How to split windows over 2 drives w/o partitions

JimBob5524 · 28 Oct 2013

I recently installed a Samsung 256G SSD as C: drive in my laptop. I cloned windows7 home from the existing HD 700G. I copied the non-essentials to ajoining HDs. I installed the old drive C: to a Sata port and taged it D:
Now as my libraries grow larger I would like to split windows so that the programs and operating system are left on the SSD and have all the libraries are residing and growing on D: I think it can be done by adding and/or removing the folder pointers in the various libraries. But I can't begin to imagine what havock that will create. Any advice would be appreciated.

whs · 28 Oct 2013

The easiest is to create a partition on the spinner (or use an existing partition). There you define 4 new user folders - New Documents, New Pictures, New Music and New Videos. Instead of "New" you can use any other supplement - I use my initials WHS).

Then you move the data from the SSD user folders to those corresponding new folders. Now you right click on each of your new folders and "INCLUDE in Library" - into the corresponding library.

jimbo45 · 28 Oct 2013

JimBob5524 said:

I recently installed a Samsung 256G SSD as C: drive in my laptop. I cloned windows7 home from the existing HD 700G. I copied the non-essentials to ajoining HDs. I installed the old drive C: to a Sata port and taged it D:
Now as my libraries grow larger I would like to split windows so that the programs and operating system are left on the SSD and have all the libraries are residing and growing on D: I think it can be done by adding and/or removing the folder pointers in the various libraries. But I can't begin to imagine what havock that will create. Any advice would be appreciated.

Hi there
Why not simply use SPANNED volumes -- windows thinks Disk F is a single volume --where it's actually TWO here.

Cheers
jimbo

alphanumeric · 28 Oct 2013

On my D drive I created new Documents, Pictures, Videos, etc folders. Then I went to C:\Users\my user name\ and right clicked the Documents folder. Then I went to the location tab, clicked move, and pointed it to the Documents folder on my D drive. Don't forget to click the move contents option. I did this for each folder I wanted moved. I didn't have to mess with the libraries either.

How to split windows over 2 drives w/o partitions-location-capture.png

Kari · 28 Oct 2013

This is the most complete solution to do exactly what you want to, use the C: drive only for operating system and programs and store absolutely everything else on secondary disk: User Profiles - Create and Move During Windows 7 Installation

The name of the tutorial is a bit misleading, this procedure is easy to do also on existing Windows installation.

Kari

gregrocker · 28 Oct 2013

You've had several good options presented. Just want to note that if you choose to move the User folders to a new location that drive will be included as a System partition if you use Windows 7 Backup imaging. You can use another imaging app to avoid this, or use the Libraries method which works just as good - providing you also set each of the new partition's data folders as the default location as shown in Library - Set Save Folder - Windows 7 Help Forums.