Make SSD Boot Drive and HDD for storage on an existing Computer

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MADDOGdb7

MADDOGdb7

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Roughly a year ago I built my PC, and when I did it I made sure to add a 2 TB HDD and, I believe, a 240 GB SSD. However when setting up my rig I set up everything through my SSD and my hard drive has basically just been there as extra means of storage. I now have run out of room on my SSD and was wondering if there is a way to just store files on my HDD and boot off my SSD. I know similar questions have been asked on here but I am not sure if they apply because my PC already has everything set up on my SSD. Please let me know if I haven't been clear with what my situation is or if you need a list of my specifications.
 
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Boogieman_WD

Boogieman_WD

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Jul 31, 2014
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Hey there, MADDOGdb7.

I'm a bit confused by what you're asking. From what I understand your OS is on your SSD, right? But you've been installing everything on it as well, instead of using the HDD for that purpose, besides just storing photos, videos, music etc. on it?
If this is the case you could uninstall most of your programs and reinstall them on the HDD by choosing a different partition when prompted to select the installation path. Note that when you reinstall games - it's best that you backup any Saved game or settings files, so that you don't lose your progress.
Here's an article on how to take care of your SSD, which could prove helpful: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2110095/the-ultimate-guide-to-proper-ssd-management.html

Hope that helps.
Boogieman_WD
 
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MADDOGdb7

MADDOGdb7

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Boogieman_WD,

So essentially its just a matter of moving most of my files to my HDD? There's no special setting I have to change in windows or bios. Forgive but I don't know what or how to partition my hard drive
 
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Boogieman_WD

Boogieman_WD

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Yup it should be as simple as that. Isn't your HDD already partitioned? If you can see it in Windows Explorer as a different drive or drives, then that should be it. E.g. If your SSD has only one partition this would be the C: drive and if the HDD has 1 or 2 partitions, most likely they'd be D: and E: drives respectively.

 
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MADDOGdb7

MADDOGdb7

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Just for a quick overview. What type of files/programs should I want on my SSD vs my HDD? I have already put my basic files on my HDD (e.g. Documents, Pictures, Videos, ect.) but should I want my games on my SSD also do I keep the folders titled "Program Files" and "Program Files (x86)" on my C drive?
 
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Boogieman_WD

Boogieman_WD

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Well, this depends on you personal preference and the available storage space you have on your SSD. Although @iraqi26 has somewhat of a good point there, I wouldn't agree completely. Having in mind you have limited free space on your SSD and that we don't want you to run out of it again - I'd recommend that you keep there only the most demanding software (this includes games as well). E.g. the games and programs that take too long to load and the games, which have a lot of in-game loading screens, those would benefit from being installed on an SSD. But everything else, you could just put on the HDD along with all the personal data you have there.
 
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MADDOGdb7

MADDOGdb7

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@Boogieman_WD
@iraqi26

Here's what I've done so far: gone into the users file and changed the location of the My PC folders to my HDD, with program files (32-bit and 64-bit) I've used symlink to change their location to my HDD but still providing a proper link to their location in my SSD. The only issue I've found doing this thus far is many of my folders in their respected "program files" folder won't completely be cut to my HDD because one file or another is running in some program that I can't find. I can't imagine I'm being anything but vague so an example is when trying to move my ArcSoft folder to HDD file explorer tells me that a file is open and cannot be deleted.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Assuming you have the OS on the SSD, simple.
See this:
Win 7 & 8: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1834397/ssd-redirecting-static-files.html
Win 8.1: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2024314/windows-redirecting-folders-drives.html
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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That symlink concept is OK, but you'll find far more failure than just installing the applications where they should be in the first place.
However...applications don't really take up that much space. Movie, music, downloads, etc....See above.
 
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jsmithepa

jsmithepa

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Jun 14, 2014
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Sounds like to me, Maddog, you just left EVERYTHING DEFAULT TO C: so yeah, it keeps piling up! What drive letter is your HD on? That's good information to have and I am a little sarcastic on this. Tell whatever App you have, WRITE TO HD (whatever drive letter it's on). As far as current data, depending what kind of data they are, it maybe as simple as MOVE, as others already mentioned.
 
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MADDOGdb7

MADDOGdb7

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Well I haven't symlinked that many folders so far, is their a reason it isn't recommended by you? I tried the uninstall and reinstall method but it was proving to be problematic; as in some program wouldn't reinstall
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Why not?
1. You're throwing away most of the benefit of the SSD. Those applications living on the HDD, but fooling the OS to think they are on the C SSD....gives the actual performance of the HDD.
Why have the SSD if everything runs off the HDD?

2. Some thing simply do not work well like that.

3. It is MUCH easier to designate, during the application install, where you want that application to run from.

4. However...application do not really take up that much space. A 240GB drive can hold the OS and a LOT of applications.

5. Determine what exactly is taking up that space. It does no good to symlink 2GB of application files, and ignore a 30GB music library that still lives on the SSD.

6. Steam and Origin - ability to install games to other drives and folders is built into the client. No symlink needed.


My main boot drive is a 120GB SSD. Holds the OS and ALL applications.
Win 8.1 Pro, Corel Video Studio, PaintShop Pro, Adobe Lightroom, MS Visual Studio, a crapload of other applications and utilities. Currently, 75-80GB used space.
Music, video, games, etc...all live elsewhere.


You just have to be smarter than the software.
 
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C

Chazzmann

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I agree with USAFRet on two counts -- Identify the problem, and find what's filling up your drive. You could have something really useless that's filling up your SSD.

I would install Tree Size Free -- it lists the biggest folders/files at the top of the page. In my case, I found that Windows System Restore (the hidden folder System Volume Information) had gone ballistic and was needlessly eating up half my drive. I had to noodle around a bit for a fix, but it dropped from 50% to 3%.

You might find you downloaded some movies then forgot about them (been there, done that). You might find some huge app or feature that you don't even want.

Another solution is to get a 512GB SSD (Amazon has Crucials for around $200) and just clone your old SSD to the new one. You could use the old SSD for a data drive, and your hard disk for full backups.
 
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MADDOGdb7

MADDOGdb7

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From what I can tell my steam games are taking up most of my SSD (86.6 GB) the rest i think is just in programs and windows itself which I believe takes up roughly 25 GB.
 
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