Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question

Relocate stuff, except hard-linked files and folders

Tags:
  • Windows 8
  • SSD
  • Security
  • Command Prompt
  • External Hard Drive
Last response: in Windows 8
Share
June 22, 2014 9:59:31 AM

Hi all,

Since i got an SSD, i'm trying to relocate some files and folders (temp,logsetc) to my ext.disk (which is always attached). I did this with my appdata folder as well, and used the mklink command to refer all the requests to the new location. The thing is,i've read that windows(and maybe other apps) hard-link to the original location. In particular security related request go hard-linked.
This is the reason i have copied appdata to my ext.disk, but the original data is still on the ssd as well. I'm using Win8.1

Long story short: which items are hard-linked and must be left on the real and original location? is there a way to delete everthing except hardlinked files and folders?
Thanks for the help.
If you have any suggestions regarding to SSD maintenance, feel free to post them here or PM me about it.

More about : relocate stuff hard linked files folders

a c 492 * Windows 8
a b 8 Security
June 22, 2014 10:05:46 AM

AppData, Users, logs, etc....leave on the C drive !
Can you change them? Yes. Will you run into problems? Maybe.

Your Libraries can easily be changed to a different drive.
What size is the SSD?
m
0
l
June 22, 2014 10:21:32 AM

USAFRet said:
AppData, Users, logs, etc....leave on the C drive !
Can you change them? Yes. Will you run into problems? Maybe.

Your Libraries can easily be changed to a different drive.
What size is the SSD?


Why leave them all? Because there is a chance this will create problems?
If the chance is not too big and the effects are overseeable, i'd like to keep it this way.
I can always relocate them back, can i?
Libraries are relocated as well. My SSD is 223GB in size. i have still some space left, but i'm replacing the logs and temps because of the excessive writes. A lot of programs(like chrome) store their temp and cache in appdata so i'm relocting this folder too.
m
0
l
Related resources
Can't find your answer ? Ask !
a c 492 * Windows 8
a b 8 Security
June 22, 2014 10:28:42 AM

I have a 128GB drive, and the OS and all applications on it.
Stuff that lives in Libraries relocated to another drive.

Currently ~52GB used space.

It is now 18+ months old. Running 24/7. Whatever temp files Firefox and the OS write...all still goes to the SSD.
If you are worried about excessive writes, I wouldn't. After 18 months use, it has seen a total of ~5TB written to it. Torture tests have shown that 600TB written to a consumer grade SSD (the same one I have - Kingston HyperX 3K 128GB) results in zero retired blocks.
Given that use level, this drive will live longer than I will. And definitely longer than the rest of the PC.

Recent consumer grade SSD's are very reliable, and not nearly as sensitive to writes as was the case with older SSD's.
m
0
l
June 22, 2014 11:31:37 AM

USAFRet said:
I have a 128GB drive, and the OS and all applications on it.
Stuff that lives in Libraries relocated to another drive.

Currently ~52GB used space.

It is now 18+ months old. Running 24/7. Whatever temp files Firefox and the OS write...all still goes to the SSD.
If you are worried about excessive writes, I wouldn't. After 18 months use, it has seen a total of ~5TB written to it. Torture tests have shown that 600TB written to a consumer grade SSD (the same one I have - Kingston HyperX 3K 128GB) results in zero retired blocks.
Given that use level, this drive will live longer than I will. And definitely longer than the rest of the PC.

Recent consumer grade SSD's are very reliable, and not nearly as sensitive to writes as was the case with older SSD's.


I've heard similar stories from more people and of course there is a good chance all of it is true, but those tests are simulated and then the drivers aren't exposed to influences which aren't incalculated to the simulation. Think only of the concept of time and longterm exposure to heat(thus expansion, oxidation blabla), caused by processor load etc. Nobody ever tested if these SSD would really last that time. HDD's would last forever then, well that's not true.
You know as good if not better than me that that SSD of yours won't last till you die. ;) 

And wether it will eventually kill your ssd a lot earlier or not, i can imagine performance and health will likely longer stay at top levels when precautions are taken like relocate folders where random writes take place often. And i just feel more comfortable with it. My SSD is 2 days old and has already a small TB written on it. This is not completely fair and constant because i tried to clone my system several times, because of failures in the prevous attempts, but still.
PS: sorry for poor english, it's difficult to express myself in a not-native language when those complicated things are discussed.
m
0
l
a c 492 * Windows 8
a b 8 Security
June 22, 2014 12:02:50 PM

Right. But as said, my current C drive, the 128GB Kingston, has about 5TB written to it in 18+ months.

All testing tools still report it as 100% life left.
m
0
l
June 22, 2014 12:37:44 PM

USAFRet said:
Right. But as said, my current C drive, the 128GB Kingston, has about 5TB written to it in 18+ months.

All testing tools still report it as 100% life left.


okay that's good to hear, and i do not doubt your knowledge and expertise, but i'm still curious if it's possible to relocate a folder except for the hardlinked files. it'll come in handy in the future too.

imagine having two pc's but all your appdata stored on an ext drive so your progams on both pc's can use this and it's synchronized this way.
m
0
l
a c 492 * Windows 8
a b 8 Security
June 22, 2014 12:39:14 PM

bartNL said:
USAFRet said:
Right. But as said, my current C drive, the 128GB Kingston, has about 5TB written to it in 18+ months.

All testing tools still report it as 100% life left.


okay that's good to hear, and i do not doubt your knowledge and expertise, but i'm still curious if it's possible to relocate a folder except for the hardlinked files. it'll come in handy in the future too.


Research 'junction points' and 'mklink'. Personally, I think that is far more hassle than it is worth.
m
0
l
June 22, 2014 12:42:56 PM

USAFRet said:
bartNL said:
USAFRet said:
Right. But as said, my current C drive, the 128GB Kingston, has about 5TB written to it in 18+ months.

All testing tools still report it as 100% life left.


okay that's good to hear, and i do not doubt your knowledge and expertise, but i'm still curious if it's possible to relocate a folder except for the hardlinked files. it'll come in handy in the future too.


Research 'junction points' and 'mklink'. Personally, I think that is far more hassle than it is worth.


I did. I relocated AppData and more using mklink, but then there's still the hard-linked files. I've got Junction link magic installed on my pc but i don't really know how to properly use it, so i thought it'd be wise to consult other people's knowledge about this.
m
0
l
a c 492 * Windows 8
a b 8 Security
June 22, 2014 12:46:22 PM

bartNL said:


I did. I relocated AppData and more using mklink, but then there's still the hard-linked files. I've got Junction link magic installed on my pc but i don't really know how to properly use it, so i thought it'd be wise to consult other people's knowledge about this.


Ah. Well, I've not had experience with that particular thing, so I don't know how to set it up.
m
0
l
June 22, 2014 12:56:33 PM

USAFRet said:
bartNL said:


I did. I relocated AppData and more using mklink, but then there's still the hard-linked files. I've got Junction link magic installed on my pc but i don't really know how to properly use it, so i thought it'd be wise to consult other people's knowledge about this.


Ah. Well, I've not had experience with that particular thing, so I don't know how to set it up.


Maybe it's just possible with a good formed command line..
m
0
l
June 22, 2014 1:31:06 PM

I'm sure I've seen that avatar before...
m
0
l
June 22, 2014 1:32:36 PM

Mousemonkey said:
I'm sure I've seen that avatar before...


That's possible. Why?
Not that this contributes to the question in anyway but okay.
m
0
l
!