Windows 10: View Poll Results: Drive for software/programs

A simple backup of the C that has both the OS and software/programs would be perfect. If you have to do a reinstallation just use the backup and you're all set. Splitting the OS and software was a good idea when it was necessary to defrag a HDD but now with low cost SSD's and the fact you don't defrag them it doesn't make sense to split the OS and software anymore, IMO.

Jeff

 

Not so, alas, as programs typically
- add start menu entries (which are usually on C
- use various folders in User space on C:
- have registry entries.

Possible exception: portable programs- but even then you'd probably create start menu shortcuts.

The safest and easiest way is to keep the OS and programs on one partition or disk and as much data as possible elsewhere, preferably on a separate disk.

 

C: 1TB 10k HDD Windows and Games
D: 500GB SSD for OS X boot - I work on OSX so need it more there.
E: F: 4TB work drive, split into 4 partitions. Dedicated audio space for Windows = 1TB, Same for Mac 1TB, 100Gb FAT formatted sharing disk (for moving from OS to OS - safer than filesystem drivers) and 1.8TB of Backups
H: 500GB - Archived installers for other systems in the house
I: 500GB - Random crap from an older PC

 

That's exactly my present setup. I will leave it as is. Macrium system images are very quick: typically only 15 minutes. My personal files are all on a separate HD which is backed up separately.

 

No. Bad idea. If you wish to reinstall Windows and keep apps, you should do so by using the Refresh option. Even with programs on another drive, a lot has to be written to the Windows drive. People use other drives because programs take lots of space and SSD space is expensive. If you don't have the space to keep everything on an SSD, then putting Windows on it will give you a huge boost anyway.

 

C:/ for my OS

D:/ for installed Programs and Games

*Smile

 

1. I have often thought this, for example Photoshop and InDesign

2. Good. I have plenty of space on my SSD, so will leave it as is.

 

3rd option *Wink

C for OS and most Programs except games. Games I usually put on SD card as I don't have enough space if they are big and it doesn't seem to slow things down much (more).

If my C drive was big enough though I'd use that.

 

I think you should check around. The price of a nice 126 Gb SSD is really not that much anymore and that usually servers the needs of the average user well.

 

Good advice. My SSD is 256 GB and my programs are 42 GB, leaving 223 GB free. A 128 GB SSD seems ample for most people. And it is quick both for startup and opening programs.

 

Nice.. Personally I want to get a 256Gb SSD so I can have some of the data that I'm currently working on there. Oh and it makes dual booting a lot easier.

 

I would like to keep the OS on the C: drive and the larger programs on the partitioned D: drive, but several of my larger programs, like Office 16 and Corel VideoStudio, automatically install on the C: drive which makes the backups of the OS to be much larger than I would like.

 

I keep everything on my C Drive but I do a backup of everything to an E drive that I plug in once a week, just to update my folder and files I may of added.

 

I always install two physical hard disks, and I use a single partition for each drive. My layout, no matter the OS is as follows:

C: => OS, applications and user profiles. (On Windows NT, 2000 and XP I used to move profiles to the D: drive, but not since Vista)
D: => Documents profile folder (which is indeed where I keep my data folders). I also have a System-wide temp folder where user and system temporary files are pointed too.

 

C drive (500 GB SSD) = Windows, Office 365, Native Apps and Apps downloaded from the Store, documents, pictures, iTunes Music
H drive (3 TB 7,200 RPM) = All other stuff but mainly games (Steam, Origin, Blizzard client & Games installed from boxed DVDs), Videos (mainly films and TV although I now keep most of my digital collection on NAS drives)

My secondary drive skips a few letters as letters in between are taken up by Bluray and internal SD card reader. I should really move my 15 gb music library to H but I don't want to mess up the iTunes library. It's on C: because that's where it's life began several computers ago and I always just copy and paste the entire iTunes folder from old to new PC.

Games are the space killer for me. I'm not a fan of uninstalling and reinstalling stuff. Once somethings installed I like to keep it in place and not juggle/micro manage space. So luckily 3 TB gives me plenty of space. I've still got over 2 TB free so far. Unfortunately game install sizes are getting absolutely huge these days. Some games need over 50 GB!!!!!!