How to use a SSD just for OS

jes1159

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Aug 4, 2009
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I have a Toshiba laptop x505-q880. It has a 120 GB SSD as primary and a 500 GB HD as secondary. The problem I have is that the ssd if full. I install most of the programs on the secondary, but there is a portion of the programs that install on the primary as well as the windows updates. Is there a way to install programs and windows updates only on the secondary? I am loosing about half with OS and updates. I have heard of people using a small ssd for just the OS and running everything else on a secondary. I have not had any luck doing that, or do I just need to get a larger SSD.

Thanks,

JES
 
Solution
have your tried disk cleanup? Make sure you go also clean up the system files. Windows can also really start to build up temp files. Files in "C:\Users\DJ\AppData\Local" hidden folder are a pain. These files are sometimes necessary without a way to tell which you do and don't need. Often if this gets out of control I just reformat. But that takes at least 2 years with my usage. Also make sure to disable hibernate. It will reserve space on your SSD equal to your RAM.

theyeti87

Honorable
A larger SSD would be preferable. As you are aware, 120GB just isn't a lot of space once you install Windows and all the updates.

Something that will immediately clear up a few GB's of space is to change the page file system over to only the secondary drive. If you're wanting to give that a try, how to do that:
1. Control Panel > System > Advanced System Setting
2. Under the Advanced tab, go into Settings under Performance
3. Under Performance Options > Advanced tab > click Change under Virtual Memory
4. Uncheck box at top
5. Select primary drive C: then No Paging File > click Set
6. Select your secondary drive > System Managed Size > Set

Additionally, you can run CCleaner to clean your index.dat and other temp files, which will free up some space.
 
you can always install programs to a 2nd hard drive, they'll always default to the primary drive so you'll have to remember to change the install path each time you install a new one.

Windows updates only go where windows is (you wouldn't install a program spread across two hard drives so why would windows). That said Windows will never absorb 120GB of space on its on, Windows 10 uses less than 20GB.
 
I have a 256GB SSD in my home PC, which has 199GB free. It's got Windows (8.1), and full installs of Office, Visual Studio, Lightroom, GIMP, Steam, a bunch of other smaller programs, and my profile root (i.e. not the libraries) on it, so 120GB should be manageable. Having said that, Windows 7 uses far more space (about 30GB, IIRC).

You won't be able to control where Windows updates go (IIRC), but you can alter where programs go when you install them (probably by going through the "advanced" option if the installer offers it). Obviously, you can make your libraries go onto the secondary drive (right click -> properties -> move).
 
have your tried disk cleanup? Make sure you go also clean up the system files. Windows can also really start to build up temp files. Files in "C:\Users\DJ\AppData\Local" hidden folder are a pain. These files are sometimes necessary without a way to tell which you do and don't need. Often if this gets out of control I just reformat. But that takes at least 2 years with my usage. Also make sure to disable hibernate. It will reserve space on your SSD equal to your RAM.
 
Solution
First do a Cleanup. Highlight the drive --> Properties --> Disk Cleanup --> Cleanup System Files. See how much that saves u. Got any backup/Restore Points on that puppy?


I got a Win7 with the usual Apps on a 64G SSD and it's at 50%. Are those games *that* hungry?