Should I keep My Documents on C and Videos, Music etc on D ?

whs said:

I was just joking about the difference. I hope you did not mind.

The Macrium folder is called 'Reflect" and I sometimes have to go in and delete xml files that are no more applicable because I changed the setting.

The really big folder is 'Virtual System' which is one or several VMware Player virtual machines. Most of the virtual machines I moved outboard to an external SSD because they were over 100GB, but a couple most used I keep in Documents. Then I need not switch my external SSD on. Avoids bending forward and pushing a button. LOL

I consider you a friend Wolfgang,

I don't mind a little rib tickling every now and then

I understand that you have the other member's best interest at heart. When I joined this thread there seemed to be some contention and I thought I might add some breathing room (and some good input).

As I understand the issue, Adrien wants to separate his backups so that on restore he retains all of his settings. Libraries that point to folders on drive D: are implemented to isolate the data from the OS, apps, and settings. This is classic separation.

The issue is what to do about Documents. Should it be located on D: with the other special user folders?
Or... should a new folder be placed on D: that is the default save location defined in the Documents Library?

I think I saw you answer the question
Keep the special Documents on C:\ and create a new folder on D: that is the default save location for the general type.

That makes sense.

Adrien asks some good questions. Using Macrium as the example:

Special User folder Documents: C:\User\Adrien\Documents
Documents Library default save location: D:\UserFiles\Documents

Which folder takes precedence for the Macrium XML files?

I think that's what Adrien wants to know.
C:\Documents because it's the special folder
-- or --
D:\Documents because it's the default save location for the general type.

Am I over thinking this?
- is the location of the Reflect folder (or any other application) determined at install time?

I see Lady Fitz & Brink answered a piece of the puzzle. Will the user folders be included in a backup
- maybe :)
Depends on the backup (imaging) utility.

I'll sleep on this - don't worry about possibly hurting my feelings by joking around Wolfgang. I enjoy life too much and laughing always makes it more enjoyable.

Bill
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whs said:

LF, you are splitting hair. Of course you can image a bunch of partitions in one swoop. But that is still by partition. If you make a clone, you get a bare metal copy sector by sector of the whole disk.

Disadvantage with cloning is that it takes a lot longer than an image and the receiving disk must be at least the size of the originating disk. An image you can restore to a smaller disk as long as the data fits.

Btw - why do you worry about the time it takes to write an image. Just 'hide' Macrium and go on using your computer. It will telkl you when it is done. I have never seen an image take longer than 15 minutes - on my system.

Apparently I misunderstood you. Sorry.

If using intelligent sector cloning, you can clone to a smaller drive as long as the data will fit.

I don't worry about the time nearly as much as I do how much data I put on my boot drive; the latter is the real issue for me to avoid filling up the drive, making excessive writes to the SSD (yes, I know that isn't nearly the issue we used to think it was; just call me anal), and to reduce the frequency I need to make images (I could get away with once a month plus before I make a change, such as adding a program, but I prefer once a week just to establish and maintain the habit because of my ADHD; it's easier for me to remember every Friday instead of once a month).

My images never take more than ten minutes to make and verify. I'm aware I can still use the computer while an image is running, and have done so (now that I have three monitors, I don't even need to hide it), but, most of the time, I just leave the computer alone while the image is being made since I'm usually watching the news at the time, making a bathroom break, or grabbing something to eat,

Good, I think we are on the same page.

Talking about breaks whilst the computer runs - if you want to give your SSD some breathing time, let the system idle in the BIOS (F2 or ESC) from time to time. Then nothing is being written to the SSD and garbage collection has a chance to do it's job. Normally the system always writes stuff and the SSD can never freely breathe. On the other hand it needs power to do the garbage collection.

Bill, it all comes down to personal preference. I think earlier the discussion was sliced too thin. We were talking about user folders and for those the only real difference is between the default folders and all the others.

As I have shown in my post #25, programs put stuff into the default folders and those should stay with the system - at least they will in my system. The folders in the data partition nobody knows other than me. Really no need to complicate the matter with complicated setups - see below.

whs said:

Good, I think we are on the same page.

Talking about breaks whilst the computer runs - if you want to give your SSD some breathing time, let the system idle in the BIOS (F2 or ESC) from time to time. Then nothing is being written to the SSD and garbage collection has a chance to do it's job. Normally the system always writes stuff and the SSD can never freely breathe. On the other hand it needs power to do the garbage collection.

Or, I can open up Samsung Magician every once in a blue moon and run Performance Optimization. My computer runs 24/7 so it has plenty of idle time. Also, during my weekly reboots, my UEFI idles for a minute or so while the BIOS in my HBA card boots so that helps.

I have no Samsung Magician. None of my SSDs are Samsung.

Ah, but I do. Frankly, unless one is running XP, TRIM really isn't an issue. I just ran it on Magician (according to Samsung, it's there primarily for people who are running XP) and it took only 44 seconds; my weekly reboots alone provide more than enough idle time for TRIM to run its course.

whs said:

Bill, it all comes down to personal preference. I think earlier the discussion was sliced too thin.
......

Agreed, it's up to the user to decide how best to manage their data (personal preference)

I'll step out of the discussion so I don't muddy the waters. I fully understand how hard it can be to assist a member when there is too much information, or different information given to solve an issue. Too many cooks and all that.

Best Regards,

Bill
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