SSD for OS/Programs, HDD everything else guide

[Ballatician]

Has anyone come across a proper guide for setting up the ssd(os+programs) / hdd(less used programs, data, etc) configuration that is so popular?

I mean, one that explains the best folders to move from the os drive (ssd) to the hdd to limit writing to the ssd.

Right now I am just planning on making a bunch of folders on my data drive that the user folders such as 'my music' will monitor.....
but what about application data and temp folders and that type of stuff?? Should it/can it be moved as well?


It would be nice if it also includes the best programs (browser, anti-virus) to include on the ssd versus those that shouldn't be?

I have been keeping a list of steps and guides I have followed thus far to share at some point but I have yet to see a guide addressing the obvious questions for this type of setup.

Keep in mind this is for a smallish ssd, one in which you are trying to save space and have good longevitiy on windows 7.

 

[HendrixFan]

How small of a SSD are we talking about? Unless it is 30 or 40GB I wouldn't imagine that you need to worry about temp folders and the like.

 

[Ballatician]

OCZ Vertex 30GB, 19 free after win7 64 install

I see you have the same one.

Did you implement all/any of the recommended tweaks?

 

[HendrixFan]

I used vLite to strip out some uneeded stuff (additional languages, Tablet PC, Media Center) which dropped the bare Windows 7 install down to just under 6GB. I got rid of my hibernation file (6GB, same as my RAM) and I don't have a system restore. Pagefile is set on my Raptor drive, as is all my "user" data. After installing all the programs I need, I still have only 17GB used, so my "user" data totaling 1GB shouldn't make much of a difference.

All my games get installed to the Raptor drive, as I certainly wouldn't have room on my tiny SSD.

 

[Binky]

A 30GB SSD is large enough for most Win7 installations without too much tweaking. My Win7 installs are 15-20GB. Now, if you have Vista, things may be different. I have a minimal Vista64 install that somehow takes up almost 32GB...!

 

[Ballatician]

vLite would have been a smart idea, will remember that if I ever reinstall. I also got rid of the hibernation file as well as system restore. I minimized page file on the SSD to 200MB and enabled it on my caviar blue instead. May get rid of it on the SSD altogether, the warning just got me worried.

What I am trying to figure out now is the whole programs, program files, user directories, user data separation. Now, the whole point of getting even this super small SSD was for the fast read times so that the OS would be snappy and programs would load quickly. (Not that I had much of a problem before except for certain programs). With 19 GB free, I could leave 3-4GB open and still have 15GB open for windows upates and whichever programs I decide to install which should be more than enough.

What I haven't understood yet is whether I should allow the limited total writes issue on SSD's to limit which programs I install on it. The issue is that that the HDD directories will only be saved stuff which after written once is only read whereas programs may have files they constantly write to. Is it truly an issue when it comes to life of the drive?

Browser? Temp files? Anti-virus? It is hard to understand what, if anything, writes too often or if it even matters. Are there certain programs that write too often or that must be installed on the same drive as the OS?

I will install media center software ultimately as well.



What does “user data” refer to in your post?

 

[Ballatician]

I used vLite to strip out some uneeded stuff (additional languages, Tablet PC, Media Center) which dropped the bare Windows 7 install down to just under 6GB. I got rid of my hibernation file (6GB, same as my RAM) and I don't have a system restore. Pagefile is set on my Raptor drive, as is all my "user" data. After installing all the programs I need, I still have only 17GB used, so my "user" data totaling 1GB shouldn't make much of a difference.

All my games get installed to the Raptor drive, as I certainly wouldn't have room on my tiny SSD.

What does user data refer to? I think that I can install whatever programs I need or use often on the SSD with plenty of room to spare.

It's hard to make sense of the excess amount of info out there. So much of it written by people who don't really understand what they are saying.

 

[ShawnD1]

OCZ Vertex 30GB, 19 free after win7 64 install

Shit. Serious? I just installed a fresh copy of Vista32 on my 30gb drive. I got all the latest service packs and updates. Windows folder is is 21.9gb big, size on disk is 18.6gb (ntfs compression).

Just to make even the most basic things fit, I had to get rid of hibernation then move the swap file to a different drive.

 

[perdomot]

I use this set up myself and its very effective. I got a 30GB OCZ SSD for Windows 7 and all my programs and put all photos, videos and music on a 1 TB WD Caviar Black HDD.

 

[shortylickens]

My Win 7 was 24 GB. After formatting that only leaves about 3GB of free space. I think I may have to uninstall some default crap like the MS DVD maker. Squeezing Office on there is going to be a hassle.

 

[Emulex]

how big you think SP1 for win7 will be/need?

 

[shortylickens]

Wait, nevermind. Its more like 14GB for Win 7 pro. After I removed the DVD Maker and some other nonsense, and checked my swapfile, it was 14GB just to install Windows 7. You may wish to move your swap file to another drive, or limit its size.

I have no idea about SP1. Hopefully its just a bunch of fixes instead of new software suites.

 

[Voo]

With Vista they also included a lot of unnecessary (but arguably useful) stuff like even more drivers, so I wouldn't count on the Win7 SP to be small, but: You can always remove all that stuff, that should give you several GB.

 

[beginner99]

My current vista install is around 22 GB. Is win 7 much smaller assuming without "extreme" optimizing?

Adding a few Apps and remembering to leave around 20 % free anyway for better performance, anything below 80 gb will prbably be not enough?

Anyone actually bought the WD Silicion Edge Drive? I know it's not that great, but it's on sale and only 20 $ more than the intel 80 gb for 128 GB at my online shop. (only 2.2$/GB).

50% more space is nice and random read is still much faster than with a normal drives. Hm, initially I thought this drive is crap but good pricing always helps.

 

[hclarkjr]

vLite would have been a smart idea, will remember that if I ever reinstall. I also got rid of the hibernation file as well as system restore. I minimized page file on the SSD to 200MB and enabled it on my caviar blue instead. May get rid of it on the SSD altogether, the warning just got me worried.

What I am trying to figure out now is the whole programs, program files, user directories, user data separation. Now, the whole point of getting even this super small SSD was for the fast read times so that the OS would be snappy and programs would load quickly. (Not that I had much of a problem before except for certain programs). With 19 GB free, I could leave 3-4GB open and still have 15GB open for windows upates and whichever programs I decide to install which should be more than enough.

What I haven't understood yet is whether I should allow the limited total writes issue on SSD's to limit which programs I install on it. The issue is that that the HDD directories will only be saved stuff which after written once is only read whereas programs may have files they constantly write to. Is it truly an issue when it comes to life of the drive?

Browser? Temp files? Anti-virus? It is hard to understand what, if anything, writes too often or if it even matters. Are there certain programs that write too often or that must be installed on the same drive as the OS?

I will install media center software ultimately as well.



What does “user data” refer to in your post?

there is new program going through beta testing right now that is way better than vlite for windows 7, check it out
http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/142382-rt-seven-lite-beta-build-108/

 

[hclarkjr]

after using that program i linked too, my install of windows 7 ultmiate x64 with some games and programs installed is 23gb for everything.

 

[coolVariable]

1 year old install of Win7 (64bit) on my laptop is 24GB with LOTS of programs installed.

Fresh install on my HTPC (Win7 32bit) is 11GB with hibernation and sys restore disabled.

 

[Ballatician]

Yeah vista should be a lot bigger. Even without optimizing, my install was only 11GB but as you see at the beginning of the thread, vLite can almost halve that.

If you're tight for space, you can always install things like language packs and some default things such as games, dvd maker, etc. I have no idea about SP1 but I'm guessing less than 1GB.

beginner99 - never heard of that drive before

hclarkjr - thanks for the link, interesting program

 

[blanketyblank]

Do you use vlite or the other small install tools before or after installing win 7?
My drive hasn't come yet so I'm just getting ready in the mean time.