Clarification on first time SSD installation

[X_liferuiner]

I know there are a million and one SSD threads here and elsewhere on the net and they have given me a VERY good idea of what I need to do to install my first SSD in my rig. My question isn't about HOW to install. That part is pretty clear to me. I just need some clarification on my understanding of the process and I have a rather specific question about game save files.

My question about save game files first. I am not worried about migrating steam and games. I am just fine with reinstalling both steam itself and my games which I plan to do. My main concern is my fallout 4 save file. I have a few other games that I wouldn't mind holding onto the save files for but fallout 4 is my main concern. I don't have any photos or anything left on my HDD as I have already moved what I need to a cloud service. I haven't touched my docs which is where I believe my FO4 save files would be. Basically, I need to know, could I just locate my fallout 4 save file (and any other game saves) and upload them to a cloud service and then when I have my new SSD installed and set up, download the save games and put them in the correct spot (if so, where would that be).

Now for some clarification on my understanding the install process itself, My plan of action based off of what I have read is tounplug the HDD, install the SSD, install OS on the ssd, boot up and install drivers and my browser, shut down, plug my HDD back in, boot back up and completely format my HDD. At this point, I would install all of my applications and games to my SSD and then any applications that I didn't need to be super speedy and all other files will go to my HDD. Is this process correct for my intentions? Have I missed a step or am I planning to do something incorrect by completely wiping and formatting my HDD right after installing my SSD? Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[fredfinks]

1) fallout saves, yes. easier if you have a usb drive or key handy. this applies to just about every game that i know of. google for precise location of where saves files are. some games suck and have a profile in one folder and save files in another. As long as you have the saves you are ok, at worst you have to reset keybinding and game options.

2) no youre good. no problem with wiping the HDD straight after unless you havent backed up any personal data that may be on it. id do that (backup) before anything.

 

[X_liferuiner]

1) fallout saves, yes. easier if you have a usb drive or key handy. this applies to just about every game that i know of. google for precise location of where saves files are. some games suck and have a profile in one folder and save files in another. As long as you have the saves you are ok, at worst you have to reset keybinding and game options.

2) no youre good. no problem with wiping the HDD straight after unless you havent backed up any personal data that may be on it. id do that (backup) before anything.

Awesome! Thanks! So you would recommend putting the saves on a USB drive and then putting them back after all is said and done? Is it possible to have save files on the HDD if my game is installed on the SSD?

 

[fredfinks]

Now thats a thing i wish game manufacturers got their act together and sorted, including making sure keyboard binding works etc . there needs to be the 'NON ASSHOLE GAMING DEVELOPER PROTOCOLS' that are adhered to.

Generally they go in my documents, luckily Win10 lets you change the location of that.

However with fallout 4 at least, im saving & reloading often. to speed things up i recommend leaving it on the SSD. Not sure what size your SSD is so you might want to keep tabs on it. i think i have about 10gb worth of fallout saves alone.

 

[X_liferuiner]

Now thats a thing i wish game manufacturers got their act together and sorted, including making sure keyboard binding works etc . there needs to be the 'NON ASSHOLE GAMING DEVELOPER PROTOCOLS' that are adhered to.

Generally they go in my documents, luckily Win10 lets you change the location of that.

However with fallout 4 at least, im saving & reloading often. to speed things up i recommend leaving it on the SSD. Not sure what size your SSD is so you might want to keep tabs on it. i think i have about 10gb worth of fallout saves alone.

ahh gotcha. I will be going to a 500gb 850 evo so space should be fine. I am on a 500gb HDD now with about 110gb of free space so I should have plenty to keep my game saves on the SSD. Thanks again for your help. I am sure the first time SSD install is more daunting on paper than it is once its hooked up in the rig. I just like to have all my things sorted prior to major PC changes.

 

[CountMike]

Aside from need to set AHCI mode, you can just forget about it being an SSD, just treat it as any other drive of same size.

 

[fredfinks]

especially if youre not that familiar with it. its very prudent.
later on you can grab a 256gb SSD for o/s/ and have the 500gb for games and programs alone. remember try to use the HDD for only media storage & playback. so slow in comparison.

 

[X_liferuiner]

especially if youre not that familiar with it. its very prudent.
later on you can grab a 256gb SSD for o/s/ and have the 500gb for games and programs alone. remember try to use the HDD for only media storage & playback. so slow in comparison.

I see everyone say this. Only use HDD for media. My whole thing is the only media I ever have on my personal PC is a folder for screenshots (no more than 10-20 at any given time) and a folder for wallpapers. I don't store music or movies. I may occasionally have some game footage saved but thats rare. Are there ANY drawbacks, other than slower speeds, to storing some larger, less used programs on the HDD? One that comes to mind is GIMP. I don't use it often. Others that I can think of would be some of the minor utility tools like Afterburner and the like. Basically, applications that I always DL on a fresh install but only use in certain circumstances.

 

[X_liferuiner]

Aside from need to set AHCI mode, you can just forget about it being an SSD, just treat it as any other drive of same size.

I've seen this mentioned in several posts regarding SSD install but it is not a common step in many of the "check lists" is this something that usually happens automatically and some people jsut add it in as a step to do manually to be sure? Also, is this something you would do before even plugging the SSD in, do you do it after plugging in the SSD but before installing the OS, or do you do this after the SSD AND the OS are installed?

 

[fredfinks]

no its ok. just have to wait longer for programs to run. SSD is basically instant access.

you dont store heaps of media- youre so close to never having to bother with mechanical drives again. in a bit get that the 250gb drive for your primary drive and throw the HDD in the trash

 

[CountMike]

Aside from need to set AHCI mode, you can just forget about it being an SSD, just treat it as any other drive of same size.

I've seen this mentioned in several posts regarding SSD install but it is not a common step in many of the "check lists" is this something that usually happens automatically and some people jsut add it in as a step to do manually to be sure? Also, is this something you would do before even plugging the SSD in, do you do it after plugging in the SSD but before installing the OS, or do you do this after the SSD AND the OS are installed?

Turn AHCI mode just before you start OS installation and after connecting SSD.

 

[fredfinks]

had the window open and didnt refresh so missed that comment.

connect the ssd - boot into BIOS > set or confirm that sata mode is set to AHCI (it may be set already) > then restart the machine and install windows.
make DVD drive as the boot order 1 if youre installing from a windows disc. after windows has finished change the boot order back to the SSD.

 

[X_liferuiner]

no its ok. just have to wait longer for programs to run. SSD is basically instant access.

you dont store heaps of media- youre so close to never having to bother with mechanical drives again. in a bit get that the 250gb drive for your primary drive and throw the HDD in the trash

so the 250gb drive would be the OS and the 500gb would be everything else? Is that how that would work?

 

[fredfinks]

yep. a few things like chrome auto install to c: , you can leave save files there, MS office. 500gb for everything else. 120gb is a little too tight for the c: drive and requires you to keep on top of things much more. A fair few programs want to store stuff on c:, regardless of where they are installed.
i installed a shit poker game on d: and i didnt realize till later it had saved 15gb worth of replay files on c:
500gb for everything else.

 

[fredfinks]

should say you should always do custom installations of programs and go through the programs /options/settings/preferences once installed so its not doing stuff you dont like, like auto starting on system start or constantly checking for updates (if its a porgram thats not important) , etc.