Second hard drive: Questions about default folders

[Heretic Apostate]

I just bought an external hard drive (okay, it's bought on ebay and hopefully will be in the mail next week). It's got 80GB of space, so I want to use it as the "go to" drive for installation and downloads.

So, how do I tell the computer to move the "My Documents" (and other My ___ folders) and "Program Files" folders to the new drive?

In other words, when I download a new PDF from svgames, or a new song from iTunes, I want them going to the Z drive, not my C drive, and I don't want to have to keep telling the computer this.

Similarly, when I install a new game, I want it heading to the Z drive.

I'd also like to re-route some programs from my C drive to my D drive. Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Office, iTunes, and so on. Is there some easy way to do it, that doesn't involve uninstalling? Microsoft Office, at least, I've made the effort to download all the patches and updates, and that's several hours I don't want to repeat...

 

[LightPhoenix]

I can't help you with anything except iTunes - go to Preferences, select the Advanced tab, and you can change the destination folder.

 

[ergeheilalt]

I just bought an external hard drive (okay, it's bought on ebay and hopefully will be in the mail next week). It's got 80GB of space, so I want to use it as the "go to" drive for installation and downloads.

So, how do I tell the computer to move the "My Documents" (and other My ___ folders) and "Program Files" folders to the new drive?

In other words, when I download a new PDF from svgames, or a new song from iTunes, I want them going to the Z drive, not my C drive, and I don't want to have to keep telling the computer this.

Similarly, when I install a new game, I want it heading to the Z drive.

I'd also like to re-route some programs from my C drive to my D drive. Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Office, iTunes, and so on. Is there some easy way to do it, that doesn't involve uninstalling? Microsoft Office, at least, I've made the effort to download all the patches and updates, and that's several hours I don't want to repeat...

To my knowledge, the ability to re-route already installed program files would be impossible with out uninstalling and reinstalling. Your opperating system has linked the program into various aspects of OS operation (ie: start menu, default mp3 player, etc). Some smaller programs (like mIRC) do not care where they are put and can be easily moved and programs like iTunes should have an option inside the preferences that allows you to change the music destination drive/file area.

Sorry dude, looks like you'll have to reinstall for a majority of the changes you want to make.

Erge

 

[Ranger REG]

Well, I don't know about you, but if your external HD is going to be permanently attached to your PC, first make sure you create a "My Document" folder on your ext-HD. Then right-click the "My Document" icon on your desktop and change the target folder pathname.

As for myself, I just regularly back up My Document folder from my Drive C to my ext-HD (Drive G) under the "My Document" folder. That way, I can disconnect my ext-HD (don't want to run it too long or it'll get hot or just wasting power).

Use the same instruction above for "Program Files" folder. Only you might have to install the programs and during the install designate the directory on your ext-HD.

 

[gariig]

I don't suggest running something on an external. It's SLOW. You need to realize it takes eternity to your CPU to get something from a hard drive. Now imagine going over an even slower USB1.1 connection..even Firewire and USB2 are slow compared to your internal ones. This will dramatically slow down your computer, and if you slap office on there don't be surprised at much longer delays in opening.

I'd only use it as mass storage(MP3s and movies) or backup. That is just my 2 coppers though.

 

[Heretic Apostate]

Hmmm... Dang, wish the computer had connections for a second internal drive...

So, basically, I can store my downloads and stuff on the external, but I'll have to keep swapping games in and out of the internal drive?

 

[gariig]

You should have enough room for a second internal hard drive. Most computers can support 4 internals Hard Drive/CD-ROMs. The cables that connect Hard Drives/CD-ROMs have 2 connectors on them. Just slap your new hard drive on the empty one and that should be about it.

Gariig

 

[Heretic Apostate]

Yup, it has one controller, and no room for another.

Unfortunately, I already have one hard drive, two CD-ROMs (fast CDROM and CD-R/DVDROM), and a ZIP drive. Couldn't even support a 3.5" drive...

So I'm out of luck.

How much of a lag is there, anyway? Maybe I can still use it for the lesser games, the ones I rarely use? Save the 8 GB I have left for my Civ3, M&M6 and 7, Zoo Tycoon, and so on...

Now, if I only knew how to reclaim the 5 GB that my computer partitions out for a FAT32 DISE_Backup... If I have an 80GB external drive, I'd darn well like to use that for backup purposes!

 

[Ranger REG]

Just curious, but why didn't you invest in a larger int-HD?

 

[Heretic Apostate]

The reason I got such a small hard drive is because it's a display model, which I got for less than $300. I then spent another $200-300 upgrading it.

What happened was, my old computer, a P3 with WinME (boo hiss!!!) and a 30GB hard drive, died. Everything but the operating system still worked. I couldn't get the computer to finish booting, however.

I was tired of ME, and I wanted a faster computer, so I bought the cheapest one I could, as a stopgap until I have a full-time job and money to burn. THEN I'll go out and get a better computer, and use this one for spare parts.