Desktop', Rt Click, 'Properties' and open 'Location' tab. Choose 'Move' and navigate to New Folder on the target drive and choose that folder. Click OK and continue until contents are moved. Repeat the process with next Folder e.g. 'Downloads' and move to 'New Folder(1) and so on until you have moved all folders.

The 2nd link goes to general forums view.

Thanks. Corrected. Puzzling as to how it happened tho!