How to set an HDD as the primary drive

[Helldog26]

Hey guys, I have an SSD that Im using as the bootable drive with my OS on it. I put in another drive a 1TB HDD that I use for storage. How do I get everything to write to that HDD drive automatically?

 

[Outlander_04]

When you save a file you can select the destination folder on the other drive .
That to me is the simplest and easiest way . I can plug my "data drive" in to any computer I build in the future and have all my files intact .
Create desktop shortcuts to the folders and you are done .

But if you want the more complicated version then there are a few guides online
http://lifehacker.com/5467758/move-the-users-directory-in-windows-7
Win 8 is similar to set up

 

[USAFRet]

That functionality is built in to the Libraries folders. See these:
Win 7 & 8: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1834397/ssd-redirecting-static-files.html
Win 8.1: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2024314/windows-redirecting-folders-drives.html

 

[Outlander_04]

That functionality is built in to the Libraries folders. See these:
Win 7 & 8: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1834397/ssd-redirecting-static-files.html
Win 8.1: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2024314/windows-redirecting-folders-drives.html

Thanks

 

[Helldog26]

OK so I got what you guys are saying but now when I plug in my new HDD into my system it recognizes it in BIOS and Device Manager but I cannot find it anywhere in the Drives area on the Computer Tab. It shows my C: drive as my SSD which is fine but then it shows my D: drive as my Blu Ray Drive and thats it. I looked and the Drivers are all up to date and Device Manager says it is working properly. Nothing came with this drive when I bought it so maybe it needs to be formatted? Please help I dont wanna fill up my SSD.

 

[USAFRet]

OK so I got what you guys are saying but now when I plug in my new HDD into my system it recognizes it in BIOS and Device Manager but I cannot find it anywhere in the Drives area on the Computer Tab. It shows my C: drive as my SSD which is fine but then it shows my D: drive as my Blu Ray Drive and thats it. I looked and the Drivers are all up to date and Device Manager says it is working properly. Nothing came with this drive when I bought it so maybe it needs to be formatted? Please help I dont wanna fill up my SSD.

In Disk Management, it should appear
Select, Initialize, give it a drive letter.

 

[Helldog26]

OK what partition style do I choose? It says Master Boot Record, or GUID Partition Table? I have my OS on my SSD and it boots from that. My HDD will just be like a "data drive".

 

[Helldog26]

Got it sorry guys I should have known that and was freaking out for no reason lol. Thanks for all your help!!!