Best Place to Install Program Files?

I have two partitions on my main disc (80GB). It is split into two partitions of 35GB each and the rest of the space is for the restore partition.

I was wondering if it makes a difference where I install programs to? By installing them to the windows partition will it actually make them run any faster or does it not matter since both partitions are physically on the same disc?

 

I don't believe it's going to matter at all. The only reason why it would could be if you have two hard drives with different performance specs...such as 7200RPM and 10000RPM, for example, and your OS is on one HD and the program in on another.

As long as your install programs in a place that is consistent, and that you can remember, it should be all the same. Some programs work better if installed in "C:\Program Files" because they fan out in directory structure, such as by creating a common folder with other information in it. I think you should be quite fine.

 

Emm... yes and no... when windows slows down, it probably means that u install too much programs into it (into the registry, even if u uninstalled it). Keep the registry clean and u ll get a fast running system...

 

If i were you'd I install the programs along with Windows. When you do a restore, the fragments of those programs won't mean much anyways, they might as well be deleted with Windows

 

I've always installed my programs onto another partition. For example, i'll have a 12GB partition for Windows, and the rest for my programs. People will tell you it is "slower" this way, but i've yet to notice a difference. The reason i do it this way is 2 fold. First i like the organization of it. I make 5 folders and every one of my programs falls into one of those categories. This makes it easy for me to browse to them when i need to. The second reason (and i learned this after it happened a few times) is that if/when Windows takes a dump, i still have all my files from the other partition. Can't i just back it up you ask? Well sure, but this gives me 2 means of recovering files

 

That's actually not a bad idea...I never even thought of it.

I am currently using a partition for programs/windows and another for data like music, videos, documents and such. I've gotten so used to dealing with Program Files over the years I never thought to try something else.

 

it doesn't matter, IMO. i also have to two partitions. the first partition is for the system and apps. the second partition for datas.

 

I should add i also have a data partition in addition to the other 2. My current PC setup is 10GB windows, 50GB programs, ~400ish storage. If i lose Windows, i don't lose gaming configs/maps/saves, programs that don't require install paths to Windows, various other things that shouldn't need to be lost with Windows.

 

While I understand what you're saying Sucka, I save myself the hassle of having to work out which programs need to be reinstalled, and which don't and just lump all programs into windows and then everything else on my other partition.

I also ghost my machine anytime I make a major change so that I can get back to that "point" easily (oh and make sure that as many programs as possible store settings to my "data" drive rather than the "windows and programs" drive).

30/90 is my current sizing.

 

Just one of those "whatever floats your boat" type of things. There are a million ways to skin a cat.......oh forget it

I do it as i explained mostly for the organizational aspect of it. I don't like browing through extra folders, and having a looooooong list of installs when i can have it all centralized and organized. A few extra clicks here and there might not seem like a big deal, but it's something i found to get annoying over years of computing.