To which HD should I install programs now?

from Elemental Forums


Hello all, I'm just getting a new laptop in the next couple of days or hours, which will be running Windows 8 (I hope I can figure it out! A windows 7 user here...) and which will have a 1000gig HDD and a 128 SSD. The OS should be on the SSD. But my main question is: Where should I install most of the programs?

In other words -- I'll use the HDD for storing data, such as documents and photos, but what about the applications themselves? Will the 128 SSD be enough to have most of my programs which I want to run smoothly be on it?

I suppose a related question is: Will Windows 8 allow me to install some programs on the HDD and some on the SSD? (I forget, but it seems like in Windows 7 that installing programs always had Windows choose for you where to put them, and in my case, that was actually 3 places, all on the same physical disk (my /Programme, my /Programs, and my /Progams86) -- apparently, my German version confuses windows. But then again I have no clue and am a computer illiterate.)

Any tips appreciated, thank you!

74,011 views 16 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It doesnt matter where you choose to install your programs
Personally I prefer to install my main programs on the SSD because they can get accessed mzch more quickly and will cause a faster start load of windows desktop. ( Programs like Skype, Stardock Software, SSD progs, Wacom Pad etc.)

If you have a 1000gig HDD you should divide it into 2 or 3 partitions
On them you can install progs like Photoshop Games and store personal Data.

Also you get more benefits like : to choose what partition you would like to defrag(if needed)
Windows search benefits and more...

In Windows8 will not demand a install on C it remains to you where you would like to install your programs just like in windows7

In Deutsch:

Es ist egal wo Sie Ihre Programme hin installieren...
Persönlich bevorzuge ich es meine Hauptprogramme auf die SSD zu installieren weil diese dort wesentlich schneller abgerufen werden und somit einen schnelleren Start bedeuten.(Skype,Stardock Software, SSD Programme,Wacom Pad usw.)

Bei einer 1000gig HDD sollten Sie diese in Partitionen unterteilen (2 oder 3)
Dort können Sie dann alles andere ablegen/installieren
 z.B Photoshop und Co, Spiele , und Persönliche Daten  ( HDD )  

Windows8 gibt Ihnen nicht vor wohin Sie ihre Software installieren  es bleibt Ihnen überlassen wie bei Windows7

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I put most of my apps on the HD with a few exceptions.  Apps I use daily like Office, Photoshop, Lightroom, etc. I put on the SSD.

 

Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I agree with Island Dog.

128 GB isn't a lot of space, and SSDs perform better if they have some headspace.

 

So, most progs on the HDD, put progs used a lot on the SSD.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top


Thanks much! Wasn't sure that was possible. (Yes, I am computer illiterate.) I don't know yet how much space Windows 8 will take up, I hope not all of the 128. There are a few programs I'd like to have on the SSD, such as parts of Office I use every day.

Would putting some games on the SSD make their performance better, or is that purely a question of CPU and graphics card? Would loading times be faster if on the SSD (for example the really long load times LH has now on my old laptop!)?

I see people here refering to a "clean install" a couple of times. What exactly does that mean?

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting onomastikon, reply 4
I see people here refering to a "clean install" a couple of times. What exactly does that mean?
End of onomastikon's quote

Basically it means going through the install routine. Not restoring from a backup, and not upgrading from a previous version.

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting onomastikon, reply 4
Would putting some games on the SSD make their performance better, or is that purely a question of CPU and graphics card? Would loading times be faster if on the SSD (for example the really long load times LH has now on my old laptop!)?
End of onomastikon's quote


Loading times will be faster if the game is installed on the SSD... even if the SSD is first Generation
A HDD Sata has a average read speed of 120-210MB/s on 7200rpm modern SSD have a read speed of 500-550MB/s the HDD has 38,18^% the read speed of the SSD so yeah games will load faster

 

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Depending on the brand of laptop that you bought, you will probably have some custom branded apps, and programs from the mfg. that take up unwanted space, but you should still have a fair amount of space to load programs on the SSD. with a 120gb ssd you should have about 110 of usable space , less the OS & Prgrams from the mfg.

Usually on a OEM load is about 35-45 gb so that would leave you with say 65-70 gb of free space , you want to leave yourself with at least 20-25 gb of free space - so that really leaves about 45-50 gb for extra programs .

also most mfg that ship a dual drive SSD with a second drive will ( I hope) have redirected your documents, music, and pictures folders to the larger drive. If not you can do this yourself , by right clicking on say your documents folder , and selecting properties, and then the location tab , that will show you the real location of the folder.

example C:\Users\XXX\Documents, ( XXX= your user name ) .  Given the larger drive letter is say D:\ , if they are already redirected the folder then it would look like :  D:\users\XXX\documents

if they have not done it for you , you just need to edit the location drive letter , and click apply .

If you have alot of music , pictures , and docs - you will want to do this so everything in those folders are save to the Large drive , and not your SSD.

Just a suggestion

Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top

but it seems like in Windows 7 that installing programs always had Windows choose for you where to put them, and in my case, that was actually 3 places, all on the same physical disk (my /Programme, my /Programs, and my /Progams86) -- apparently
End of quote

This is true if you when you are installing programs choose default or auto installation,

To be able to install programs where you want it for instance your 1TB hard disk you mentioned you will have to choose partition D or E ..... Depends how many partitions your HDD will have.

To do that you have to choose custom installation. When you choose it sort of install wizard will pop up where you can choose where you want to install programs and some will have option which functionalities of a program you want to install. 

But don't worry. In custom installation things are explained pretty well at least part when it asks you where you want to install program at.  

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top

Sorry, not understanding everything entirely, may I ask please?

 

1. It's an ASUS, and it came shipped with the C: drive labeled OS, which is the SSD, and everything seems to be on it; not just the OS, but by default /my documents and /programs.

2. I'd like to have at least the libraries with my documents, and at least some programs be default to E, which is the big hard drive, which is not partitioned. Do I just right-click on the little icon on the C: drive and tell it (the my documents) to go to E: and that should be enough?

3. The 1TB HDD is not partitioned. Do I have to "install" that to partition it? And if so, how?

 

Thank you!

Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting onomastikon, reply 9
Do I just right-click on the little icon on the C: drive and tell it (the my documents) to go to E: and that should be enough?
End of onomastikon's quote

No. Documents is a library which means it can include multiple directories.

This is how u do it in WIN7 not sure about WIN8

Mouse right click on name of the library name you want to add directory to and go to properties, Then click on include a folder. Windows explorer window will open. Browse to folder to which you want to include click on it and then click on include bottom.

Quoting onomastikon, reply 9
3. The 1TB HDD is not partitioned. Do I have to "install" that to partition it? And if so, how?
End of onomastikon's quote

When you click on Win Explorer under computer you should have  Local disk C and then whatever that 1TB disk is at. 

Reply #11 from Elemental Forums Top


Sadly, I didn't understand those answers.

I'm using Windows 8, and I'm not keen on adding Folders to the library, but keen on telling where the library should be stored. I'm also looking for tips on how to "Partition" a hard-drive.

Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top

in most windows versions from xp, it is possible to get to the 'disk manager' through the management console which is a in the rightclick on the (my) computer / manage or administrator tools / disk manager in the start menu.

in disk manager it is possible to format drives/change the drive letters of drives other than the boot drive(the one that windows is installed on) and a couple of other tasks that I have not tried out.

hope this helps

harpo

Reply #14 from Elemental Forums Top

Thank you, I will try that. 

I'm still confused as to how to get certain programs exactly where. Example:

Let's say I manage to figure out how to partition my HDD into 3, 1 for programs, one for music and video, and one for just general stuff. Then I will have 4 disks, including the SSD. So.... I would still run the OS on the SSD, but I would also want to have a couple of programs I use a lot be installed on that too. I would run most programs on the HHD 1 (call it D) however. And I would have my documents and stuff on HHD2 (call it E). 

By default, Windows seems to store documents in the library it keeps under "Users", and Users it keeps now by default under C (my SSD). I will want to change that. Also, currently by default under C (SSD), are both My Programs and My Programsx86 (whatever the difference is I do not understand). I can see currently that there are already things installed in both, and they both seem to be mirror images of each other, for whatever reason (again I do not understand). So I don't want to change the location of those folders to E right away, because that might damage the installed programs (right??). BUT in the future, I will want to install some programs on C and some on E. How can I tell the computer how to do that? 

Also, what happens when I DL and install something from Steam, for example FE:LH? It will choose a place to install by itself, right? How do I know where it is going to install to, and how can I control that?

THANK YOU

Reply #15 from Sins Forums Top

regarding the install of programs, the default install is to the windows drive, and if you want the programs to install to a different location then you MUST use the 'custom' install.

regarding steam it seems to like to install games into a subfolder underneath it's install, so install steam to the big drive and it might be good to go, BUT a steam expert might be able to answer better than this steam hater.

harpo

 

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Steam: When you install steam you get to choose where you want to install it: DO NOT install STEAM on your SSD
install it to a HDD or partition since steam will download the games into that steam directory  !
example: download and install steam under D:\Programme\Steam
If steam is installed and you go and download a game it will be downloaded to D:\Programme\Steam \steamapps + installed in the same directory-

There is also a way to change the MY documents MY pictures MY downloads and Movie user folders but...
im not certain if i should post this... since it is not recommended by MicroSoft and probably also goes a bit to far for this forum.
Also relocating these folders can cause bugs to your system or should i say glitches... 
If you download a lot of things it would be best to setup your browser to save on the HDD instead of the SSD this way you dont have to relocate any of the user folders and prevent massive writings to your ssd.

Open up Chrome select the three lines on the very top right a drop down menu should appear select settings

on the bottom there is some blue text ( show advanced settings ) click that
scroll a bit down until you read downloads 
Now you have two options
1. you can check the checkbox -  Ask before downloading files to the location
2 you leave the Ceckbox empty and choose a download path you like