I got a new HDD. Now how do I get all the basic folders like Programfiles(x86) etc.

[Legobun]

So I bought and installed a new drive and it is currently blank and I would like to know how to get the folders like users Program Files, Program Files (x86), and all the others. When I installed the HDD I formated it as MBR using Acronis True Image WD and the file system is NTFS. Please help

 

[gdmaclew]

You have to install Windows on it to get those folders.
Do you have an old hard drive that this one replaces?

 

[USAFRet]

So I bought and installed a new drive and it is currently blank and I would like to know how to get the folders like users Program Files, Program Files (x86), and all the others. When I installed the HDD I formated it as MBR using Acronis True Image WD and the file system is NTFS. Please help

Is this just going to be a secondary drive? The OS is staying on whatever was there before?
If so, you do not need "Program Files" and "Program Files (x86)" on that drive.

 

[Legobun]

So I bought and installed a new drive and it is currently blank and I would like to know how to get the folders like users Program Files, Program Files (x86), and all the others. When I installed the HDD I formated it as MBR using Acronis True Image WD and the file system is NTFS. Please help

Is this just going to be a secondary drive? The OS is staying on whatever was there before?
If so, you do not need "Program Files" and "Program Files (x86)" on that drive.

Yea its gonna be a secondary drive or third drive because i already have a SSD with boot and Windows which has all folders of program files (x86), etc and a HDD that was installed when i built the computer the first time and that HDD also had the program files (x86), users, program files, etc. And then this new drive doesn't have those files which I would like it to have so its all organized and easier to install steam games and things

 

[USAFRet]

So I bought and installed a new drive and it is currently blank and I would like to know how to get the folders like users Program Files, Program Files (x86), and all the others. When I installed the HDD I formated it as MBR using Acronis True Image WD and the file system is NTFS. Please help

Is this just going to be a secondary drive? The OS is staying on whatever was there before?
If so, you do not need "Program Files" and "Program Files (x86)" on that drive.

Yea its gonna be a secondary drive or third drive because i already have a SSD with boot and Windows which has all folders of program files (x86), etc and a HDD that was installed when i built the computer the first time and that HDD also had the program files (x86), users, program files, etc. And then this new drive doesn't have those files which I would like it to have so its all organized and easier to install steam games and things

This tertiary drive, nor your secondary (original) HDD, needs all those folders. At all.

You can install applications to whichever drive or folder you choose. No "Program Files" needed.
For instance, you can install applications to a folder on the D drive called /MyStuff/

You can cause your documents and downloads to save to whichever drive or folder you choose. No /Users/ needed on these secondary drives.

Read these for a discussion on how to manage things on different drives:
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


Having Windows and /Users/ and /Program Files/ on that second drive only leads to confusion, and does absolutely nothing for performance.

 

[thebudman420]

If the drive is already formatted and has nothing on it when you go install a game or an application, Most programs will let you choose where to install it when you install the game or program. You can simply make a folder called games at the root of the drive and install all games to that. If you format your main drive you will have to reinstall the game to the secondary drive as windows stores information in the registry so it will have to be reinstalled anyway. If i where you i would put all user folders on your secondary drive including the desktop. I don't know about windows 10 but under windows 7 that is easy. I think windows runs faster at least with standard hard disk if the windows drive has just windows stuff on it and a few programs mostly empty and everything stored on the secondary drive. Not all programs give you the option to install to a secondary drive but i think there is a way around it using symlinks and some copy pasting. I had to use symlinks to move my tv tuners temp file location to the secondary drive as even when you moved the recorded tv folder the temp was left on the main drive slowing my windows drive down as it records to temp first.

Backup game saves. Uninstall the game. Reinstall the game to a folder on the new drive. For other programs you install. Make a folder called programs. Uninstall the program from the current location reinstall to the new folder on the new drive. Leave everything windows installs by default on the main drive most of that can't be moved. You can move the user folders like my documents my movies, desktop and other folders recommended for performance increase. 2 drives loading things instead of one drive doing all the loading = faster. Not only that if you get a nasty virus and have to reinstall windows if everything is stored on the other drive like movies, photos and videos and other personal stuff like family photos videos and that then you still have all your stuff even if you reinstall windows.

*edit again* I have been doing it this way for years and it is nice being able to reinstall or upgrade your operating system without losing anything important that you want to keep. I even store old versions of applications just in case and store all my drivers on the other drive so if i have to redo my operating system. I have all my drivers right there. Sucks to find out you don't have a driver for your network card and you have to download it from the manufacturer so i store all my drivers on my secondary drive just in case i have no internet to get them.

If you install a game or program on the secondary drive. Windows puts the shortcuts to it on your desktop or your start menu, You don't need to browse to the install location. You can always make your own shortcuts that point to it. Under windows 7 you can also make libraries. You can put multiple locations under a single library. Windows sees it as 1 folder even though it is multiple folders.

 

[thebudman420]

If on windows 7 they have lots of tutorials and information here https://www.sevenforums.com They also have a forum for windows 10 listed at the top. I never been to it as i can't stand the windows 10 user interface and i wouldn’t let that near my computer with a 10 foot poll.

 

[thebudman420]

So I bought and installed a new drive and it is currently blank and I would like to know how to get the folders like users Program Files, Program Files (x86), and all the others. When I installed the HDD I formated it as MBR using Acronis True Image WD and the file system is NTFS. Please help

It helps to know what operating system you are using as the information is a little different depending on the operating system.