How to configure SSD and HDD

Hey Guys

I'm about to buy a Sony Vaio SA and I'll be removing the optical disk drive and installing a SSD in its place for OS and a few programs.

My question is: after I get the clean install of windows on the SSD, how do I configure the system to write all the files and programs to the HDD by default?

I'm thinking of partitioning the HDD in a way that leaves the factory installed OS there, even though I'm sacrificing space, so if anything happens I can still boot from the HDD. Do you guys think that's a good idea? Or would a recovery disk suffice?

Oh, and on another note, should I be fine installing the SSD in the optical disk slot or should I replace the HDD with the SSD and then put the HDD in the optical disk slot?

 

Why would you want to write all the files/programs to the HDD? That would defeat the purpose getting SSD, for faster access..

Better place the SSD on the HDD slot, since usually the optical drive slot is not SATA3..

 

Yeah I figured as much about the optical drive not being sata iii

And the purpose of the SSD would be to just boot the OS and some programs, if I put everything on it I'd fill it very fast unless I shell out a lot more money for a larger SSD. My plan is to have certain programs run off the SSD while having all the files on the hard drive as well as some other programs that might not fit on the ssd

 

good plan, get at least 80 gig though for OS and programs. I would do an image to an external hard drive of the OS for quick recovery with a program like Pagagon 2012 free backup.

 

I think it's best to install all programs to the SSD. Windows is going to place components of the programs on the system drive anyway, so why have them spanning two drives?

My SSD/HDD setup is as follows: Windows install on an 80GB SSD (SSD is in the regular HDD slot), including the user folder and the document folders; I have additional media folders on the HDD which are included in the libraries feature. Any media files I'm currently using (new downloads, newly acquired videos I haven't watched yet, etc) are on the SSD. Things I'm archiving, not using, have already watched but may watch again, etc go on the HDD.

I have a 1.5 TB drive in a dock that I use for archiving all my media.

 

Shemmy I have always read that you need to leave at least 20% free on an SSD for garbage collection, so an 80 GIG HD can quickly become approx 60 GIG useable. That is why some of us install programs that are not frequently used on the HDD.

 

I would use the SSD on the internal bay instead of the optical disk bay, because on newer notebooks they still tend to keep the disk drive on Sata2 while the rest are Sata3.

My setup consists of a 120gb SSD and a 500gb HDD for games.
My SSD holds all my programs and a Battlefield 3 and im using around 60% of it.

 

I believe, but am not sure, that newer generation SSDs are already overprovisioned. My 80GB Intel is overprovisioned by about 7%.

 

Overprovisioning can only do so much, if you fill it up near max capacity, performance will still decrease.

 

Are you going to buy 16GB SSD that you are afraid that all software won't fit
No? Then maybe you are going to buy 30GB SSD and install there FULL MS Office with ALL Adobe software including Photoshop etc, aren't you?
Again no? Then I suggest you to stop thinking about such strange things.

My C drive is as full as 16GB. I make it 30 GB size on 640GB HDD. When I had 60Gb SSD I couldn't understand how someone buys 80GB one for only OS.

I turned off paging file with 5GBs of left RAM (1GB was for eBoostr and RAMDisk) while now I have 8GB and will not use it for those speed-up software when get SSD and repair my laptop. You can delete hyberfil.sys file which is like 1x or 1.5x of your amount of RAM. You can stop using Windows Restore afterall! Which will not just save more space but also save your SSD from writes and therefore no speed decrease. You want more suggestions? Just buy Crucial m4 or Samsung 830 with 64GB and that's it.

Move all "My..." folders to drive D including Desktop, Downloads and other and you will have as much a lot free space on 64GB SSD as I had.

It was advice of... ME

 

The 80 GB Intel 320 is all my wife needs on her netbook (her last laptop was a 1st gen Intel Macbook with a 60GB drive). She has an external 320GB drive and 16 GB Sandisk Fit and SD card for extra storage as well - not that she'd need them.

I have ~55GB free on my 80GB Intel 320 without any VMs installed, and even then, a Linux VM needn't be large (not sure about a Windows VM, but I'll deal with that when I need)

 

You follow my thought. I meant that I don't understand people who say that they need at least 80GB size SSD to be a C drive for Windows and all software.

 

I'd remove the old installation from the HDD, factory installs from Sony are big and uses some 90 processes from start. You can do a much better work yourself.
Keep the programs on the SSD.

First you find out which method you want to use, look here and read the pros and cons.

If you pick the first method:

1 - Install Windows with the SSD where the HDD used to be. Make NO partitions, let Windows do the job.

2 - When installation is finished, shut down and mount the HDD. Format it in Windows.

3 - Follow the instructions.

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If you pick the second method, read the first answer here by BrianWilder.

 

Thanks, helpful info, I've just been confused with all the differing opinions out there and whether or not to have some programs on the ssd, all programs, all files, no files, etc.

And another question. Would you advise moving the ProgramData folder as well? Or should User suffice? I'm getting the 64 GB M4 and while I know 64 GB is plenty for just OS and programs, I still wanna make sure

 

Personally I don't do it since I usually move the Users subfolders with the first method, ie I can't do it.
It's up to you. If you're using the second method then why not.