So I've been running Windows 7 with a 256GB SSD and 1TB HDD for a few years now and I'm looking to do a fresh start and format during my upgrade to Windows 10. The thing is that in my current installation I keep finding that I am filling up my SSD inadvertently. for example, Chrome likes to dump its downloads folder on my SSD and switching every single program installation from default "C:/Program Files(x86)/..." to "E:/Program Files(x86)/..." gets to be a pain in the ass and I end up missing a few by accident.
Now I know there's a way to change the default program files directory by changing some registry files on windows 7 but when I did that the Adobe Creative Cloud promptly shit the bed and refused to work, so that plan was out. My question is if there is a more elegant way to do this in Windows 10, changing the directory of every single program I install gets old real fast and everything else is janky to say the least. Having a "My Documents" on both drives because some programs refuse to use the one on my HDD among many other annoyances make me really want to try to get this out for my next clean start.
Any help regarding this issue is greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!
You could try moving the documents and programs folders to the HDD and then creating a junction to them on the SSD, then just install everything to C: as normal but the actual data will be written to the HDD.
Just be careful because unlike links if you delete a junction incorrectly you will delete the data in that directory just as if you deleted the original folder.
Something ain't right. Chrome does not have its own downloads folder. It just goes straight to the designated one that comes on Windows 7 and above. Doing junction links aren't all that fun, and really shouldn't be necessary. Registry hacks don't work well with Windows 10 due to the nature of it not being in active memory like it used to be. My advice, backup, and then do a clean wipe. Although if you are moving to 10. Upgrade to 10 so your key will turn into a 10 key, download .iso and then do a clean install.
Ooh, I hadn't thought about using a junction. Still janky as hell and shouldn't be necessary but I feel like that might be my best option for getting what I want. I'm working on packing up the files I want to take along for the format and sticking them on the NAS now so if I see something else suggested that sounds less jank before I finish I might do that instead.
So I've upgraded but I'm wrestling with getting this set up like I want.
What I'm currently attempting to do is have Program Files, Program Files (x86), and Users on my C drive all actually be on my D: drive.
@deejeta I found what you're talking about but that option doesn't seem to be available for the files I'm currently trying to change.
@Dexter_Kane Your suggestion seems to be close to working for me. I have copied my all 3 of the folders I mentioned earlier to my D: drive and then made junctions to those in the original location on the C: drive. My problem is now replacing those folders with the junctions, windows sems quite reluctant to do this which comes at no surprise to me. I have tried to rename all of the original folders and they all threw "access denied" when I tried to do it initially.
What I then did was boot in safe mode with command prompt and used "attrib -S "Filename"" on all three of them and for whatever reason it seemed to work for Program Files (x86) but none of the others. I renamed Program Files (x86) to (x86) and named the junction Program Files (x86).
Upon booting back into regular windows I can see that Program Files (x86) appears to have kept its name and now has the same name as the junction in windows explorer. When I look with command prompt however it still shows it as being named as "(x86)".
Does anyone know if what I'm trying to do is possible? If so, do you have any suggestions? Any help is welcome. Finally, here is a screenshot of my current predicament:
I have my windows 8.1 on my 128gb ssd and have my 500 hhd with all my files. I don't have my files connected to the folders in my c drive. I want to but I did not do it yet.
I would put the games on the 1tb hdd when installing and not bother with other stuff.
While in windows 7 you were able to simply able to press F8 to open a repair console, for windows 10 it seems as though you need to have a bootable drive. Boot to that drive and then select your language. On the screen afterward you should find a "Repair Windows" in the bottom left, click that then mosey around in the menu until you find a command prompt. Open that and then follow the tutorial there.
The problem that I was having was that I thought the safe mode command prompt would be enough to accomplish this task. This is very much not the case.
why wouldn't you want your programs on the SSD? kinda defeats the purpose of having one IMO
Move your personal folders (documents, downloads, pictures, music, etc.) and Steam library to your HDD and install your programs on your SSD. If you are still running out of space you should consider upgrading to a larger SSD or picking up a 2nd one.
