OS and programs on SSD and user and app data on 2nd HDD

[utopian1952]

Hi I have a laptop with i5 processor, 128 GB SSD and Win 7 Pro 64 bit OS. I want to replace my optical drive with a second 500 GB HDD. I believe the Win 7 installation on my SSD is corrupted so I wish to do a clean install and start afresh. In the new setup, I want to keep the OS and all programs on the SSD, but store all user data and app data on the HDD. I have figured how to do the OS reinstall and program install is also straight forward. However, I am still a bit confused about configuring the second HDD such that all user data is stored there but is accessile from the usual Library and App data folders in Windows 7. Appreciate if someone can share step by step guidance on how to do this, especially for Outlook 2010 which seems to have its own special folders. Also, will Windows indexing and search work reliably if user and app data is stored on a different drive? Some people suggest that it will not.

 

[gregrocker]

I recommend moving the User folders which you actually use to the other drive. A way to do this is here: User Folders - Change Default Location. Read the whole tutorial so you understand all of your options.

The only other way is to move the whole User profile which has proven problematic so I would not try it.

In addition the steps compiled here for a Clean Reinstall Windows 7 include everything that works best in Win7 in tens of thousands of installs we've directly helped with here, and has been used by over 1.5 million consumers without a single complaint. You'll get and keep a perfect install to the exact extent you stick with the steps, tools and methods there which includes the options and rationale for moving User folders.

 

[utopian1952]

Thank you gregrocker. Very detailed and helpful instructions here. I will give it a shot.