Using SSD As Boot Drive, That's It

Joshgt2 · 08 Jul 2011

Hello, I just got done setting up my new Crucial SATAIII 128GB SSD drive and another Western Digital SATAIII 500GB hard drive for my system. I have them both on SATAIII connection speeds and everything is very nice, but how do I make it where I have ALL of my Program Files and dumps on the Western Digital and only the Boot and main files for the SSD? I am a gamer, and I use Steam. So, I think we all know that I don't want Steam to take up 95% of my SSD drive.

If anyone can direct me to a tutorial or something, that would be great. I have tried the method of changing the registery on making the default location for all Program Files to drive F:, the Western Digital, but this simply isn't working. Steam won't connect to the servers and Microsoft Security Essentials won't run at all.

Again, any help on this would be great.

~Joshgt2

gregrocker · 08 Jul 2011

Program files should ideally be on the same drive as OS since they write Registry Keys which integrate them and for imaging purposes.

However User folders or account can be easily moved to another HD:
User Profile - Change Default Location
User Folders - Change Default Location

We also have reports that Steam is one program that can run from its Program File so you might try moving it to another HD to see how it works.

Joshgt2 · 09 Jul 2011

You're saying to simply click and drag the Steam folder over to the other hard drive and seeing how that plays out?

Wishmaster · 09 Jul 2011

Greg is correct. Steam can easily be moved. However, if you have games currently installed, you may require a few extra steps.

You can move Steam to the HD.
If its already installed, what I would do is this:

1) Make a new folder on your HD called Steam.

2) From your current steam installation, copy the steamapps folder, and all of its contents to the new Steam folder you just created. (These are your games as Im sure you are aware)

3) Next, copy the Steam.exe in the current installation folder, and place it in the new Steam folder you just created as well.

-- So you need just the Steam.exe and the entire steamapps folder. Steam will update the rest --

Now, you can un-install Steam, then run the Steam.exe in your new location and it will update & re-install itself.
May take a few minutes.

--Note--
Hopefully you havent installed any games just yet.
If so, you may consider un-installing them before you un-install Steam & after you move everything to the new drive.

If you do not, you may end up with broken shortcuts, such as in the Win7 game Explorer.
Also, if you have any games that have SecureROM, moving the location might prompt for activation again, even though its technically already activated.

This may take a little while, but you will not need to download your games again. So it shouldnt take too long.

Remember, un-installing the game will delete it from Steam. So be sure youve moved your game folder to the new drive 1st.

Bare Foot Kid · 09 Jul 2011

Hello Josh, too bad you didn't see this tutorial at the link below before you did the new install.

User Profiles - Create and Move During Windows 7 Installations