SSD OS(win7 proffesional) + HDD Data + HDD Backup setup

[batmanw7]

Hello,

I have a 64GB SSD which I intend to use for Win7, and 2 '1TB Seagate HDD's which I intend to use for Data, respectively Backups.

I realize this topic has been discussed over and over again but I could not find any tutorial to cover all the issues. If anyone knows where can I read such a tutorial, the link would be highly appreciated. If not, a list of 'to do' would also be very nice, I think I can find myself the way on how to do what you will write on the list.

Thank you!

 

[seavixen32]

Do these help?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/615-backup-user-system-files.html

 

[ignatzatsonic]

What exactly are you unclear about?

Let's call the 3 drives C (the SSD), D (original data), and E (backup of D).

You could backup C onto D via an image, using Macrium or a similar application.

That image file, along with all other data on D, would then be backed up separately to E, using a "file by file" backup method, rather than an imaging application.

Backups of D to E would probably be done daily using the file by file backup application.

The image file of the C drive to D would probably be done less often--typically weekly or monthly.

You might also consider ad-hoc backups of D or certain folders on D to a USB thumb drive or to DVD, particularly if they could be stored off-site.

That's just one idea and closely resembles what I do myself.

I could go into greater detail if I knew what needed further explanation.

 

[batmanw7]

Hi seavixen,

Thank you for taking the time.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation - I don't need to do any optimization before I install windows, the drives are already empty.

SSD - Install and transfer the Operating System - as before, I currently have no operation system

Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup - If I will have some system data(Users, ProgramData folders) on the Data Drive instead of having them on the SSD System Drive, will this procedure still work successfully?

Regards,

 

[seavixen32]

Even though the drives are empty, you will need to align the SSD first.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/113967-ssd-alignment.html

As you currently don't have an operating system it'll just be a clean install when you get one.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

The image backup will backup everything on the drive you choose.

The data backup gives you the option of choosing which data you want to backup.

This tutorial explains how to optimize a drive before you install Windows.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

 

[batmanw7]

Hi ignatzatznonic,

Thank you for the backup tips. There is no need for further details at the moment.

However, I am more interested on how to optimize Win 7 configuration in order to increase the life span of my SSD while still not loosing speed while accessing the Data HDD. Thinks like moving Users folder, moving Program Data folder, where and how much page file to use, disabling/enabling prefetch superfech, disabling/enabling indexing services and so forth.

I could not find a place where all of these would be listed without finding a different place(or even the same) where all(or most) would be deemed as either useless, unstable or with undesirable side-efects.

Thanks,

 

[ignatzatsonic]

The data drive (D) would have to be explicitly included. I don't use the built-in Windows capability, but it looks like that tutorial asks you to name the drives to be included in step 6.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Hi ignatzatznonic,

I am more interested on how to optimize Win 7 configuration in order to increase the life span of my SSD while still not loosing speed while accessing the Data HDD. Thinks like moving Users folder, moving Program Data folder, where and how much page file to use, disabling/enabling prefetch superfech, disabling/enabling indexing services and so forth.

There isn't a lot to be done for SSD optimization. Windows will recognize that you are installing to an SSD and make a few setting changes.

The fear of too much writing to an SSD is largely overdone, at least for current generation SSDs.

Some things you can do:

Resize the page file to maybe 1 GB minimum and 2 GB maximum. Possibly relocate it to another drive. Most here just let Windows control it and leave it on C. A few people with lots of RAM don't use a page file at all, but that is a minority opinion and usually frowned on as certain apps seem to expect a page file in certain situations.

Control the size devoted to System Restore.

Turn off hibernation if you don't use hibernation.

Confirm that the SSD will not be defragged.

I still see differing opinions on prefetch and superfetch. There are guides that make recommendations online, but I'm not sure they are up-to-date or necessarily accurate. I've just used the Windows 7 default.

I don't use the "user" folder structure at all. All data is saved directly to a data drive.

I turned off indexing on all drives many years ago. As far as I know, it serves little purpose if you don't search for file contents as opposed to file names. All I ever search is file names.

 

[batmanw7]

Check mark on page file, hibernation and indexing, they make sense.

Some questions:
1. How come you don't use the 'user' folder structure? There are a lot of applications that use it and that can't be configured not to use it.
2. What about ProgramData folder? Also most of the application use it and they can't be configured not to.
3. What about Windows Logs or Performance Monitor? I've noticed them in some online recommendations, but I'm not sure whether they really make a difference...

 

[ignatzatsonic]

See comments in bold.

Some questions:

1. How come you don't use the 'user' folder structure? There are a lot of applications that use it and that can't be configured not to use it.

I can't remember when the "user" folder first appeared. XP??? Vista? When I started using Windows, it wasn't around. When it appeared, it added nothing to my PC experience. It's superfluous and pointless to me. I don't use libraries either.



2. What about ProgramData folder? Also most of the application use it and they can't be configured not to.

Yeah, I have a ProgramData folder, but no reason whatsoever to look at it. It's a hidden folder, but even if it were visible, I would have no reason to navigate to it. Is there supposed to be some type of tweak to get rid of it?

3. What about Windows Logs or Performance Monitor? I've noticed them in some online recommendations, but I'm not sure whether they really make a difference...

I have made no adjustments for either of those things. Why are they a consideration?? Too many writes??? As I said, I think all of that "reduce writing to an SSD" is overstated. Look at the recent studies of how many terabytes can actually be written successfully to SSDs before they complain at all.

 

[batmanw7]

Obviously the Users and ProgramData folders can't bother you if you don't look at them. Have a look to see how much space they occupy and consider that most of the temporary files used by programs are stored in there. This might change your opinion(if it doesn't, please let me know).

I follow the studies... but this does not mean I should completely ignore optimizing the system, right? I am sure Windows will work just fine completely out of the box with no customization whatsoever, but this also does not mean that it's default configuration is even close to optimal...

PS. On my XP, Documents & Settings has 6 GB, while on my desktop I have stored only 0.13GB). The difference is... Windows knows what. Definitively nothing that I put there.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

ProgramData folder: 447 Megabytes

Users folder: 1.24 Gigabytes

What's to worry about there?

My SSD has 27 GB occupied of 80 GB total. That moves around a bit, but has never been above 30 GB.

Re "optimization": you have to decide how much of what you read and see recommended is worthwhile rather than insignificant or deleterious. And you have to have some way of quantifying and documenting the improvement provided by the tweak.

I'm certainly not anti-optimization. If I found something worthwhile, I'd likely do it. I've turned off hibernation and somewhat restricted System Restore, both in the interest of saving space. I periodically do a disk cleanup with CCleaner. But that's about it.

You can also move your browser cache to another drive if you think that is problematic. I see mixed opinions on how worthwhile that is also.

 

[gregrocker]

You can move the User folders to data drives. This will keep your backup image smaller for the OS/Programs so that it can be reimaged if necessary and the data is current and waiting in its partition elsewhere. You may need to use Macrium or another imaging program that offers more flexibility if Win7 backup imaging starts requiring you to include the data drives in the image since it deems them to hold System folders, however. User Folders - Change Default Location

For this and other reasons, I find it much easier to put your data in folders of your choosing on the data drive , then rightlick on each to link it to the relevant Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forum.

 

[whs]

If you make a fresh installation, you are best off to stay away from tweaks. There are only 3 things I have done on my 6 SSDs:

1. Deleted the hiberfile. The command is powercfg -h off
2. Reduced the pagefile to 2GB
3. Created new folders for Documents, Music, Pictures and Videos on the HDD. Then I INCLUDED those into the corresponding libraries (just right click on the folders). I leave the default folders where they are and move all user data to the HDD.

And don't worry about the lifetime of the SSD. My oldest 4 year old SSD has a lifetime until 2022 left. If the device is not defective out of the box, it will be more rugged than a HDD. It may lose a little bit of R/W speed over time, but you will not notice that because the OS gets the performance boost from the extremely short access times - not from R/W.

The 2 things that are important are:

1. The SSD has to be aligned. If you do a fresh install, the installer will do that automatically.
2. It should run in AHCI mode. Set AHCI - first in Win7 and then in the BIOS. IDE runs too, but a bit slower.