Computer has a memory leak, will installing OS onto a new SSD fix it?

[c_marriott]

My computer recently decided to mess up and use up all of its RAM due to a fault programme/driver.

It was suggested that I do a clean installation to solve this.

Will getting an SSD and installing Windows 7 onto that then booting it from there solve this? Or will the faulty programme/driver continue to cause a memory leak.

Also if anyone could suggest a decent but cheap SSD that is big enough to hole the OS it will be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Actually, you probably don't need a new drive at all. Memory leaks are caused by faulty or corrupt programs or drivers. Simply finding the problem via troubleshooting (Which may take some time) or just reinstalling the operating system on your current drive will likely cure the issue. A memory leak isn't like, well, a physical leak where memory is leaking out of the hard drive or memory modules. Heh. Just being facetious.

Seriously though, a clean install should cure the problem.

 

[c_marriott]

Actually, you probably don't need a new drive at all. Memory leaks are caused by faulty or corrupt programs or drivers. Simply finding the problem via troubleshooting (Which may take some time) or just reinstalling the operating system on your current drive will likely cure the issue. A memory leak isn't like, well, a physical leak where memory is leaking out of the hard drive or memory modules. Heh. Just being facetious.

Seriously though, a clean install should cure the problem.

But if I were to do this, would it fix the problem? I'm not sure if I want to clean off my HDD due to personal files and I feel like upgrading my boot drive anyway so would it be the best option to get a small one?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Do you currently have a HDD or an SSD? If you have a HDD I would recommend an SSD. Everything will be faster. I'd use the SSD for the boot drive and wipe your HDD and use it as a secondary drive for storage, after transferring your files from the HDD.

I can make a recommendation if you can tell me what your budget for this might be.

 

[c_marriott]

Do you currently have a HDD or an SSD? If you have a HDD I would recommend an SSD. Everything will be faster. I'd use the SSD for the boot drive and wipe your HDD and use it as a secondary drive for storage, after transferring your files from the HDD.

I can make a recommendation if you can tell me what your budget for this might be.

I currently have a HDD. If I did get the SSD, would i have to wipe the HDD? It has loads of files on I don't really want to have to copy over. I'd say 40 for the budget, I don't want anything big, just enough to hold the OS.

 

[Darkbreeze]

You don't "have" to, but I sure as hell would. You have an OS on it now which is taking up a massive amount of it's capacity not to mention severely slowing down it's performance from months or years of file system degradation due to it's nature as a mechanical drive. How large is the drive and what is the total size of files you want to save? If they are files that are part of application or system installations, this is pointless. If they are downloaded or created files you have saved, we can work it out.

 

[c_marriott]

You don't "have" to, but I sure as hell would. You have an OS on it now which is taking up a massive amount of it's capacity not to mention severely slowing down it's performance from months or years of file system degradation due to it's nature as a mechanical drive. How large is the drive and what is the total size of files you want to save? If they are files that are part of application or system installations, this is pointless. If they are downloaded or created files you have saved, we can work it out.

My HDD is 1TB, the files I would like to save are around the 300GB mark, they are games I have downloaded and a large amount of photos and music. What would you suggest?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Simple fix. Use a partitioning application like one of these, http://www.top5freeware.com/top-5-free-disk-partition-software-for-windows, or another utility, to create a partition on the currently unused space of the HDD once you've installed your OS onto the SSD. Then, move all the files you want to save from the partition on the HDD that contains them, to the new partition (Partitions look like separate lettered physical drives to the system). Then delete the other partition you just moved all the files FROM and reintegrate the resulting space back into the new partition you had created on the drive.

So in it's most basic terms, you're going to essentially split the drive in two, move everything from one side to the other and then delete the other side and add it's capacity back into the half you didn't delete. Then run a full disk defragmentation on the drive.

 

[c_marriott]

Simple fix. Use a partitioning application like one of these, http://www.top5freeware.com/top-5-free-disk-partition-software-for-windows, or another utility, to create a partition on the currently unused space of the HDD once you've installed your OS onto the SSD. Then, move all the files you want to save from the partition on the HDD that contains them, to the new partition (Partitions look like separate lettered physical drives to the system). Then delete the other partition you just moved all the files FROM and reintegrate the resulting space back into the new partition you had created on the drive.

So in it's most basic terms, you're going to essentially split the drive in two, move everything from one side to the other and then delete the other side and add it's capacity back into the half you didn't delete. Then run a full disk defragmentation on the drive.

Oh, I think my computer already has 3 separate partitions, I wasn't sure if I had to wipe all of it though.

The C: Drive is the one with all of my personal files, photos, music etc. and the OS and some game files

The E: Drive is the one where all of the games are saved.

So can I just copy over all of the extra files to the E: Drive then just wipe the C: drive?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Is there only one actual physical drive installed? If so, then you could transfer all the files you want to save to one of those partitions and then delete the other partitions in a manner that incorporates them into the partition you are saving. You don't want to do this until after you've installed your OS onto your new drive though. You also want to make sure that if your only source for the windows installation files is on a recovery partition, that you don't delete that partition or you'll be left with no way to reinstall either then or later. If you have Windows on a disk, it's irrelevant.

Is the D: drive that says USB an external USB drive? If so, maybe you can just transfer everything you want to save to a new folder on that drive then just completely reformat the HDD and then transfer all the files back to the HDD. After you've installed the OS to your new drive of course. Always make sure to get your new OS installation done first so that if there are any issues you at least have your old installation on the HDD to fall back on until you sort it out.

 

[c_marriott]

Is there only one actual physical drive installed? If so, then you could transfer all the files you want to save to one of those partitions and then delete the other partitions in a manner that incorporates them into the partition you are saving. You don't want to do this until after you've installed your OS onto your new drive though. You also want to make sure that if your only source for the windows installation files is on a recovery partition, that you don't delete that partition or you'll be left with no way to reinstall either then or later. If you have Windows on a disk, it's irrelevant.

Is the D: drive that says USB an external USB drive? If so, maybe you can just transfer everything you want to save to a new folder on that drive then just completely reformat the HDD and then transfer all the files back to the HDD. After you've installed the OS to your new drive of course. Always make sure to get your new OS installation done first so that if there are any issues you at least have your old installation on the HDD to fall back on until you sort it out.

Yes, there is only one physical drive but split into three parts. Would it be best to wipe the entire HDD and just sort of start a new or can I just wipe the OS partition.

The USB partition is a back up for my USB stick which I use for school. It is only 30GB big so not big enough for much. My friend is going to install the OS onto the Ssd for me so I can just plug it in and go.

Basically, would it be best to wipe the entire thing or just the partition with the drivers and OS on?

 

[Darkbreeze]

The USB partition is a back up for my USB stick which I use for school. It is only 30GB big so not big enough for much. My friend is going to install the OS onto the Ssd for me so I can just plug it in and go.

I would really not recommend doing this. The OS installation should occur with the drive installed in the system it is intended to be run in. Otherwise, you don't get a clean install at all. Drivers and supporting settings for the system it was in when he installed the OS will be there when you plug it into your system, at which time windows will realize it's in a new system now and attempt to find and install drivers suitable for your hardware.

The problem with this is that sometimes drivers are left intact or partially broken, registry settings become conflicted as references to the old hardware fail to be removed and just in general the whole point of a clean install is sidelined. If it's at all possible, have your friend do the install while the drive is connected to your system or install yourself using his or her disk, or get an installation disk of your own.

Yes, there is only one physical drive but split into three parts. Would it be best to wipe the entire HDD and just sort of start a new or can I just wipe the OS partition.

If you have a third party solution for transferring the files off the current hard drive, reformatting it and then transferring them back on, that's great. If not, you can just delete the OS partition and incorporate it into your game partition, leaving the USB partition alone if you wish. Or you can do the same with that partition as well. It's really up to you.

 

[c_marriott]

The USB partition is a back up for my USB stick which I use for school. It is only 30GB big so not big enough for much. My friend is going to install the OS onto the Ssd for me so I can just plug it in and go.

I would really not recommend doing this. The OS installation should occur with the drive installed in the system it is intended to be run in. Otherwise, you don't get a clean install at all. Drivers and supporting settings for the system it was in when he installed the OS will be there when you plug it into your system, at which time windows will realize it's in a new system now and attempt to find and install drivers suitable for your hardware.

The problem with this is that sometimes drivers are left intact or partially broken, registry settings become conflicted as references to the old hardware fail to be removed and just in general the whole point of a clean install is sidelined. If it's at all possible, have your friend do the install while the drive is connected to your system or install yourself using his or her disk, or get an installation disk of your own.

Yes, there is only one physical drive but split into three parts. Would it be best to wipe the entire HDD and just sort of start a new or can I just wipe the OS partition.

If you have a third party solution for transferring the files off the current hard drive, reformatting it and then transferring them back on, that's great. If not, you can just delete the OS partition and incorporate it into your game partition, leaving the USB partition alone if you wish. Or you can do the same with that partition as well. It's really up to you.

Oh right, Its just awkward doing it on my PC without a Optical Drive, I will see what I can do about that.

I may be able to get a External HDD to hold onto them but I'd rather saves the hours of transferring files back and forth.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Borrow an optical drive and just connect it temporarily. You can pull the side panel off and just basically lay it there next to the rig with the sata and power cables connected. Or buy one for when you need to do this. They're like, less than twenty bucks. Go in half's with your buddy and you guys can share it if he doesn't have one. Dunno, this is why I always recommend having an optical drive. Plus, if somebody ever gives you something on disk, you're screwed without one.

 

[c_marriott]

Borrow an optical drive and just connect it temporarily. You can pull the side panel off and just basically lay it there next to the rig with the sata and power cables connected. Or buy one for when you need to do this. They're like, less than twenty bucks. Go in half's with your buddy and you guys can share it if he doesn't have one. Dunno, this is why I always recommend having an optical drive. Plus, if somebody ever gives you something on disk, you're screwed without one.

I've spoken to my friend who has built multiple computers in the past and works at an engineering company and he said installing the OS through his computer will be fine. Although I'd rather go with what you said and do it on mine he's being stubborn and will not do it on mine so I will have to let you know how that goes. If it does install drivers and mess up I can just wipe the SSD and start again but through mine.

I did have an optical drive but I had to sell it as my case for my computer is awkward to install the drive into so I just gave up with it, I'm planning to get an external one at christmas

 

[Darkbreeze]

It will work that way, it just won't be as "clean" of an installation. Anytime your move a drive from one system to another and that drive contains the OS, it presents the possibility of driver and registry conflicts. You may not even notice there is an issue and yet performance could be affected by as much as 10% or more if there are issues due to conflicts in the storage drivers, cpu and chipset drivers, etc. So, do what you have to but be aware that it's not a recommended way to install and your friend is doing you a disservice by being a blockhead.

 

[c_marriott]

It will work that way, it just won't be as "clean" of an installation. Anytime your move a drive from one system to another and that drive contains the OS, it presents the possibility of driver and registry conflicts. You may not even notice there is an issue and yet performance could be affected by as much as 10% or more if there are issues due to conflicts in the storage drivers, cpu and chipset drivers, etc. So, do what you have to but be aware that it's not a recommended way to install and your friend is doing you a disservice by being a blockhead.

I know its not the best option but if It has to be done then I guess i'll have to do it. I'll try to convince him otherwise but if not then that's the best option.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Good luck.