Moved to an SSD, need some help linking libraries...

[Jabomb9]

Hello,

First time post here, but the site looks like a wealth of information. Anyway, I just built a new computer recently, and just tonight put in an OCZ Agility 2 SSD for my Windows 7 Professional 64bit drive. I have a couple of other important programs installed on this too, but am trying to keep it lightweight. I have another internal 1TB HDD that is now COMPLETELY wiped. Not a single thing on it at all... And that is kind of my problem.

My ultimate goal is to have all of my music, documents, pictures, etc on the HDD, and my OS and a few critical programs on the SSD. However, I cannot for the life of me figure out how to make the libraries (My Documents, My Music, My Pictures, My Videos) save on the HDD. I want to be able to hit save in a document (like Word), select "My Documents" on the HDD and navigate through folders to the location I want. But I am only able to do this on the SSD.

Can someone give me detailed instructions on how I can do this?

Thanks so much!!

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Jabomb9, welcome to Seven Forums!



I'm not a real Library person but start by having a look at this tutorial at the link below and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


User Folders - Change Default Location

 

[gregrocker]

Move your User folders to the storage drive using the method Ted linked, then save a backup image of your leaner OS/Programs SSD to the storage drive also, so if Win7 becomes irreparable or messed up you can easily reimage the OS/Programs to the SSD and your data is waiting and current.

 

[Jabomb9]

Awesome thanks for the help guys! I think I kinda have it figured out. However, when I try to make an image of my OS drive, the "System Reserved" partition is for some reason on my storage drive. Any way to fix that or is that how it's supposed to be?
Also, as sort of a general question about this setup: When I install programs that I don't want on my SSD, do I just put them in a folder labeled "Programs" (or something like that) on my storage drive? Or do I need to link some sort of library/directory with that too?

One last question: I have my SSD plugged into SATA6 and my HDD in SATA2. I just did it because it was easier to wire, but is there any difference? Should the SSD be in 1 and the HDD in 2?

Thanks for all the help!

 

[gregrocker]

You installed Win7 to SSD with storage HD plugged in? That's how SysReserved ends up on wrong drive.

Post back a screenshot of your full Disk Mgmt drive map with listings, using Snipping Tool in Start Menu. We will give you the steps to fix it.

 

[Jabomb9]

Yes that's exactly what I did...didn't know it was bad

 

[eldinv]

Ouch.... Since this is SSD and its super fast a simple re-installation would do, since you said you kept things light, in terms of applications.

I don't think its necessary to wipe the SSD for re-installation, so just power off.

Disconnect all hard drives except the SSD and do a clean install.
Clean Install Windows 7

Once everything is installed, ie drivers, shutdown and connect your 1TB drive which will contain your DATA files (libraries).

Power back on and re-direct all DATA files to the 1TB drive.
User Folders - Change Default Location

 

[eldinv]

I totally forgot something, if you follow my above advice there most likely will be a conflict once you re-connect your 1TB drive since the master boot record, now sits on that drive.


Thinking.....

 

[gregrocker]

Unplug DISK0, plug its cable into DISK1 or set DISK1 as first HD to boot in BIOS setup.

Now boot the Win7 DVD, press Shift F10 to open Command Line, use Diskpart to mark Win7 partition active: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71432-partition-mark-active.html

Close DVD command line, choose Repair console on second screen, click through to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times to write the System MBR to Win7 partition. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html?ltr=S

Once Win7 boots, plug back in the other HD to clean with DIskpart from elevated Command Line: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html

 

[Jabomb9]

I will try that tomorrow. Thank you very much for your help!

 

[Jabomb9]

Is that going to erase my drive?

 

[gregrocker]

Yes the drive appears nearly empty in Disk Mgmt listings. Do you have something you need to save from it?

I thought you were originally trying to copy User files onto your SSD and had succeeded in doing that.

 

[Jabomb9]

Sorry I should have clarified. I was wondering if it will erase my SSD or not. I don't care if it deletes anything on my 1TB HDD..

 

[gregrocker]

Just make sure you only do the CLean or Clean All on your HD which is currently DISK0.

If you would rather not use DISKPART, then burn to CD free Partition Wizard to have a graphical interface of your HD's and partitions with full Disk Mgmt listings on them.

Boot PW CD, Wipe Disk 0, Modify>Set to Active Win7 partition on Disk1, enter BIOS setup to set Win7 SSD as firsr to boot, then boot Win7 DVD to Run Startup Repair x3. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93322-partition-wizard-use-bootable-cd.html

If you want to keep DISK0 around until you make sure Win7 recovers its SYstem MBR, then unplug it until Win7 starts up on it's own, power down to plug it back in to Wipe using Partiiton Wizard.

Remember that Win7 SSD must be set first to boot in BIOS setup and marked Active for this to work.

 

[Jabomb9]

Thanks for the help gregrocker. I was actually just moving some cables around and decided to format my SSD and re-install Windows without my storage HDD even plugged in. Once I get everything set up again here, I will connect the HDD and format it. I thought that might be better and cause fewer problems than modifying everything.

 

[Jabomb9]

Okay I'm sorry, but I'm having more issues and I feel like an idiot

What I did was unplug the power and sata cables from the storage HDD and formatted and did a fresh install of Windows 7 Pro 64-bit on the SSD. Besides my DVD drive, the SSD was the only drive plugged in. Everything installed and booted fine, but I did not see the "System Reserved" that I was seeing before...

Anyway, I then plugged in my HDD and then formatted it, but it would not clear off the "System Reserved" partition. I guess I should have done this before I re-installed Windows on the SSD?

Next, I followed your instructions, made sure the SSD was marked as active (it was), ran the startup repair like 5 times (it could never find a problem), so then I went into Windows and used "Clean" on the HDD. It is now considered "Unallocated Space" and when I was reading about that, it says I need to select "New Simple Volume", but that was not available because when I go into disk management, I get the following message and I don't know what to do:

Maybe everything is done right now? But I didn't think I was supposed to select "MBR", so I didn't do anything with it. AND, I don't see the System Reserved anywhere...

Have I made a huge mess here? What do I do with the Unallocated Space on DISK1 now?

Thank you very much for putting up with me

 

[gregrocker]

You have the System MBR on Win7 partiiton so no need for SysReserved unless you want it (we can make one).

Just rightclick on the area under the word Disk 1 to initialize it. Looks like you already have so you can choose MBR-type disk so that option will later be available in case you ever want to install an OS on there.

 

[Jabomb9]

Okay thank you. I just chose the MBR radio button, but I didn't do it earlier because I thought we didn't want the MBR on DISK1. However, I now see that it says it's just the partition style.

Do you think I need a System Reserved?

 

[gregrocker]

The only advantage most people find for SysReserved is it puts the same Repair console from the Install DVD and Repair CD on the F8 Advanced Boot Tools menu. It also helps if there is a Dual Boot so you don't lose both OS's if System OS tanks.

To make it, use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to Resize Win7 partition about 200 mb. Make a new primary partition, then Modify>Mark Active, assign no letter. Then boot the Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD, click through to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times to write the System MBR and WinRe to new SysReserved.

Not really worth the trouble.

 

[Jabomb9]

Okay I think I will skip it then since I won't dual boot ever. Thank you for all of your help, I really appreciate it!