Can I setup two drives? 1 for system [SSD], 1 for data [HDD]

[MarkJohnson]

I am thinking of getting an SSD for my rig and installing the OS on it. I then want my HDD setup as my data drive for my games and applications.

My question is, can I tell Win7 to use both at install, or do I have to manually do it, and how can it be done.

I guess I only need my USERS folder on my HDD as most programs use that folder by default anyway. Or is it possible to tell windows to put the USERS folder on D drive?

-=Mark=-

[ripken204]

there is a way to set that parameter in the registry.

but whenever i did some programs would not figure it out.

i think there is also an option in vlite for it.

but i do not think it supports win7 or not, you would have to check that out.

or just do what i have been doing for years, when a program wants to install just tell it where to install, and install it on the second drive.

i also changed the location of my documents and downloads folder. those will happen automatically after you change the location.

[foxyshadis]

The simplest way on an existing installation is to move the entire folder over offline (ie, bartpe or similar), keeping permissions, and then create a junction point from the old to the new. You don't even have to worry about changing anything's referenced drive letters. From a clean install, you need to use setup.exe's /unattend with an xml answer file. You can make a basic one with the AIK (Automated Installation Kit), and the location to change is Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup\FolderLocations, ProfilesDirectory=D:\whatever. (As in this blog.)

If you don't want to download 1.5gigs just for that, here's a sample xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
<settings pass="oobeSystem">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup"
publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS"
processorArchitecture="x86">
<FolderLocations>
<ProfilesDirectory>D:\Users</ProfilesDirectory>
</FolderLocations>
</component>
</settings>
</unattend>