(C:) Drive and (D:) Drive- HELP!

Ok, I want to shrink my C drive so that it only has Vista on it.... and I want to install all my data+files+music+programs+games+pictures to my D drive automatically. How do I do this?
Do I need to create folders called "Program files" ect?


I'm not sure if this helps but I have an Asus G50vt x2

 

1) Defragment your C:\ drive
2) Shrink your C:\ partition using either Vista's built-in Disk Management utility (search for it from the Start menu) or Gparted (LiveCD partition editor)
3) Reset the machine, let it run CHKDSK on the volumes, etc
4) Move your data over

Note that you cannot simply move your program data and expect it to work; these programs have written thousands of registry entries pointing to their initial installation directory when they were installed.

http://gparted.sourceforge.net/

 

Re-install Vista, follow the instructions in this thread (just after installing Vista, and nothing else), and then install your programs. Now, your softwares will automatically get installed in the directory/folder/drive/path that you've specified during the tweak.



.

 

In XP I used this guide.

http://www.windowsbbs.com/windows-xp/49222-moving-windows-xp-default-folders-rev1.html

May work with Vista

Edit: This was just for data

 

Trying to put the program files on any drive other than where the OS is stored is just asking for trouble. Most installers will recognize the fact that you have repositioned the programs folder, but the ones that don't will give you fits.

Plus there is really no benefit to keeping them on a separate drive since they are so intricately linked to the registry which MUST be on the OS drive.

Gary

 

I've reached that conclusion the hard way, through trial and error. The last time I did a fresh reinstallation, I set up three partitions - OS, Programs, Data - and tried to keep them that way. So far, I've managed to keep data in the Data partition only, but the separation between OS and Programs has not been that successful. And, as ScuderiaConchiglia points out, if you have to repair or reinstall the OS, you're going to have to reinstall most if not all of your programs since the registry will no longer have any correspondence to the installed programs.

 

It's been working great for me though for a few years!

 

Yep, it is easy to keep the data, music, pictures even Favorites and Outlook files on a separate drive. But you are really better off keeping the programs and OS folders on the same drive. It makes bakup and restore of the OS partition a LOT easier.

Gary

 

If you are talking about a program files directory on a different drive from the OS, it can be done, don't get me wrong. But you have to be vigilant about it, as some installers make the assumption it is always on the C drive.

But the real question is why bother to do this? If you backup the OS partition and the programs files partition, anytime you restore one you must restore the other.

The only reason I ever see for having multiple partition is for ease of backup and restore. Being able to restore data (including music, pictures etc) independently from programs and OS (and vice versa) is, for me the ONLY reason to have multiple partitions. (Well actually it is also a big plus when dual booting too.)

So, I just don't see the point of a separate program files partition.

Gary

 

I recently installed a suite and another large program to D: because I was running out of room on C: and I haven't had any problems. Since then I've upgraded (cloned) my HDD with plenty of room but I'm reluctant to move them back because it's like 14 CD's total.

Edit: The guide I link in a above post was just for Data. I agree, for the most part, you're better off with the OS and programs on the same drive.

Edit II: Anyone know of a way of moving my two programs from D to C, without uninstalling, reinstalling?

 

I know, but I don't have to tell you!

 

Ok, now you REALLY have me curious. Seriously, other than lack of space on the C: drive, why would you install apps on another partition? If they were "portable" apps, i.e. ones that need no registry settings, I could see a case being made. But I am truly interested in hearing your reason.

Gary

 

I take it you haven't watched Tropic Thunder yet, Gary? Otherwise you'd have understood my post!

 

For anyone that's interested, this program was suggested on another forum.

Application Mover

Since it's not free, I may just live with having a couple programs on D, until I can spend a few hours uninstalling and re-installing.

PS Sorry for the hijack, it's kind of related.

 

Personally, I made a Symbolic Link to the other hard drive. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTFS_symbolic_link).

1- Copy (not move) your files to the other drive. This might be a hard part since some of the files are in use.
2- Create a symbolic link from the original destination (e.g. C:\Program Files) to the target on the other drive (e.g. D\Program Files) in cmd. More infos here: http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/...and-directory-junctions-in-vista-with-mklink/
3- Restart computer to verify everything works. In case it doesn't, you can always remove the symbolic link and delete the files on the other drive
4- Delete the original files.

The advantage of this method is that you don't need to make any change to the registry or applications that are already installed. Everytime an application looks for a file located, for example, in C:\Program Files\..., it will be redirected to the file on the other drive.