Should I keep My Documents on C and Videos, Music etc on D ?

[Slartybart]

I was just joking about the difference. I hope you did not mind.

The Macrium folder is called 'Reflect" and I sometimes have to go in and delete xml files that are no more applicable because I changed the setting.

The really big folder is 'Virtual System' which is one or several VMware Player virtual machines. Most of the virtual machines I moved outboard to an external SSD because they were over 100GB, but a couple most used I keep in Documents. Then I need not switch my external SSD on. Avoids bending forward and pushing a button. LOL

I consider you a friend Wolfgang,

I don't mind a little rib tickling every now and then

I understand that you have the other member's best interest at heart. When I joined this thread there seemed to be some contention and I thought I might add some breathing room (and some good input).

As I understand the issue, Adrien wants to separate his backups so that on restore he retains all of his settings. Libraries that point to folders on drive D: are implemented to isolate the data from the OS, apps, and settings. This is classic separation.

The issue is what to do about Documents. Should it be located on D: with the other special user folders?
Or... should a new folder be placed on D: that is the default save location defined in the Documents Library?

I think I saw you answer the question
Keep the special Documents on C:\ and create a new folder on D: that is the default save location for the general type.

That makes sense.

Adrien asks some good questions. Using Macrium as the example:

Special User folder Documents: C:\User\Adrien\Documents
Documents Library default save location: D:\UserFiles\Documents

Which folder takes precedence for the Macrium XML files?

I think that's what Adrien wants to know.
C:\Documents because it's the special folder
-- or --
D:\Documents because it's the default save location for the general type.

Am I over thinking this?
- is the location of the Reflect folder (or any other application) determined at install time?

I see Lady Fitz & Brink answered a piece of the puzzle. Will the user folders be included in a backup
- maybe
Depends on the backup (imaging) utility.

I'll sleep on this - don't worry about possibly hurting my feelings by joking around Wolfgang. I enjoy life too much and laughing always makes it more enjoyable.

Bill
.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

LF, you are splitting hair. Of course you can image a bunch of partitions in one swoop. But that is still by partition. If you make a clone, you get a bare metal copy sector by sector of the whole disk.

Disadvantage with cloning is that it takes a lot longer than an image and the receiving disk must be at least the size of the originating disk. An image you can restore to a smaller disk as long as the data fits.

Btw - why do you worry about the time it takes to write an image. Just 'hide' Macrium and go on using your computer. It will telkl you when it is done. I have never seen an image take longer than 15 minutes - on my system.

Apparently I misunderstood you. Sorry.

If using intelligent sector cloning, you can clone to a smaller drive as long as the data will fit.

I don't worry about the time nearly as much as I do how much data I put on my boot drive; the latter is the real issue for me to avoid filling up the drive, making excessive writes to the SSD (yes, I know that isn't nearly the issue we used to think it was; just call me anal), and to reduce the frequency I need to make images (I could get away with once a month plus before I make a change, such as adding a program, but I prefer once a week just to establish and maintain the habit because of my ADHD; it's easier for me to remember every Friday instead of once a month).

My images never take more than ten minutes to make and verify. I'm aware I can still use the computer while an image is running, and have done so (now that I have three monitors, I don't even need to hide it), but, most of the time, I just leave the computer alone while the image is being made since I'm usually watching the news at the time, making a bathroom break, or grabbing something to eat,

 

[whs]

Good, I think we are on the same page.

Talking about breaks whilst the computer runs - if you want to give your SSD some breathing time, let the system idle in the BIOS (F2 or ESC) from time to time. Then nothing is being written to the SSD and garbage collection has a chance to do it's job. Normally the system always writes stuff and the SSD can never freely breathe. On the other hand it needs power to do the garbage collection.

 

[whs]

Bill, it all comes down to personal preference. I think earlier the discussion was sliced too thin. We were talking about user folders and for those the only real difference is between the default folders and all the others.

As I have shown in my post #25, programs put stuff into the default folders and those should stay with the system - at least they will in my system. The folders in the data partition nobody knows other than me. Really no need to complicate the matter with complicated setups - see below.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Good, I think we are on the same page.

Talking about breaks whilst the computer runs - if you want to give your SSD some breathing time, let the system idle in the BIOS (F2 or ESC) from time to time. Then nothing is being written to the SSD and garbage collection has a chance to do it's job. Normally the system always writes stuff and the SSD can never freely breathe. On the other hand it needs power to do the garbage collection.

Or, I can open up Samsung Magician every once in a blue moon and run Performance Optimization. My computer runs 24/7 so it has plenty of idle time. Also, during my weekly reboots, my UEFI idles for a minute or so while the BIOS in my HBA card boots so that helps.

 

[whs]

I have no Samsung Magician. None of my SSDs are Samsung.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Ah, but I do. Frankly, unless one is running XP, TRIM really isn't an issue. I just ran it on Magician (according to Samsung, it's there primarily for people who are running XP) and it took only 44 seconds; my weekly reboots alone provide more than enough idle time for TRIM to run its course.

 

[Slartybart]

Bill, it all comes down to personal preference. I think earlier the discussion was sliced too thin.
......

Agreed, it's up to the user to decide how best to manage their data (personal preference)

I'll step out of the discussion so I don't muddy the waters. I fully understand how hard it can be to assist a member when there is too much information, or different information given to solve an issue. Too many cooks and all that.

Best Regards,

Bill
.

 

[Victor S]

I don't use Windows libraries, and ignore them. I point data to my data drive. Of course I have my own "libraries" there, using the directory structures as I see fit. Application settings are saved on my images. When I restore an image the only thing I have to address is saved games. Game developers save them all over the place on the system drive. Just know where all your data is placed.
I usually restore an image about 4-5 times a year, immediately make any necessary tweaks due to my system changes, and make a new image. It is always painless. My system is kept discrete from my data.
I've have never reinstalled Win 7. Been +6 years since I installed it. And I have lost no data.
Not to say there aren't other methods. But this method has been flawless for me.

 

[adri123]

I point data to my data drive.

What do you mean by point ?

Application settings are saved on my images.

On the the image of Csystem) or of Ddata) ?

What do you do with My documents, My videos, My Music and so ?
Do you use them ?
Are they in their original partition? (C) or did you relocate them on the D partition ?

 

[adri123]

What I get from this whole thread:

In order to neatly separate programs and data, the theoretically functionning design should be moving the special user folders to D, since these are the specially designed folders for the user to store his files. It's not by chance they're called My Music, My Documents and so on.
They are not called My Music Settings, My Documents Settings and so on.


For me it's crazy that anyone who wants to separate progs and data for backup purposes cannot save anything in the user folders specially designed by Windows for this purpose.

It wasn't overthinking or going into too much details for me. Quite the opposite, I wanted to have a Windows that functions as it's designed for. And not having to create duplicate user folders, and having to include them in the library, and having to make them the default save location and so on.
For me this is too many details.

I asked about details because it felt to me it was a heresy to move the user folders. No it's not. That should be the case. It felt to me you were saying it's normal to not save anything in the special user folders. No it's not normal. Windows is designed for putting them there.

NOW.
the only reason why it may cause problems, is because some programs store (or may store) their settings there, while they shouldn't. So it takes a single badly designed software, to force me using Windows differently than how it was designed (= saving my files in MY user folders).
Therefore I totally understand your strategy of keeping the special user folders on C. It's based on real life

I was going into details, but is that wrong when someone wants to understand the real reasons behind a strategy?
Otherwise I would be blindly following advices without understanding the real reasons, and therefore I could misuse the strategy.

I just don't like having to have two music folders, two documents folders, two pictures folders and so on, and one having to be empty of actual music, documents and so on.

 

[adri123]

Moreover, I mysef could handle that. Having duplicate folders for music, images etc. But i'm setting up a computer for an average user and i'm sure that if i keep the special user folders on C: and create other folders on D:, there will be some of his files ending up in the C folders nonetheless. It's strange to give a fresh computer to an average user and tell him NOT TO store files in the folders made for that.

 

[adri123]

I'll step out of the discussion so I don't muddy the waters.

That's a pity Bill, I really liked that you stepped in. I didn't ask help from a specific person here. On the contrary I was seeking a large spectrum of advices and views so i could form my own. Indeed you managed to put some fresh air and made the thing breath a bit more.
Moreover you seemed to understand exactly what was my question with the settings and so on. And tried to respond on that exactly by takng into accound everything i expressed.

Thanks,

Adrien

 

[Victor S]

I don't image my data. It is backed up on multiple drives using the Power Desk synchronize function. Similar to SyncToy.
I have created folders on my data drive under a master folder named D-Backups, which I synchronize.
There are music, document, video, photo folders, etc., there, named as I like them.
As I said, I ignore Win 7 folders. For downloads, eg, I always point them to the folder of my choice.
When I mistakenly don't, I just move them where they belong.
It's all really second nature, since I have an IT background.

 

[adri123]

I don't image my data. It is backed up on multiple drives using the Power Desk synchronize function. Similar to SyncToy.
I have created folders on my data drive under a master folder named D-Backups, which I synchronize.
There are music, document, video, photo folders, etc., there, named as I like them.
As I said, I ignore Win 7 folders. For downloads, eg, I always point them to the folder of my choice.
When I mistakenly don't, I just move them where they belong.
It's all really second nature, since I have an IT background.

Ok thanks, I didn't see you say that you don't use Win 7 folders. I saw you saying that you don't use the libraries.

Thanks for the input man.

 

[adri123]

I think I saw you answer the question
Keep the special Documents on C:\ and create a new folder on D: that is the default save location for the general type.

That makes sense.

Adrien asks some good questions. Using Macrium as the example:

Special User folder Documents: C:\User\Adrien\Documents
Documents Library default save location: D:\UserFiles\Documents

Which folder takes precedence ? for the Macrium XML files?

I think that's what Adrien wants to know.
C:\Documents because it's the special folder
-- or --
D:\Documents because it's the default save location for the general type.

So this is the question that arised. Could anybody please give me the/an answer ?

 

[Slartybart]

After I read your PM, a thought occurred to me.

There are reasons to setup your user one way or another and there caveats with each.

Since your still in the design stage, here's what you can try.

Setup a few new accounts, each configured differently and see how they meet your needs.

:ar:I changed the Test user names so that it is easier to distinguish which ID is setup to test a particular Profile setup.
Tu# - Test user
_description of the test user

You can choose any names, but this naming scheme quickly identifies how the user is setup. User-A, User-B, User-C might get confusing if you didn't keep notes on the differences.

1) Tu1_ProfileOnD: Move the entire profile to drive D: for one account
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/87555-user-profile-change-default-location.html

2) Tu2_SpcFoldersOnD: Relocate the special user files to drive D:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629-user-folders-change-default-location.html OPTION TWO

3) Tu3_LibsOnD: Leave special folders on C: and create data folders on D: - add to corresponding Library type as the default save location for that file type
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/585-library-include-folder.html

Setup the new accounts and run some test backup scenarios.
Windows System image / backup
Macrium Reflect imaging
Acronis imaging

Install your favorite software, pay attention during the install for any reference to your profile location. If any of your programs stores settings in there, you'll have to see if the setting location can be changed in the program.

Read through the tutorials - there's lots of information in each. Pay attention to the Info, Warn, and tip boxes - they have the gotchas in them. Also look at the related tutorials section at the bottom of post#1 of the tutorial - there might be information that helps you decide the best User configuration for your needs.

It's possible that some combination will be best - I thought I had it, but the settings under Documents through me off... still does.

I've tried many combinations, even a few not documented. Right now, my entire profile is on D: - but that means I cannot do a Repair install (all profiles must be on C: - go figure). That's ok though, I have an image of my OS drive and can restore that if needed. Then I create my first account (kept on C and then my main user account. I usually move it again to D: and then move my data into that profile, but (and I haven't tested this) you might just be able to change the profilelist Registry entry to point at the existing profile on D: (I'll have to try that some day - it won't be soon though)..

With my profile on D:, it is not included in a system image, so I periodically copy the profile folder to a backup location.

It's a bit of work, but that meets my needs. When you know your system, it's not much time really. If I were truly smart, I'd automate the process (another thing I've been thinking about - 8 or 9 years )

Bill
.

 

[mjf]

You should simply be able to store most of your data and games in simple folders on another drive. Some data may be stored on your OS drive but this is likely to be minimal. You don't really need to do anything fancy with libraries as far as I can see. The simple approach works even for someone else in the family who is a "game" person. I use Photoshop, compilers and other application software and I have no need to bother mucking around with libraries or user folders.