Solved Install personal programs to a partition separate from OS partition?

[Skylark]

Hello.

I have bought a powerful new computer preloaded with Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit) and I would like to try and make future life with this computer and Windows 7 as easy as possible.

So I am wondering if I create a new separate d:\ partition and restore all my old and new programs and my data files to that d:\ partition, will all my own programs operate? For example, will Firefox operate if I install it to the new d:\ partition? And if I install Firefox to the d:\ partition will it install entirely to that new partition, or will it throw certain Firefox files into c:\windows or possibly other directories on the c:\ drive?

The reason I am asking is that it seems to me that it would be great if I could occasionally reinstall Windows 7 to the c:\ drive (after formatting the c:\ drive first). As reinstalling Windows 7 from the Recovery partition is so easy, it would be great to know that if Windows 7 becomes sluggish or develops problems at some point in the future, or if I just mess it up with configurations and I want to get back to the clean factory default, I could just reinstall it to c:\ WITHOUT losing all my own programs and my own data on the separate d:\ partition (of course I would always have been saving everything of my own to that separate d:\ partition).

What's causing me to ask this question is my recollection that back when I was using Windows 3.1, many years ago, a number of my personal programs (like Microsoft Word, for example) used to place *.ini files and certain other files into the c:\windows or system directory. This may still be the case. On the other hand, Windows 7 is clearly a powerful program and maybe there are now ways to avoid mixing my programs and data into the c:\ drive?

Or does Windows 7 operate very much like XP and earlier Windows programs, in that you need to install all your own personal programs to the drive where the operating system is situated (usually the c:\ drive)?

Thank you .

 

[Katanyavich]

Some will work if installed onto a drive other than C:\

Some won't.

In any case, you'd have to re-install them to make them work, you
can't just copy them over.

I keep the OS and installed progs/apps on C:\, and nothing else. All
my progs save to D:\ and not into the C:\ drive.

I then use Image Backup to create an image of C:\ on an external drive.

This is updated monthly, or whenever I make changes to C:\.

Haven't had to re-install from scratch for over two years.


Hope this is of help to you.

 

[Sbrideau]

I've been doing this for a long time, I have it set with a partition just for programs and a partition for data as well. It never gave me any troubles with any programs, although some programs still do put some stuff in the C partition, but most of the programs won't.

If you use the windows recovery utility that came with your computer, remember that there's always a chance that it will erase even the data partition. My last laptop's recovery utility gave me the choice to format or not the data partition, but my new laptop's utility just goes and erases everything.

 

[ReviverSoft]

many years ago, a number of my personal programs (like Microsoft Word, for example) used to place *.ini files and certain other files into the c:\windows or system directory. This may still be the case.

Well, that depends on where the OS is installed.

If the OS is installed on the D: drive, then your programs (wherever they are installed) will place the AppData on the D: drive.

Katanyavich's suggestion is worth considering, if that's what you're after.

 

[F5ing]

I would say that because installed programs and the operating system are so tightly integrated, you're better off keeping them on the same partition. Keep your data (and any 'uninstallable' programs you wish) on a separate partition. Makes it much easier for restoring if the need arises.

~ Create new image of the OS/apps drive whenever you make significant changes you don't want to have to do over again (monthly or more often if you think wise).

~ Your data changes all the time. Backup the data partition daily, hourly, instantly, whatever you think appropriate.

 

[dreamer]

So I am wondering if I create a new separate d:\ partition and restore all my old and new programs and my data files to that d:\ partition, will all my own programs operate? For example, will Firefox operate if I install it to the new d:\ partition? And if I install Firefox to the d:\ partition will it install entirely to that new partition, or will it throw certain Firefox files into c:\windows or possibly other directories on the c:\ drive?

The reason I am asking is that it seems to me that it would be great if I could occasionally reinstall Windows 7 to the c:\ drive (after formatting the c:\ drive first). As reinstalling Windows 7 from the Recovery partition is so easy, it would be great to know that if Windows 7 becomes sluggish or develops problems at some point in the future, or if I just mess it up with configurations and I want to get back to the clean factory default, I could just reinstall it to c:\ WITHOUT losing all my own programs and my own data on the separate d:\ partition (of course I would always have been saving everything of my own to that separate d:\ partition).


Or does Windows 7 operate very much like XP and earlier Windows programs, in that you need to install all your own personal programs to the drive where the operating system is situated (usually the c:\ drive)?

Thank you .

Creating a separate partition for saving your data files is indeed the right step.
As for programs its preferable to install them in the same partition as your OS for imaging purposes.
If you ever reinstall windows you need to reinstall all programs once more and it doesn't matter if you install programs in C drive or some other partition.My suggestion would be to create atleast 100 GB partition to install windows and all programs you need and then create a backup image of your entire OS.

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download is a nice program i use to make a regular backup image of my drives.It is better if you create a backup of bare bones OS with just necessary drivers installed and another backup of OS with all programs installed.That way you can have a nice clean image of OS to go back to.

Hope this helps

 

[DeaconFrost]

You could always install programs to other drives, but some files and registry settings will need to go on C. However, you are overthinking this entire process, and ignoring one of the best features of Windows 7.

You no longer have to worry about the OS becoming sluggish on it's own, as in XP. If you practice good usage habits, you'll be fine. There's no need to overcomplicate a computer setup. Put all of your programs and apps on C, and have a second drive or partition for your data files, and spend your time enjoying and using your computer.

 

[DavidE]

You could always install programs to other drives, but some files and registry settings will need to go on C. However, you are overthinking this entire process, and ignoring one of the best features of Windows 7.

You no longer have to worry about the OS becoming sluggish on it's own, as in XP. If you practice good usage habits, you'll be fine. There's no need to overcomplicate a computer setup. Put all of your programs and apps on C, and have a second drive or partition for your data files, and spend your time enjoying and using your computer.

I agree, but

Someone may have to install programs on a different HD/Partition such as "D" because of space issues.
With a small SSD "C" Drive for the OS, it makes sense to install programs on a different HD "D" drive.
If I did that, I'd Image backup (and restore) both C and D together - to keep them and the registry synced.

 

[bbearren]

There is no necessity to install any programs in the same partition where the the Windows operating system is installed. The integration of programs and the OS is in the registry, not in the physical location of the bits on a drive/partition. See my System Spec/Other Info for my setup.

If one performs routine system maintenance regularly (much of which can be setup in Task Manager to be taken care of automatically) uses a good AV such as MSE, and practices safe surfing, there is no real need to reformat/reinstall Windows from time to time, either. I haven't done a reformat/reinstall since Windows 95 OSR2.

I use and very strongly recommend drive imaging as a backup regimen. I do full partition images, never incremental, but that's just a personal preference.

But if you do install programs to a separate partition, and subsequently you do reformat/reinstall Windows, you will also have to reinstall all your programs as well.

 

[mickey megabyte]

good point, DavidW7ncus,

for example, i've only got a 60 gig ssd, and there is no way all my software would fit on that alone, particularly as i'm a bit of a gamer. it's not unusual for a single modern game to take up 10 or 15 gig or even more.

in my system, all the big games go on D: and my data on E:. however there are still some games - even mega huge-budget games based on the unreal engine (yes i'm looking at you, mass effect 3) - that won't work properly in this scenario and need to be tweaked in order for them to properly save games etc.

 

[DavidE]

in my system, all the big games go on D: and my data on E:. however there are still some games - even mega huge-budget games based on the unreal engine (yes i'm looking at you, mass effect 3) - that won't work properly in this scenario and need to be tweaked in order for them to properly save games etc.

WOW - you got me on that one
Another good reason i quit gaming

 

[mickey megabyte]

that particular problem with me3 arises because my documents are on E:, and not because the game is on D:

i mentioned it to show that poorly written software doesn't always work if you don't use C: for everything, but i fear that i didn't make that clear.

i'm all for separating data from OS, but not all developers check that their creations still work in that scenario , not even the big boys like bioware.

 

[DavidE]

Thanks for the clarification, but you certainly do raise a valid point i would never have thought of.

Knowing this may help others in their "Partition Strategy", and anyone having issues with such scenarios.

ty, david

 

[bbearren]

i'm all for separating data from OS, but not all developers check that their creations still work in that scenario , not even the big boys like bioware.

It takes some registry editing and setting a couple of Junction Points on C: but even the most recalcitrant installations can be made to work properly from a partition/drive other than C:

Microsoft Office 2010 insisted on placing a number of files on C:\Program Files, and created the folder (I had previously moved it to another drive) on C: in order to do that. I had not created a Junction Point on C: to point to my Program Files on U: prior to installing Office 2010 (but I had reset the default path to Program Files in the registry), and had installed a number of programs to U: by default previously.

So I copied Office's files to my location, created the Junction Point on C: pointing to my location, and Office runs just fine. My C: drive looks like this:

 

[Skylark]

Partition and Backup strategy

Thanks to everyone who has replied above, for all that most helpful data.

From all that everyone has said I think my "partition strategy" is going to be:

The c:\ drive for OS and all programs.

A d:\ drive for saving all data to.


And rely on 3 image backups:

1. Image of a fresh/clean install plus all basic customizations. (That is, an image of everything on c:\ prior to the installation of programs.)

2. Image of the c:\ drive after all programs have been installed.

3. Image of the d:\ (data) drive.

Repeat full image backups of 2 & 3 after any changes to either.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lastly, "DeaconFrost", would you mind telling me what you mean by Win7 never becoming sluggish, over time, as can happen with XP? What is Win7's magical ingredient? :huh: Can you point me to where I can read all about it?

Thanks.

 

[DeaconFrost]

There is no magical ingredient. XP never really slowed down either, unless it wasn't properly maintained. With Windows 7, much of the background processes are automated, so it will defrag itself, etc. Just keep the OS updated, keep your drivers updated, and don't mess with it, in terms of tweaking. The point is, you can achieve the same results now without having to do as much or run as many steps and processes to get the OS running lean and fast.

I'm sure you could find plenty of information to read about, bit that isn't a new concept. It's one of the primary reasons so many enthusiasts switched to Windows 7 when it was first available a few years ago.

 

[stormy13]

I'm like mickey in installing all games to a separate drive/partition (drive in my case), if for no other reason that if Windows or the drive it is on decides to take a dump for any reason I don't have to re-install close to 200 GB of games. Most don't require being re-installed and will work with just making a shortcut and placing it on the desktop or in the Windows Games folder. For the few I have that won't work without being re-installed I managed to find what registry entries are needed and have a couple of .reg files saved and just add them to the registry and they work.

 

[DavidE]

fwiw

I build my own PC's and for a new build I Backup and Restore an image before even registering the OS or any programs.
With MS OS and MS programs i have 30 days to test everything before committing to the install.
So, I am testing the install AND the backup/restore from day 1...
I also have a current PC with "my data" while testing a new PC, and that becomes my Backup machine.

If I bought a Pre-built, i would test it's restore capability immediately, while i can return it without losing any data.
If a new Pre-built can't restore to factory conditions on day 1, I wouldn't trust it.

I want to know up front i can depend on a restore, rather than find out years later it doesn't work and i'm screwed.

 

[Skylark]

Just keep the OS updated, keep your drivers updated, and don't mess with it, in terms of tweaking.

Thanks, DeaconFrost.

I'm a very cautious user (having been through probably six long "computer-hells" over the past 25 years) so I plan to switch off all Windows updates once the current crop of about 100mbs' worth of Windows updates are installed, immediately following my factory default installation of Win7. I've always done this with previous versions of Windows because otherwise the stream of updates is never-ending, interfering, and a nuisance. What do you think to this?

Re. keeping drivers up-to-date, I've just checked each one in Device Manager and been told something like "Windows confirms your driver is up-to-date". So unless I change a piece of hardware in the computer at some point in the future, shouldn't the current set of drivers be satisfactory for as long as this new computer lives? One of the reasons for my feeling this way is that I went to the Dell website and typed in my model number and they bring up a dozen or so drivers recommending that they be installed but warning that if they are installed in the wrong order then problems will be created. Yet they offer no sure and clear-cut guidance on the exact order in which the drivers must be installed! So, given that everything is functioning well with the current set, I'm thinking it's best to leave well alone and not meddle or mess, as you say. What do you think? :huh:

Many thanks.

 

[DeaconFrost]

1. That's one of the worst things you can do, in terms of the long-term use of your computer (shutting off updates). If you don't want the updates to install on their own, set it to notify you only. I set mine this way, so I install when I am ready to do so, usually when I am going to step away for a few minutes, like when I grab lunch. Those updates fix issues, patch security holes, and bring in driver updates. There's no reason to turn them off. They are hardly interfering, and aren't a nuisance at all, once you think about the purpose.

2.That's more of a matter of personal preference. I don't update drivers (aside form video drivers) unless there's a reason. If my NIC is working fine, then I don't bother looking for drivers, as an example. When you do a clean install, you should always use the latest ones available. I've never encountered that warning on Dell's website, and I'm a corporate customer of theirs. You should always install the chipset drivers first, but after that, it shouldn't really matter.