Windows 7: What Programs for SSD Install

I'm installing a new Vertex3 today and will run my OS from it. I am wondering beside Windows7 x64, what other programs should I install onto the SSD? Do I have to run my antivirus (Norton) from the SSD? Also, How about Microsoft office? I use Microsoft Outlook for my e-mail and use Word, etc. very little. Can I install Office to an alternate HD?

I have installed all my programs on the SSD. I do have it partitioned into 2 drives, C & D, and most of my programs are installed on the D partition. That is mainly because that is the way my original spinner was set up. So I just images my main BOOT/Program drive and loaded that image on the SSD.

But years ago I made a decision to always use a small drive as the OS & program drive and have other drives in the system to store the main bulk of data. I do have the Documents folder on the SSD but as for images, music and other files they are all on other spinning HDD.

I put the OS and Office on the SSD
- works like a charm..


PS: watch that WEI go thru the roof..!!

I would install programs to the OS partition as they write Registry Keys which integrate themselves into the OS so should be included in it's image.

If you start running out of space on the SSD, you can easily link your User folders to another HD using this method: User Folders - Change Default Location
You can even link your full named User account: User Profile - Change Default Location - Windows 7 Forums

This way if Windows 7 ever becomes irreparable or otherwise needing reimage from backup image, your data is all current and waiting in its own partition "vault."
Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
Backup User and System Files - Windows 7 Forums

I agree partially with moving the user folders to another drive to save space but as for the other reason, being in a vault, that is until the other drive fails then you are left with nothing.
Leaving the user files on the main drive and then imaging that drive guaranties that the image you create will have all the info needed if and when you need to restore that image to a new or another drive without having to worry about putting back all the user files and folders.

I have a 128 GB SSD in my system, and I install all of my normal apps and games to it. It's just a drive like any other...just much faster.

Incorrect. An image will be to some degree dated hence lack some of the latest (and perhaps most crucial: e.g. taxes ) data.

The keyword in describing linking User data to another drive or partition is that upon OS reimage the data is waiting and current.

And I gave a link for backing up User files as they should be anyway, wherever they are.

Perhaps "vault" is too strong to describe a simple data partition, however.

Well I am glad you edited your post because the version I received in my email was a bit over the top.
I was not picking at others proven solutions. I was stating what I do which for me over the years has worked out very well. I image one complete drive and have all my main personal, work and leisure files along with all the programs I need installed all in one image. No need to restore anything other then that one image. I also have all those files backed up on other PCs and on a external drive. All Photos music and whatever are on other drive and again backed up on other PCs and external drive.

Have a great day, really.

You will want to install as much as you can onto your SSD because it will be much faster than a standard conventional hard drive. What I wouldn't necessarily put onto an SSD drive would be a ton of file storage. For example, for internet downloads, video files and MP3 files...storing them on a conventional hard drive is often desirable. They just don't often need the increased speed the SSD drive provides.


This is true, and often the reason that images either need to be quite frequent or backups frequent. I don't take a ton of images...usually once a month or so. But data backups happen quite regularly to a pair of external hard drives via the robocopy utility and these backups happen in mere seconds since not much data changes. And then I keep one of the external drives off site at all times in case I am robbed or my house burns to the ground.

Absolutely right. Just treat the SSD like any other disk. I move my user files to the spinner (on the desktop). But on the laptops there is no choice - everything has to stay on the SSD unless you move it to an external drive.

The only "tweaks" I make is to disable defrag and to get rid of the hiberfile. All the other "recommended" tweaks are useless or counterproductive - at least in my book after 5 SSDs and 2 years with some.