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Geek Culture / Redirecting folders on Windows 7?

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bergice
17
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Joined: 5th Jun 2007
Location: Oslo,Norway
Posted: 17th Sep 2011 03:33
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Hi, I recently built a new computer which runs Windows 7. The computer has a 64 gb SSD and a 1 tb harddisc, the reason I have the SSD is to store drivers and windows files on it. But the problem is since W7 is installed on it, all files are automatically put there. Such as software which has no option for download location and the Roaming and Local folders inside the user directory.

Is there any way I can move or possibly redirect these folders to the harddisc to save space? (I have approximately 8 gb left on the SSD :S)
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xplosys
19
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Joined: 5th Jan 2006
Playing: FPSC Multiplayer Games
Posted: 17th Sep 2011 03:44
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Wow, I didn't think you could install Windows 7 on a 64GB drive.
Even if you manage to install all future software to the hard disk, some files will always be placed on the O/S drive like system files, registry, shortcuts, etc. You're already at critical shortage and don't have enough virtual memory space to run Windows properly.

Install Windows on the hard disk today and save yourself a lot of heartache tomorrow.

Brian.

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bergice
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Joined: 5th Jun 2007
Location: Oslo,Norway
Posted: 17th Sep 2011 04:11
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Quote: "Install Windows on the hard disk today and save yourself a lot of heartache tomorrow."


Thanks, but is there no other way? Would be kind of ironic to just have everything on the harddisc. But I see what you mean, the longer I wait the worse it will get.
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bitJericho
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Joined: 9th Oct 2002
Location: United States
Posted: 17th Sep 2011 04:45 Edited at: 17th Sep 2011 04:49
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Yes. You can install windows 7 and run it nicely on about 20-30 gigs.

You can move you profile off the SSD.

http://www.starkeith.net/coredump/2009/05/18/how-to-move-your-windows-user-profile-to-another-drive/

See also:

http://tuts4tech.net/2009/08/05/windows-7-move-the-users-and-program-files-directories-to-a-different-partition/

Once done, I also recommend moving the swap file off the ssd. Being on an SSD can give a good performance boost (or just adding more ram), but can kill your SSD.

I like to put it at the beginning of my drives on their own partition. I give it about a gig or two static size, and on the partition an extra 512mb so that windows doesn't complain about running out of space. You may also want to remove restore points to save space and usage on the ssd. I never use them, as I prefer a full reinstall if needed (and that is extremely easy with this type of setup!)


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bergice
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Location: Oslo,Norway
Posted: 19th Sep 2011 16:28
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Thanks Jerico, that's exactly what I was looking for.

But just a question, is the user shortcut an actual shortcut or is it different? Because when I open it in C: it says that the folder is located in the C: drive but when I open it in D: (where it actually is located) it says it's in the D: drive.
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bitJericho
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Posted: 21st Sep 2011 11:49
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Not sure what's happening there. Can you get a screenshot?


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The Wilderbeast
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Location: UK
Posted: 22nd Sep 2011 12:08
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I have a similar set-up to you and had the same problem. There's some registry keys that you can edit to set the default location for new programs. But for some reason this isn't actually effective and ends up either breaking installs, or not installing at all. Don't even know why they bothered to create them :S


10% TGC Discount!
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MrValentine
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Playing: FFVII
Posted: 28th Sep 2011 00:56
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a tip from me... would be to save up for a 120-128GB SSD or better yet a 256GB... and in the mean time go for what Jerico2Day suggested, and when you have the new drive, simply do a mirror trasnfer and your set, do what you will with the 64GB, but do not sell it on, I never sell on hard drives.

And they ARE getting cheaper as the days go by.

So yeah... its a lot of manual labour rewiring [you know what I mean] every software install to the hard drive... but once done... your sorted... and you know when your in your second hard drive? right click a particular folder and you will see 'Include in library' and select 'Create new library' OHHH what a SoftSend [lol] Win7 was

I figure you will work out what the library bit does, hope it helped as well as my starting tip.

MrValentine

[if you did get a larger SSD, use the 64GB as swap file... nice!]

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