[RESOLVED] Hard drive questions

[Raydee]

I am in the process of building a new i7 machine with Windows 7. I have two hard drives that I am waiting on, my plan was to use one of them JUST for Windows 7 and the other (larger) drive for all my games, apps, vids, and pics in seperate partitions. If I do it this way will there be any problems? I am not sure if keeping aplications and games in a different drive than the main boot drive will be a problem or not.

[photolady]

Not all applications/programs allow for you to install them in a different drive. Those that will, shouldn't have a problem. Note though, even installed on another drive, they still install what is needed to run them, in the registry on the main drive.

[Midknyte]

I don't see why you want to separate the applications from Windows. You'd have to reinstall them anyway if Windows gets thwacked.

DATA on a separate drive would be good, but make sure to back it up elsewhere.

[Raydee]

I don't see why you want to separate the applications from Windows. You'd have to reinstall them anyway if Windows gets thwacked.

DATA on a separate drive would be good, but make sure to back it up elsewhere.

SO do you think it would be better to have windows 7 and all my apps in two seperate partitions of the main drive and everything else (games, pics, vids) on the second drive?

[Steve R Jones]

Why do YOU want to do it?

Seperating the OS from the Apps would speed up virus scanning of the C drive...and thats about the only reason I can think of to seperate things...Even then - odds are you'd want to scan all drives when you do a scan.

[photolady]

I have numerous Apps on another drive. I do not see any difference in the way Windows works though, so maybe doing this is a moot point.

[SuperSparks]

If you have a multi-boot system, then putting apps on a separate partition can be useful, so that you can share them between OSs. Other than that, there is no advantage, as the others have said. Putting data on a separate drive is a good idea though - I never build a PC with a single drive any more.

[Raydee]

My other option is to just get one 1TB drive and partition it into 4 drives with one just for Windows and the others for games and stuff. I can use my External HD's for backup. I just always thought keeping the OS on a seperate drive would keep it running good. It always seems that the more stuff I put on my drive the slower it runs, maybe its just me?

[Train]

The closer you get over a half full drive the longer it takes to seek things. That is the hag up and always has been.

[Midknyte]

SO do you think it would be better to have windows 7 and all my apps in two seperate partitions of the main drive and everything else (games, pics, vids) on the second drive?

NO. I meant OS/APPS on one partition, then DATA on another. 2 partitions total.

If you have a multi-boot system, then putting apps on a separate partition can be useful, so that you can share them between OSs. Other than that, there is no advantage, as the others have said.

I wouldn't do that. Depending on the app, config files could be the in program directory which could get overwritten when you switch between OSes. You'll have to try it on a app by app basis.

[Shinma]

... I meant OS/APPS on one partition, then DATA on another. 2 partitions total...

Ditto.
Add games to the partition with OS and apps as well.

[Raydee]

Ok guys and gals, thanks for the advice.