Have a 60GB SSD boot drive. Can I install games to my 1TB secondary dr

FuturDreamz · 25 Jan 2012

Check my Hardware specs for full information

Current setup:
C: Boot, Corsair SSD
D: Files, samsung HDD

D:/boot files/user/(all user account directories moved here, when possible)

I'm wondering if it's possible to install games such as Assasins' Creed or Skrym, but install all game data to this folder?
D:/boot files/programs/*

Many installers allow you to define a custom installation path, But I am unsure if these games would ask for one or force me to install to the default directory?

thanks.

DustSailor · 25 Jan 2012

Hello dreamz,

Just try it. If it begins to install without offering you the ability to custom install or select which drive to install to, click "cancel" to stop the installation.

More than likely you will be able to choose. However, with digital downloads, you have to choose where through the digital download provider, such as steam. For example, you would have to change the download location for the game within steam, even if steam is installed on your secondary drive.

FuturDreamz · 25 Jan 2012

Ah, that makes sense.

With the programs folder moved to the HDD, and the Documents and Saved Games directorys pointing to the HDD also, is there any other big chunks of data that I have to worry about?

thanks.

ignatzatsonic · 25 Jan 2012

FuturDreamz said:

Ah, that makes sense.

With the programs folder moved to the HDD, and the Documents and Saved Games directorys pointing to the HDD also, is there any other big chunks of data that I have to worry about?

thanks.

Turn off hibernation if you don't use it.

Inspect the amount of space used by System Restore.

Inspect the size of your page file.

FuturDreamz · 25 Jan 2012

I meant that's generated by the game, or it's installer. But thank you

DustSailor · 25 Jan 2012

Delete the hibernation files through disk cleanup as well, off of what ignat said ^

Don't move the paging file as some would suggest, bad idea, but you can definately reduce it's size, especially if you have a lot of good RAM.

Though you might find you need it later, you can reduce/disable system restore for more space.

Look through this list and see if you find anything: Optimize Windows 7

These are just further things to help you if you need them

All games will install at least a part of it on your main drive, including registry items, and some things you just can't/shouldn't move

BugMeister · 27 Jan 2012

see my specs..
I've been running this way for a coupla years..
OS on an SSD and games/data etc on 1TB HDD
it's really easy peasy to set up - and mighty quick..!!

- I've had no problems, so far..

whs · 27 Jan 2012

FuturDreamz said:

Ah, that makes sense.

With the programs folder moved to the HDD, and the Documents and Saved Games directorys pointing to the HDD also, is there any other big chunks of data that I have to worry about?

thanks.

.
Run WinDirStat and you see the 'chunks' immediately.

iTRiP · 28 Jan 2012

...

whs · 28 Jan 2012

iTRiP said:

Just read that what u all mentioned above , I had the same idea for a faster os drive and then a big drive for all games and such....

But i have never actually got to doin it like that ...becoz my main concern is would these installed games on the other harddrive still work if u suddenly had to format or had a hardware fail on that os drive ..the obvious awnser would probably be no game would work again and u would have to do it all again downloads of updates ect.(not to mention game progress and {those perfectly tuned}game settings config files)

There are ways to savegard against such events (tutorials on this forum) does indeed sound like alot of trouble though...and then how save would u really be? is that performace worth the BiG risk...

What is that supposed to mean. If hardware fails, you have to replace the part and move on. To protect yourself against such an event, you make images. Then you are back in business in no time.

And as far as SSDs go, they are at least as reliable as spinning disks. In fact my experience is they are better. I am running SSDs since more than 3 years.