Win 7 Pro Setup with 2 SSD and 1 HDD

seanktm

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Nov 1, 2013
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Hello everyone,

I recently purchased a refurbished desktop (HP Compaq 8000 Elite), and want to perform a clean install of Windows 7 along with additional hardware. (It came with a 64-bit Installation CD.) What would be the best setup to utilize the three hard drives? Below is what I have:

Intel Q45 Express chipset
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz
8Gb DDR3 RAM
120GB SATA III Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 2.5"
30GB SATA III Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 2.5"
2TB Serial ATA/600 7200RPM 32MB Seagate Barracuda 3.5" (STBD2000101)
SATA II Controller

I was thinking about using the 120GB SSD for boot and programs while using 2TB HDD for data storage. Now, where would the 30GB SSD factor in here?

Any idea/tip would be greatly appreciated.
 

seanktm

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Nov 1, 2013
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A 30GB SSD wouldn't be much these days, so I would rather utilize it if there's an effective way. Would I set it up as RAID with the 120GB SSD?
 

seanktm

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Nov 1, 2013
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Thank you for the quick responses. I think I'll just set it aside for the time being then.
 

himnextdoor

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Oct 26, 2013
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Actually though, what I would do is, when I have a super duper system on my 120 GB SSD, I would make a back-up image and store it on the 2 TB one. Then I would 'restore' that image to the 30 gig one.

That way, I am only ever about twenty minutes away from a perfect system restore with the added advantage that if something happens to my 2 TB drive, then not quite all is lost; I still have a great system backup.

And if the 120 gig one fails, than I have a decent short-term replacement which can provide an image that will get the new 500 GB SSD, which you'll be able to afford by then,going along its merry way.
 

seanktm

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Nov 1, 2013
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That's actually a very good idea! Better to utilize the drive rather than just sitting it on the shelf. I will try how it works out tomorrow. Thank you! @himnextdoor