Partitioning an SSD

50Twuncle

I am installing the SSD in a desktop....!
I have a 1.5Tb HDD and a 2nd (back up) 1Tb HDD (in a caddy) so I am assuming that ALL my data should be saved to HDD (MP3's, Docs, Videos etc etc) - ie) My "Libraries" - I take it that - unless I do otherwise, my "libraries" will install, along with the rest of Windows to the SSD - I just drag and drop it to the other drive ?

RobTang

50Twuncle wrote: »

I am installing the SSD in a desktop....!
I have a 1.5Tb HDD and a 2nd (back up) 1Tb HDD (in a caddy) so I am assuming that ALL my data should be saved to HDD (MP3's, Docs, Videos etc etc) - ie) My "Libraries" - I take it that - unless I do otherwise, my "libraries" will install, along with the rest of Windows to the SSD - I just drag and drop it to the other drive ?

Windows 7 libraries can have multiple locations, they don't really exist anywhere you just point what folders you want to include in the library.

You just goto manager library then add the folder you want to include, you can also set the default save location, so if you drag a file to the library it will just copied to that location. It generally doesn't matter what drive the folder your pointing to is on (although there are some restrictions such as sd cards and network drives)

Johnmcl7

50Twuncle wrote: »

I am installing the SSD in a desktop....!
I have a 1.5Tb HDD and a 2nd (back up) 1Tb HDD (in a caddy) so I am assuming that ALL my data should be saved to HDD (MP3's, Docs, Videos etc etc) - ie) My "Libraries" - I take it that - unless I do otherwise, my "libraries" will install, along with the rest of Windows to the SSD - I just drag and drop it to the other drive ?

The easiest way to do it is to setup folders on the hard drive for music, pictures, videos, documents etc. then open your profile, right click my music, my videos etc. and choose the new location on the hard drive - when it asks you if you want to move the content from the existing location, click yes even if there's nothing. (otherwise you end up with dud copies of the folders) Once you have set this up, it means your profile folders and media libraries will work as normal even though they're on the hard drive rather than the boot drive.

John

Gratis

I_have_spoken wrote: »

Where does OP say that?

Gratis wrote: »

Even if the OP is installing this in a laptop...?

The OP didn’t. Which is the point I was making.

The OP had given no indication whatsoever whether the SSD is to be installed in a desktop, in a laptop, in a netbook or in another device. You just assumed it would be a desktop, with no evidence at all upon which to make that assumption, and then based your advice on it.

The bane of this entire site is people who “just assume” things and post advice based on presumptions that may not be valid.

If, moreover, the OP had “said” anything, none of us would have been able to hear it because this a written medium, not a verbal one. (The very User Name you have chosen suggests that you are obtuse to this.)

Your flawed reasoning processes and your imprecision make it dangerous for you to give advice to other people.

And the fact that you are likely to dismiss that as pedantry instead of taking it on board merely compounds the risk that you pose.

Please think things through before you post them.



50Twuncle,

50Twuncle wrote: »

I am installing the SSD in a desktop....!

Thanks for clearing that up!

Enjoy the drive. Fasten your seatbelt and prepare to engage warp speed. You’re going to love the ride.

wongataa

Gratis wrote: »

I have always partitioned my hard drives.

If you put your data in a separate partition it enables you to perform any surgery that becomes necessary to your system – even erase the entire volume and reinstall your system – with your data safely protected and uninvolved in the operation.

It is not a good idea to have multiple partitions on a SSD drive. It will degrade performance.

Multiple partitions on a normal drive aren't always a good idea. If there is a hardware problem you can lose everything so the data is not more secure. It is also a pain if you fill one partition up but have lots of free space in the other one as it can be awkward to reallocate space.

One partition per drive is best practice for any hard disk. If you need more partitions get more disks.

Gratis

With a desktop, I agree absolutely.

But with a laptop you don’t have that option – you’d have to carry around the other partitions with you everywhere on the external drives!

So, with a laptop, I find it better to partition (and, of course, keep my data backed up on more than one external hard drive and cloud in case the whole internal drive does get Ballmered).

At home, my Mac desktops are connected to 8-port Firewire 800 hubs and are Gigabit networked. I've got lots of external hard drives!

50Twuncle

I now see that Crucial have put the SSD that I ordered on Saturday on sale - reduced from £144 (+vat) to £108 (+vat) - it still hasn't been delivered - so I am trying to get Crucial to give me a partial refund on this (not inconsiderable) price drop...
I feel angry that I was not informed of this by the salesperson that I had a "live chat" with prior to buying it !!!

Jivesinger

esuhl wrote: »

Seriously, though, it makes backups easier if you separate the OS from your personal data...

Yep - and when the operating system gets itself in a knot, as they seem to do, and you need to restore a backup image (or Windows 8's new-fangled "Reset" option) then it's easier if the operating system partition contains as little as possible.

Also taking that image in the first place is easier if you have a partition to backup to. Sometimes being able to create a backup image within one drive and copy it off later is better.

You do need to copy your image elsewhere to protect against hardware failure but most times I have to restore an image it's been about software failure not hardware failure,

50Twuncle

Right - so what size partition should I set the OS partition to ?
I am running Win 7 Professional 64 bit

Jivesinger

50Twuncle wrote: »

Right - so what size partition should I set the OS partition to ?
I am running Win 7 Professional 64 bit

I admit that's the downside of partitioning - you have to pick a size and it's not trivial to change it later.

It depends how much software you want to install, and what software it is. I was just looking at a Windows 7 PC with 80Gb for the C: drive, and that is more than enough for the software running on it. (Office 2010, and a few other oddments).