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Making the Windows Default Drive NOT the One With the Operating System?

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  • Windows 8
  • windows default drive operating system different
Last response: in Windows 8
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November 29, 2013 4:11:24 PM

I have a 90GB SSD and a 2TB HDD. The SSD contains Windows 8, while the other drive would have everything else. However, even though most programs have the option to change where you install it, some don't. It is very tedious to manually move programs from the C drive to the D drive. Sometimes it doesn't even work. Furthermore, there are cases where files still get stored in the C drive automatically. e.g Adobe After Effect's cache, etc... Is there any way to make sure NOTHING is on the C drive except Windows 8, and EVERYTHING else is on the D drive. This includes files, programs, and cache. If the desktop an libraries (documents, music, ect..) are still on the C drive it is okay. Any and all help is appreciated.

More about : making windows default drive operating system

a c 491 * Windows 8
November 29, 2013 4:20:00 PM

You probably don't want to 'force' everything to be installed elsewhere.Some applications will balk at that.

For docs/music/pictures, see this tutorial:
http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1834397/ssd-redirect...

I have a 128GB SSD, and currently about 50GB used. Win 8 Pro, and ALL applications except games. Documents, etc live elsewhere. Games live elsewhere as well.
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November 29, 2013 5:03:51 PM

4everPixelated said:
I have a 90GB SSD and a 2TB HDD. The SSD contains Windows 8, while the other drive would have everything else. However, even though most programs have the option to change where you install it, some don't. It is very tedious to manually move programs from the C drive to the D drive. Sometimes it doesn't even work. Furthermore, there are cases where files still get stored in the C drive automatically. e.g Adobe After Effect's cache, etc... Is there any way to make sure NOTHING is on the C drive except Windows 8, and EVERYTHING else is on the D drive. This includes files, programs, and cache. If the desktop an libraries (documents, music, ect..) are still on the C drive it is okay. Any and all help is appreciated.


Yes. You want to create a volume mount point. They can't be used for Windows itself (which you don't want to do anyway) but can be used for almost everything else, including program files. Essentially it is a "shortcut" in the file system that points to where your files ar ereally stored. So the program would install it's files wherever it wants, but in reality they would go where you want them to go. The program will continue to think it is placing it's files where it wants (and in a sense it is) but they are physically located elsewhere. How to create and configure them is beyond the scope of a message board forum but if you google around for "volume mount point" and "junction point" you can find guides that will help you.
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