Hard drive partitioning question

[Frum Pilot]

Hi I have my os on a ssd drive. (intel 60GB)
I am installing a 1 tb WD Black drive and a Seagate 500gb drive. (both were under wartrantee) My initial plan was to just keep the os on the ssd drive and use the saegate 500gb to install my programs, and the WD 1 TB to backup.

I have the option of partitioning the WD drive now (the seagate is on the way) I was thinking of setting aside a swap file on this drive, as it's supposed to be a little faster. Currently I have 8 GB memory. My main use is for working with Phototshop and video.

I've heard different things regarding how much to allocate. Your suggestions would greatly be appreciated, and how would I designate this partition to have windows recognize this partition as a swap file.
Thanks in advance!
Jake

 

[gregrocker]

Install your programs along with the OS to SSD to benefit from the speed. If you run out of space uninstall and reinstall lesser-used programs to HD.

Set paging file to System Managed as Win7 is totally perfected doing these things itself and only becomes problematic when it is messed with.

Link a copy of your User folders from HD to the related Win7 Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I have the option of partitioning the WD drive now (the seagate is on the way) I was thinking of setting aside a swap file on this drive, as it's supposed to be a little faster.

A little faster than what?

Neither the WD nor the Seagate are faster than the SSD.

I'd put everything possible on the SSD---why deny yourself that speed?

The possible exception regarding swap file location might be if you are extremely cramped for space on the SSD. You haven't said anything to indicate that might be the case.

Windows takes up under 20 GB. Unless you have 30 plus GB of programs, I'd put everything on the SSD--swap file, OS, and programs.

 

[whs]

Leave the pagefile on the SSD. I have reduced my pagefiles to 2GB and that works very well with 4Gb, 6GB and 8GB of RAM. And get rid of the hiberfile (unless you use hibernation). The command is powercfg -h off

 

[Frum Pilot]

Thanks for your replies.
I only have 60gb on my ssd and for some reason there's only about 18 gb left! Eventhough I placed the programs on the non ssd drive. I did remove hibernation, but still running out of space.

I should have explained myself more clearly.

The faster speed I meant was comparing the seagate to the wd drive.
I had gotten the replacement already from wd (1TB). The seagate (500GB) also had problems and was also covered on the warrantee, but didn't arrive yet. So now when formatting the wd drive I was thinking of formatting it into 2 drives one being a swap drive, although most of the disk was going to be my backup.
the programs themselves where going to go on the seagate drive. I would imagine though that the swap drive should be on the same drive as the programs, and leave the comple 1TB wd drive complete used only for the backup.
I understand that photshop as well as other programs really takes advantage of a swap drive. Thus the question.
WHS, how do I go about reducing the size of the page file?
Thanks again everyone!
Jake

 

[LittleJay]

how do I go about reducing the size of the page file?

1) Control Panel
2) System
3) Advanced System Settings
4) Click on "Settings" tab under Performance
5) Under Performaance Options click on "Advanced" Tab
6) Under Virtual Memory click on "Change" tab
7) Choose "Custom Size" and put in the desired size. With 8 gbs of RAM I have mine set to 1000, or 1Gb.

 

[Frum Pilot]

Thanks Little Jay!
I just changed it. it showed 8100 by default. I also noticed a minimum and maximum size. I therefore made the minimum 1000, and the max 1500. Does this make sense?
Also it seems that you can make a separate one for each drive. Is this like making a swap file for the programs to use? Or is it better to create a partition on the drive and designate it to the program?
Thanks again!
Jake

 

[LittleJay]

I just changed it. it showed 8100 by default. I also noticed a minimum and maximum size. I therefore made the minimum 1000, and the max 1500. Does this make sense?

I have mine set to 1000 for both minimum and maximum, but I don't think it makes any difference. With 8 Gbs of RAM I just didn't feel it needed to be any larger than that for my needs.

Also it seems that you can make a separate one for each drive. Is this like making a swap file for the programs to use? Or is it better to create a partition on the drive and designate it to the program?

Sorry mate, but I have never attempted to do that and don't know what to tell you tell. I'm sure someone more knowlegable will help.

 

[gregrocker]

I would want the Programs and Paging File to be on the SSD to take advantage of the faster speeds. Wolfgang thinks it wouldn't hurt to trim the Page File size so I'd try that if you want to experiment, comparing it to System Managed size which is the only setting I would use.

If you run out of SSD space uninstall lesser-used Programs and install to the HD. All data can be placed on the HD's using the recommended method I gave you earlier.

 

[AddRAM]

So what`s taking up all the space then ?

 

[Frum Pilot]

Beats me? But i did a quick look on the c drive and my user folder (my name) is taking up 12+ Gb. The folder appdata is taking a good bite of that with 7.5 GB.
I don't know what that folder 's for

 

[gregrocker]

Run CCleaner to clean out Temp program staging files that are no longer needed.

You can also clean out the Temp files in each AppData folder manually. Unhide the files at Control Panel>Folder Options>View and delete the folder contents.

 

[Frum Pilot]

Thanks for the info, but I'm a novice to win 7 and I'm afraid of messing up my sytem not knowing what's important

 

[whs]

If you run WinDirStat, you'll know exactly what's on your Partition. But it will not show the shadowstorage. For that you have to run this cmd command: vssadmin list shadowstorage

 

[gregrocker]

Then run CCleaner at defaults: CCleaner 3.19.1721 - FileHippo.com

Post back a maximized window screenshot of what it finds after you click Run Cleaner, and another screenshot of the WinDirStat results with the largest folders explanded to see in them.

 

[Frum Pilot]

Thanks for you suggestions. As of now I am evacuating from the weather so I won't have access. G-D willing I'll post back later this week.
Thanks!
Jake

 

[LittleJay]

Stay safe mate and I hope things work for you.

 

[AddRAM]

You can also delete:

Windows Update Backups
Restore Points
Hibernation File ( if you don`t use )