Getting data back form back up internal drive

[ICIT2LOL]

Now I know there is a tutorial - well I think there is - where you can send excess data to a large drive to save space on the C: drive as mine is rapidly filling (256GB SSD) and I don't want to end up with a recent situation with my old laptop where the dive became full and I couldn't do a thing with it.

I do have a lot of music on the C: drive which if I could I would store on the large drive and be able to play with WMP when I want. The same goes if I could store programs liken Macrium on the large drive and use on the occasions I want to. I am planning to fir 500gb SSD but funds are a bit stretched right now.

 

[whs]

Just make a MUSIC folder on the other drive and move all your music files there. Then right click on that MUSIC folder and INCLUDE it into the music library. Call the folder "Music 2" or something to differentiate it from the other music folders. And the Music folder on the SSD you just leave empty.

There is another method moving the folder via the location tab in Properties. I do not recommend that method. It can lead to problems. The above method is safer.

And leave the programs on the SSD. Those are small.

Mine on the other drive is called Whs Music

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Thanks Wolfgang will do

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok Wolfgang I did that but I don't have a view like yours - I copy - pasted the music library from the SDD to the Music 2 in the large drive the SSD Music under Users is now showing empty but for 10GB of data I don't see much increase in the drive space.

WMP just opens as normal with the Music listed as it used to no mention of the M: drive where I put it.

 

[whs]

You did something wrong - I guess you did that from the WMP. You have to move the files from the music folder and then you have to restore the media library in WMP with the new location of the files.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well I clicked on Libraries just now and get this and I did the copy - paste from within the libraries I didn't have WMP open I was just a bit confused when I opened WMP and saw the music listed but no mention of where it was getting music from?

In fact the quality of the sound reproduction is better than when I first put it into music (ripped it) so I am guessing I was looking for something like the picture you sent and it was after the process

Well you know me Wolfgang all speed no haste

PS I am guessing I an do this with documents and pictures??

 

[whs]

Sure, you can do the same with Documents, Pictures and Videos. I have all my user data on the spinners because I am cheap and use 60GB SSDs for the OS.

In Documents watch out. There are certainly some folders that are not your's but belong to the system or some program. Leave those on the SSD because else those programs will be discombobulated, LOL. I have a whole slew of those in my SSD Documents.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Sorry late reply mate had to crash - really tired after night duty then all day up. Anyway rather hoped you would reply with that and I am going to see how it goes.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Humm am still showing a fairly full disk and I have been using Wizz Tree to find the loaded stuff and Desktop popped up as 8.5GB which surprised me and moving it has increased the free space form 29GB to 45GB.

Now I think I might have to try some programs too as I have loaded the usual Macrium, Partition Wizard and those free security scans plus a heap of NVidia stuff if indeed one can do that.

 

[whs]

Programs are usually small. I would not bother too much with those.

I like to look at the WinDirStat colored picture. That tells me immediately where all the big chunks are and when I click on them I know what it is and can deal with it.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yep I like that too but I do like the way that Wizz Tree breaks it down and I can find my User stuff for example and how much it is using - very surprising:shock:

 

[cjkuhlenbeck]

Tell me about it :S

Like how an index can take up 30+ GBs.

On a side note though, as previously mentioned, be careful what you move. Some files are needed for specific apps. I'm guessing by your specs that you're a gamer. Games store a lot of data in documents like saves, DLC, scripts, and mods in there. Removing the folder may break your game, or just revert back to an older version, and refill the hole when the program reopens.

Because of that, I usually suggest only moving media, like music, videos, pictures, and documents over.

IF you've already done that, there are some other things that are safe to move as well.
Since you're a gamer:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?p_faqid=231
[Guide] Moving/Reinstalling Origin and Games Without Re-Downloading

IF any only if you've done that, and it's STILL not enough, then the best option may be a changing the default save location so you can move data over Customize a library without breaking most apps. You can also use a junction https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753194.aspx

This esentially makes apps, and even windows look at a folder say in C:/Users/Admin/ and instead be routed to D:/Admin/. It will even mask the actual link in explorer, so the apps are none the wiser.

I highly suggest against it though for 2 reasons. Later on, its really hard to undo, mostly because you have to remember the folder you linked, and sometimes do some digging in command prompt to find it. Additionally, it doesn't survive reinstalls. It esentially breaks it, but the data stays where it was. You can relink it, but it may be better to just reinstall, and make a shadow copy once its fresh. I used it for a long time, but finally reverted back as my C drive is alot larger now.

Anyways, there's quite a bit to read there. Hope it works out. Been in this situation a few times myself. I just keep adding drives, idk.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

No I don't game more I like to test out software and be here on the forum - this whole thread started because I let a 120GB disk get filled up and didn't think to move some gear to an external as the Toshiba is only a one drive machine - making it doubly difficult to get music back for example if one doesn't have the drive with them at all times.