SSD filling up, second HDD almost empty, how do I resolve this?

Hi, I have a relatively new, 2 months old, desktop PC which I ordered with a 120Gb SSD drive for the os Win7 and a secondary HHD 500Gb drive for data storage. I find that my SSD drive is already almost full with 24Gb free whereas my secondary drive is virtually empty. What should I do and have done to enable my system to use the SSD for the os but everything else like music, photos, etc to be saved onto the larger Data drive?:confused
All constructive comments and advice is very much appreciated.

 

You can't just move files like that. If they are program files, you will break the program. So you need to determine what files are filling up the SSD. Data files (Word documents, music files, photos, etc.) they can just be moved. But programs have to be uninstalled, then installed in the new location. Temporary files can be deleted with Windows Disk Cleanup or CCleaner.

You can also change the default locations for many of your folders. See https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/310147 and https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/172949.

Whenever you install new programs ALWAYS select the custom install option. This does 2 things. (1) It lets you opt-out of any junk you don't want or need foisted onto your system, like extra toolbars, search engines, etc. and (2) it let's you (hopefully) select a different location to install the program so it does not automatically install in the default locations on your C drive.

 

You've made I a whole bunch of assumptions that I have learned not to. People frequently don't know what files can and cannot be moved. If you don't look for custom install and just go with the normal or default installion, you frequently don't see any path options.

 

Oh? You mentioned "saving data" but that is not the same as installing new programs. And I see no mention by anyone about custom installs. So unless this was addressed in another thread, it was not here until I came in.

To be sure, just trying to avoid confusion or mistakes. So as you noted, hopefully the OP will come back and we can go from there.

 

I don't discuss technical issues via PMs. That defeats the very purpose of forums - which is an "open" venue for discussions where anyone can contribute and share, and add their own experiences to the discussion.

Saying thanks does not imply a total understanding of all that is involved. It is just showing appreciation. Nobody is talking about negligent advice and certainly nothing personal was meant. So no need to don't take it that way.

As we have both suggested, it may be best now to wait until the OP returns.

 

I don't understand you and this line of discussion.

"Philosophical interpretation of what thanks means"? Huh?

Thanks simply means thanks. You are the one who made it non-neutral by implying it meant an understanding or else he would return.

It seems clear you've taken my comments as some personal attack on you. I already said nothing personal was meant. Sorry if you took it that way.

Now I am done here.

 

??? That's true! But if it wasn't a "Thanks", where are these two acknowledgements you said the OP made?

And also with the greatest respect, you said (my bold added),

"All the files" does not "imply" non-program files only, nor does "all the files" automatically "exclude programs files. "All" is totally "inclusive" and it "includes" program, temporary, Windows, document, music, video and "all" other files too.

So unless the technical expertise and experience level of the poster is known you cannot assume someone asking how to free up space on a boot drive knows what you mean when you say "all the files".

Now again, I am sorry that you took offense, but I am not sorry for making it clear to you, the OP and all others reading that you cannot simply manually move "all the files" from one drive to another - especially from the boot drive.

 

My need? That's seems like the pot calling the kettle black, isn't it? As I've only been responding to your objections to my initial post here.

If you feel your inclusion of that link rationalizes your statement the user can move "all the files", then fine. I don't. So I have no regrets for anything I have said, or not said.

If you have no need to get the last word in, then let's just drop it now.

 

Not a good idea.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/949977

I've moved the data folders off my SSD. With a 120GB SSD I would be a bit more particular about what I've got installed but I would still install all my programs on the SSD.

 

@Just Playin - Where did your first quote come from? I don't see where anyone here suggested to move those folders.

Just to be sure we are all on the same page, "Using the ProgramData setting to redirect folders" is not the same thing as changing the install location of program files during a program's installation. And Windows allows you to change the Temporary File and Documents folders locations too without problems.

To be sure, I would not recommend moving the User folders either. It would be best to just reinstall Windows on the secondary drive if you wanted to do that.

 

Guys, the quote was from the latter part of the HTG link in #2, the following quote is the other paragraph of that:

In the context of the OP's issue, it shouldn't be followed.

 

I did this as well. Documents folder, download folder, Pictures, music, videos, etc., all go onto a 500GB Seagate Barracuda drive. I even put older, large games on the platter drive, particulary when they don't seem to benefit from being on an SSD.

Had my 250GB Samsung 840 EVO for over a year now, and just have about 60GB on it. Have written less than a TB to it as well in that time.

 

My boot disk/C drive is a 256 Samsung SSD. For 20 years, I always used a small boot disk and kept only the OS and HW drivers on it. I always had my installed apps and data files (and Page File) on D drive.

But for this machine I built for W8, I decided to keep my apps and my data files on C too and I am glad I did.

I have a 56 page, 18,000 word Word document full of canned texts, references and links I use every day while I "work" the forums. I keep a shortcut to this document in my Quicklaunch toolbar. Without exaggerating, it takes considerably less than 1 second to launch Microsoft Word and open that 56 page document. I mean, it really just "pops" open.

But even with Windows 8.1, Microsoft Office Pro, all my security programs, utilities, etc. I still have 100Gb free on the SSD. I still keep all my music (600 CDs plus downloads), program downloads, and backups on my hard D drive.

I'll most likely always keep a HD for backups and archiving, but I will being SSD for my primary drives from now on. I cannot see going back to HDs for the boot drive. The over all performance gains going with SSDs just cannot be ignored.

15 second boot times (with most of that in the BIOS) has spoiled me too much too. :drool

 

Word. I'm forever ruined for platter drives, except as an inexpensive storage solution. The Samsung Evo's also have software called RAPID (Real-time Accelerated Processing of I/O Data) that boosts performance even more.

 

That's part of Samsung Magician and I have experienced mixed results with it. So have others. And by mixed I mean in many scenarios, performance actually degrades with RAPID enabled. Though still faster than the fastest HDs when enabled, many users have found Samsung SSDs are fast enough already with RAPID or Magician sitting I the middle.

Note that the RAPID feature uses 1Gb of your system RAM as a dedicated cache so this is not recommended unless you have a bunch of RAM to start with.

There is also a slightly higher risk of data loss with RAPID mode enabled too - so I while I always recommend all computers be on a "good" UPS with AVR, I stress that even more if you enable RAPID. Note the RAPID is said to be disabled by default because of the higher risk of data loss.

And note Magician will mess with your sleep modes too.

I ended up uninstalling Magician, with no regrets.

If you have a compatible Samsung SSD, to see if you want to enable RAPID mode (or disable it as I did), see the excellent Tech Report review, A closer look at RAPID DRAM caching on the Samsung 840 EVO SSD.

 

Typo correction from above:

That should have been, "without" RAPID or Magician sitting "in" the middle.

 

lol . . . that's actually how I read it.

I've not experienced any slowdowns or issues with RAPID, just the opposite in fact. The real world speed benefit is beyond question for what I do with the computer. I guess I don't fall into any of the scenarios where people have had issues, but I have heard of a few users who have had problems with it as you say. The benefit is situational, apparantly.

The differences could be:

--I have 16GB of RAM, so I'm not worried about that 1GB being usurped by RAPID

--Not overly worried about data loss as my computer is not "mission critical" most of the time, but at any rate it's on a APC Smart-UPS system along with my modem and router. It has AVR and can run my equipment for 45 minutes if needed before it initiates an orderly shutdown.

--My computer never goes to sleep - I have that disabled . . . if I'm not using it, it's turned off.

I suggest the user experiment with the option to see if it is a benefit to them or not, based on real-world usage of their particular setup.

 

Funny how the mind works sometimes.

As far as RAPID working right for you, I am glad. As I mentioned, I've seen and heard mixed results with some like me experiencing unwanted side effects, and others seeing clear benefits.

That seems to be the biggest difference. I never turn my computer off unless I plan on doing some maintenance or cleaning, or I will be away for several days. I normally just let it go to sleep. This is not because I want it ready to use faster, it is because when I am ready to walk away, I'm ready to walk away and have no desire to go through the shutdown process.