Setting up a brand new SSD/HDD

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Jsmooth1992

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Hey guys!

I know this may seem like a redundant question but I was wondering what the ideal set up was for a ssd and hdd configuration in the new gaming pc I'm building.

I know where to put my files and stuff (important programs in ssd and mass storage needs on the hdd), but what I'm worried about is after I install windows on my ssd, there's going to be a headache moving file directories that point to the hdd (like my music, my documents, desktop folder etc).

I have a proposed solution, but I need clarification from you guys. If I install windows, get my updates sorted etc, and then clone my ssd to my hdd BEFORE i install any programs, will my hdd look exactly the same as my ssd?

I'm thinking this will make things a lot easier in terms of program installation and file locations, since all I'll have to do is change the file directory from c to d or whatever.

Sorry for the long post!!

Thanks in advance for any advice /pointers
 
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USAFRet
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Jsmooth1992

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Hey USAFret.

Thanks for the quick reply! Thanks for the pointer too, that's exactly what I was thinking of doing, but I'm just worried that directories in my HDD will be ugly and unorganised (My music, documents, desktop folders will all be lumped in one folder alongside program files and it'll be a clusterf....=P) Also, if i want to install a program/game on the HDD, "Program Files' won't exist on the HDD because Windows is not on it. The .exe file will give the option of automatically create the file path though right?

The only reason I wanted to clone a basic copy of my SSD to my HDD was so the directories would be the same in both the SSD and the HDD. This means for any installation or file download, all I have to do is change the directory from C (SSD) to D(HDD) during the installation phase and not worry about anything. Have I got this right? This shouldn't affect the way Windows runs?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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The way I do it is create a top level folder - MYStuff. Under that, places for Documents, Pictures etc. The same for Programs. MyProgs. Use that as the top level for a new application install.

Windows does not care where, as log as you tell it during the program installation. It all runs the same.
The folder "Program Files" does not have to exist on the other drive. That is just a default name for Windows uses. They can be installed anywhere.
 
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Jsmooth1992

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That's fair enough. Although I will admit I'm a bit OCD. Maybe what I could do is copy the folder names that I need (desktop folder, my music, my documents etc) over onto my HDD, for no other reason than to make it look the same as C drive. I think this will help with troubleshooting down the track, as program files can get hard to track of if they aren't organised well. You end up forgetting where files are, or which directory you saved a program to and then it becomes a headache.

If it doesn't bother you, could you advise me a bit further as to what cloning actually does? If all it does is just copy the file directories over to my HDD, then shouldn't that be fine? Windows will run hassle free on C, and if I ever want to download or install something onto my HDD then I just rename the install/download path to D. I'm willing to sacrifice space on the HDD for this convenience, because all of my movies are backed up to external drives, and I struggle to see how I would fill up 1TB of HDD space with anything else.

Thanks so much for your responses so far USAFret!
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Cloning/imaging creates an exact copy of a whole drive or partition. Very useful in case you get a major virus, or a drive dies.
But you do not want that in normal everyday ops. The first application you install, those two Windows instances are different.
And you also get confusion - 'Which instance of Windows is running? Which got screwed up/"

Once you get the system installed as you like, create an image of that. Save it elsewhere, and do not touch it. Maybe once a month, make a new image.

Giving a top level folder a distinctive name "MyProgs" will help greatly in keeping things organized. If you try to put them inside the 'Program Files' folder of the offline Windows install...you WILL get confused. And that Windows install will know nothing about them.

But also, I've found that applications don't really take up that much space, apart from games. You can fit quite a lot on a 128GB SSD.
 
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Jsmooth1992

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Cool, thanks for those points. Food for thought! What do you mean by "which instance of windows is running?" Won't Windows Always be running from C drive if I install onto C drive?

Anyways, looks like I'll just make my own folders in D drive for program installations and internet downloads. I'm sure moving the desktop folder, my music, documents etc to D drive shouldn't be too hard on windows 8.1.

Thanks for all the help!
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Yes, installed on C, that one will be running. But if you have a clone, active on another drive, and try to use those Program Files folders as install locations....confusion will result.
Also, that clone/image is a potentially full running instance on a bootable drive. And could possibly be booted from. Hence, 'Which one?'
 
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Jsmooth1992

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Sigh.....Hahaha all I want is for my HDD to look Exactly the same as my SSD in terms of file directories without having to manually create your own folders. Wish there was an easy fix! Looks like manual may have to be the way to go.
 
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