Placing C:\Users on a different drive


  1. Posts : 18
    Windows 7 Home Premium and Ultimate
       #1

    Placing C:\Users on a different drive


    I have read about people moving the C:\Users folder onto a different drive because they are using a solid state drive for drive C:.
    A method of doing this is creating a junction link from the other drive to the C:\Users folder. This sounds a clever idea to reduce the drive activity on the SSD. However, I've looked into that folder and found numerous junction links in there already.

    What would happen to the junction links inside the folder when the whole folder is moved to another location?
    Thanks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 4,751
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32-Bit - Build 7600 SP1
       #2

    fhutt said:
    I have read about people moving the C:\Users folder onto a different drive because they are using a solid state drive for drive C:.
    A method of doing this is creating a junction link from the other drive to the C:\Users folder. This sounds a clever idea to reduce the drive activity on the SSD. However, I've looked into that folder and found numerous junction links in there already.

    What would happen to the junction links inside the folder when the whole folder is moved to another location?
    Thanks
    Why do you want to reduce activity on the SSD? The preferred way is to put your OS and programs on the SSD and put your Docs, Pictures and anything else on a large HDD. The SSD will boot your PC and open your programs fast and fully utilize the speed of it.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 18
    Windows 7 Home Premium and Ultimate
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I believe that SSD's have a limited life writing to it. Therefore, reducing the write operations, which are mostly to the users folder and maybe the C:\ProgramData folder would extend the life of the SSD (I think).
    At least this is what I have read.
    Thanks
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 9,746
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit sp1
       #4

    You really don't have to worry about write operations on SSDs these days. In most cases an SSD will probably outlast an HDD under the same conditions.

    So I agree with bigmck & as he says why go for the speed on an SSD & then drive it with the brakes on to slow it down.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 17,322
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #5

    SSD's are pretty robust, I don't think you need to worry about the writes that much.

    A lot of people do move the user folders though but for other reasons like storage, keeping them separate for imaging.

    We have a tutorial for moving them,

    User Folders - Change Default Location
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #6

    Bigmck summed it up perfectly.


    Store your data and what not on the hard drive, keep windows and your programs on the ssd, there is need to change anything.

    Just think of the hard drive as an extended partition of your ssd.

    Makes imaging and restoring windows so much easier (but hopefully you won`t ever have to)

    You should not be storing data on the ssd in the first place.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 18
    Windows 7 Home Premium and Ultimate
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I have a new system about 2 weeks old. This why I am asking about the best way to implement the operation of the SSD.
    Except for Windows Media Player my windows works perfectly. The speed is fantastic compared to what was used to. I installed Firefox and Thunderbird both portable on the HDD, so they keep away form the SSD and they work fine.
    I think I will keep it the way it is (as recommended).
    Thank for all your help with this.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 3,487
    Win 7 Pro x64/Win 10 Pro x64 dual boot
       #8

    bigmck said:
    The preferred way is to put your OS and programs on the SSD and put your Docs, Pictures and anything else on a large HDD. The SSD will boot your PC and open your programs fast and fully utilize the speed of it.
    I've moved my user folders. Not because of SSD activity, but the sheer size of the AppData folder. It ate half of my 120 GB SSD. When I upgraded to a 250 GB SSD, I just left the user folders on a HDD. Much easier that way.

    I can't think of a better reason to move the User folders. The AppData folder is ridiculously huge with a modest Win 7 installation, and if allowed, will chew up most of a small SSD.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 18
    Windows 7 Home Premium and Ultimate
    Thread Starter
       #9

    I notice that most of my user folder space is taken up by the AppData folder. However, it is only 1Gb at the moment - of course it is a new system.

    I'll keep an eye on this folder.
      My Computer


 

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