[SOLVED] Building a new PC - first time SSD owner

[aafusc2988]

Plan to install only Windows 10 on the SSD initially, which I have ready to go on a USB drive (just purchased Win 10 with all my other components). Will boot up Win 10 with the USB drive, and install to SSD. Won't the act of doing this cause my PC to make the SSD my default drive? How exactly do I change this? I want to make sure when I start downloading everything else, programs, game installs, etc. that they are using the new 2TB Seagate Barracuda I bought. I know this is probably a dumb question but I am inexperienced with building PCs and SSDs in general.

 

[jay32267]

After you install Windows....that will be your C drive.
and...when you go to install Windows for the first time ONLY have the SSD connected or you are asking for problems.
After you have Windows installed and everything is good. Power down and add the other drives.

As far as "the default" drive. Don't be concerned with this. When you go to install your programs...in general (in almost every case) you will be asked where to install the program. Then just choose the other drive.

That being said.....I would try to run as many programs off the SSD as I could because they will run much faster.

 

[coozie7]

It's not such a dumb question.
One way is to do this: https://www.intowindows.com/how-to-change-default-install-location-of-apps-in-windows-10/
You will always be able to specify another drive during the actual install process, though, the above just makes your HDD the default install drive, not the only install drive you can use.

And Jay32267 makes an important point with the drives: ALWAYS install with just the target drive connected, Windows has a nasty habit of placing critical boot files across multiple connected drives which, as Jay says, can lead to problems.

 

[aafusc2988]

How is this going to effect a program like Gamesave Manager that I have used in the past when reinstalling Windows? GS Manager works by backing up the saves to an external HDD then loading them back onto a new PC or reinstalled OS PC by putting the files back where they belong. Everything would be C: Drive because I've never had a SSD... am I just screwed in this case? I mean I know a lot of Steam games have cloud saves anyway but several of my games probably don't, such as Bethesda games for one.

 

[jay32267]

That might be a little tricky.....but being the saves are already on an external drive you could move them back manually. That wouldn't be that tough. I wouldn't think there would be that many....and it's pretty easy to figure out where they go.

 

[aafusc2988]

I'm so excited about this build I already updated my signature. Hope it's not bad luck I did this.

 

[USAFRet]

Yes, the SSD (the C drive) will be the default location for all installs, saves, whatever.

For your application installs, you DO want these on the SSD. Speed.

For Steam games, you can designate other drives as an install location.
Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder

Game save data is tiny. Leave those wherever they want to go.

For other things, read here:
Win 7 & 8: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1834397/ssd-redirecting-static-files.html
Win 8.1 & 10: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2024314/windows-redirecting-folders-drives.html