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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Windows drive partition/folder structure advice?
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 02/10/2013 08:35:51 PM · #1
Longtime Mac-user here and I need a bit of education regarding Windows drive partitioning and folder structure.

I recently purchased a Windows laptop that shipped with the drive already partitioned ΓΆ€” OS (C:) and DATA (D:). Seems like a good idea, but I now realize that it was up to me to instruct the computer to use this partition for data storage, and... well... I'm not even sure what else.

I didn't receive any guidance on this when I purchased, and I foolishly thought stuff like "My Documents," photo imports, etc., would naturally find a home on the D drive, but it still remains empty, and everything has ended up on C, which is filling up quickly.

I'm asking here because I'm primarily concerned with Photoshop and LR and all my photos. The photos of course should be in the Data partition. Should the applications also reside there? Do I need to reinstall them? Can I just move my photo folders and check the routing in Lightroom to make sure it syncs up?

Furthermore... Should I just move my entire C:\Users\Scott folder to D? Seems like it should reside there, no?

Any help is appreciated. If a link can be shared instead of wasting time on this, that would be great as well. Thanks a lot.
 02/10/2013 08:43:51 PM · #2
No. The data drive you are describing is the backup of your system install files, and it's there in case you need to restore. You should not be putting anything in that partition.
 02/10/2013 08:50:05 PM · #3
You don't want to move your user folder. It should be on the OS partition where it is. A lot of important folders, both visible and hidden reside there, and the OS needs be able to find them.

The way the Libraries folder works had changed in Windows 7, and 8. While you can store actual files in the My Photos, My Music etc. folders you're library can also include files across multiple drives. This way you don't have to actually move all your files under your library folder. It does this by means of pointer files. That way you have a productive way of organizing and viewing files from one folder or library without searching all your drives all the time.

Dave
 02/10/2013 09:07:08 PM · #4
Thanks, David. The pointer files make sense (I suppose I need to set up shortcuts or something for that... I can figure that out)... but the DATA (D:) drive is 393 GB. I don't think that's designed to be a system install backup drive.

Seems more complicated than it needs to be.
 02/10/2013 09:12:11 PM · #5
Originally posted by bohemka:
Thanks, David. The pointer files make sense (I suppose I need to set up shortcuts or something for that... I can figure that out)... but the DATA (D:) drive is 393 GB. I don't think that's designed to be a system install backup drive.

Seems more complicated than it needs to be.


Ok, if the partition is that big, then it's more than the backup recovery drive. Still it's fine to store data files on that partition, but I do NOT recommend moving any system files or folders over to it.

The way the libraries work....say you have a folder of photos in it's own folder on a separate drive. I'm not on my Windows 7 machine right now, but you should be able to right click on that folder and select something like add to library. The file location does not change, but you are able to see those files and access them from the library without going to that particular folder to do so. Or can you cant just do it the traditional way, and build the folders the way you want to and direct access them.

Programs get installed under the Program Files folder or the Program Files x86 folder depending on whether you are running a 32 bit system or 64 bit. A windows system can have multiple users that log on to their own desktop and settings so a User directory gets set up for each one on the computer. Again, don't move these.

Dave

Message edited by author 2013-02-10 21:18:06.
 02/10/2013 09:33:54 PM · #6
Thanks a lot, Dave. I appreciate it.
 02/10/2013 10:27:30 PM · #7
I partition my drives like that. Windows and applications go on C: and data files go on D:. On my desktop system they are separate physical drives. On my laptop it is simply for better organization and access speed.

You can change the "my documents, music, photos, etc. to point to the D: drive instead of to the default user folder on C:. I'll get you some details on how to do that in the morning if you haven't figured it out for yourself by then.

I don't bother with the Win7 concept of libraries, BTW. I just know where my files are.

Message edited by author 2013-02-10 22:28:39.
 02/11/2013 08:16:43 AM · #8
FWIW, I don't really think there's a strong technical reason to partition a single physical drive into multiple partitions anymore. The days of realistically running onto some of the issues we worried about back in the day are gone.
But if you are going to do it, it needs to be done right. Shame on whomever set up that machine and left the My Documents, My Pictures, etc. folders pointing to the boot partition. Double shame on them if they didn't size the boot partition taking into consideration adding apps over time.
What I'd do if it were my machine is first, verify that the second partition does not have the backup information on it, and if this is the case, I'd expand the boot partition to take up the whole drive.
 02/11/2013 08:43:20 AM · #9
Originally posted by kirbic:
FWIW, I don't really think there's a strong technical reason to partition a single physical drive into multiple partitions anymore. The days of realistically running onto some of the issues we worried about back in the day are gone.
But if you are going to do it, it needs to be done right. Shame on whomever set up that machine and left the My Documents, My Pictures, etc. folders pointing to the boot partition. Double shame on them if they didn't size the boot partition taking into consideration adding apps over time.
What I'd do if it were my machine is first, verify that the second partition does not have the backup information on it, and if this is the case, I'd expand the boot partition to take up the whole drive.

+1, except I'd install a 128G SSD, and copy your OS drive to it. At a cost < $150, you'll get much better performance.
You should have a storage area (separate drive from your OS), and a working area for your pictures. Again, having the SSD (solid state drive) will greatly improve your performance for editing pictures (work area).
Without getting too technical, the reason for partitioning a single drive was primarily due to "blocking" - the minimum size of each "chunk" of storage on the drive. Microsoft uses a 4K default for all disks up to 16T (according to what I read), so about the only reason I can think of to partition would be to keep the file allocation table smaller (and potentially quicker) on your OS drive.
From a use standpoint, when you save files, you have to select the "drive" (or maybe more correctly, the drive letter), rather than let it default to C: - same on open.
02/11/2013 09:18:42 AM · #10
Redirect-a-folder-to-a-new-location
 02/11/2013 10:46:42 AM · #11
Originally posted by dtremain:

+1, except I'd install a 128G SSD, and copy your OS drive to it. At a cost < $150, you'll get much better performance.
You should have a storage area (separate drive from your OS), and a working area for your pictures. Again, having the SSD (solid state drive) will greatly improve your performance for editing pictures (work area).


An SSD is a great idea, if it is economically feasible. Remember that at least 30% of an SSD needs to remain free at all times for the wear leveling to work properly. A 128GB will suffice for an OS drive, unless you have a lot of apps installed, in which case it will be too small. In a laptop, it's sometimes feasible to install two drives, although you usually give up the optical drive to do so (not a huge deal, use an external or load stuff via USB stick). If two drives are not possible, then you need a single drive that's large enough for apps and data, and then an SSD becomes prohibitively expensive... for now.
Prices on SSDs are dropping and will continue to drop. Prices of around $0.80 USD per GB are common now, and I expect that within a year to 18 months, prices at or below $0.50 USD per GB will be the norm.
02/11/2013 12:23:22 PM · #12
Originally posted by kirbic:
FWIW, I don't really think there's a strong technical reason to partition a single physical drive into multiple partitions anymore. The days of realistically running onto some of the issues we worried about back in the day are gone.


I agree to a point, but if you have multiple OS's on one machine, each OS requires its own partition. At least that's how my Mac is set up.
 02/11/2013 01:06:54 PM · #13
Originally posted by Spork99:
Originally posted by kirbic:
FWIW, I don't really think there's a strong technical reason to partition a single physical drive into multiple partitions anymore. The days of realistically running onto some of the issues we worried about back in the day are gone.


I agree to a point, but if you have multiple OS's on one machine, each OS requires its own partition. At least that's how my Mac is set up.


Oh, definitely, in fact no way around it then. But the OP's "new" machine is strictly a Windows box.
02/11/2013 03:15:19 PM · #14
Originally posted by kirbic:
Originally posted by Spork99:
Originally posted by kirbic:
FWIW, I don't really think there's a strong technical reason to partition a single physical drive into multiple partitions anymore. The days of realistically running onto some of the issues we worried about back in the day are gone.


I agree to a point, but if you have multiple OS's on one machine, each OS requires its own partition. At least that's how my Mac is set up.


Oh, definitely, in fact no way around it then. But the OP's "new" machine is strictly a Windows box.


Then there is no good reason I can think of to create multiple partitions the drive.
 02/12/2013 11:58:01 PM · #15
one reason is if you do a fresh OS install it won't wipe the data on the other partition.

Just set you import software to import to a folder on the D drive and then manually cut/paste the folders already in My Docs to the new folder.

you can also add folders from the D: drive to your library.
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