Windows 10: How to use external drive for programs?

I have been in computers since 1984. I was off any computer from about 2004 until 2010. No I was NOT in jail. *Roflmao2

Actually my ex left me and I ended up in a homeless shelter. I am very sick now and could kick the bucket at any moment. So I feel kinda bad asking for help, but lots has changed.

I have of course a C drive which came with this E-Machine (I am poor lol). I bought a 2TB external hard drive and it works great. However, I am not sure about its use when it comes to using it to install games and programs to free up or keep the C drive from filling up.

Do I have to somehow install Windows 10 on the external drive (not to boot from)? In other words make it a system disk but not replace my C drive as the boot disk? I am cornfused. I would like to send games and programs to the F external drive. Is it even possible?

Like I said I am a bit apprehensive about asking in this forum because I should know this. Although in 2011 I lost all of my memory due to sickness (I am OLD lol) and have had a lot of CRS going on.

Any comments/help would be appreciated. *Redface

Thank You!

Chuck

:)

 

How do I set external hard drive to use for backup

Hi Carol,



It’s a good practice to back up your files in case something happens to the original files. Having said that, windows allows user to choose their preferred drive for their backups. To do so, select the
Start button, click on Settings > Update & security >
Backup > Add a drive, then select either a network location or an external drive for your backups.





Once you’re done setting it up, it should be good to back up everything in your user folder. You can go to
More options to change or select the files that you wanted to back up or how often you would like the backups to happen.





Note: Make sure to turn the slider on for the Automatically back up my files option.

We’re just here if you need further help.

 

How do I set external hard drive to use for backup

I am using Windows 10 - build 1709. I would like to change designation for my

backup files to an external hard drive.

Any Help would be appreciated

Thanks

[Moved from: Windows / Windows 10 / Windows settings]

[Modified title from: How do I]

 

Can you install the 2TB hard drive internally? That would be what you would want to do.

 

The case is too small. The only thing I could add was memory. No slots etc. That actually was my first thought but knew when I opened the case to put more memory in I couldn't upgrade anything else.

 

How about replacing the internal hard drive with the 2TB hard drive? But if you need to install programs to the external hard drive, you are just going to have to reinstall them and when it asks where to install to, select the drive letter of the external drive. It will be extremely slow, though, running through USB instead of a real SATA port.

How much space do you have free on the C: drive now?

 

I guess you are talking about store apps, since common software and games can be installed wherever you want.

Install Windows 10 Apps to another Partition or External Drive

Additionally you change default for common software as well, if you do not want to change it all the time.

Change default Program Files directory in Windows 10/8/7