Multiple Drives Windows 10

[cbrian1978]

I thought I had it figured out, but I still have a question regarding the installation of games on a separate hard drive from windows. I have read all the tutorials I can find, but none seem to answer my question.

Some tutorials show you an unsupported way of moving a ton of files and folders to a separate drive, but I do not want to screw up my install.

Other tutorials show you a supported way of moving your libraries; music, pictures, documents, videos, downloads.

Other tutorials explain how to install games to a separate hard drive, by simply changing the default install instructions.

My question is what about all the logs that windows creates, the app data folder that files with game related files, and mods for games such as Skyrim.

I just purchased a 250gb ssd for the operating system, a 500gb ssd for games, and a 1tb hdd for storage. So if I install steam, origin, and other games on the 500gb ssd does all the game data automatically get installed there, including mods? Also what else besides my libraries should I put on my 1tb hdd? Does app data, windows log files need to go there also? If so, how? To many tutorials that don't fill in all the blanks for newbies like myself.

 

[basroil]

Not sure what the hell you are getting at. Here's a few tips:

1) Origin and Steam folders can be moved to a new drive. You will need to "reinstall" the game, but as long as you point the install to existing files it won't download anything or change settings.
2) For most software, you need to uninstall the software and then reinstall with a new path when installing. That path can be any drive you want.
3) You can move your profile or parts of the profile to any fixed drive you wish. It is suggested that you move your documents folder to a large drive because some games like to store stuff there (save files, etc)

 

[cbrian1978]

I was just confused on what to move. I have read all the tutorials, but each one describes only one aspect of what to move, and some go to far and recommend doing unsupported things like moving your entire User profile, which will cause problems if done incorrectly.

There doesn't seem to be one tutorial depicting all this, instead dozens touching on portions of each. Like how to optimize your ssd for windows 10, then another tells you how to move your libraries, another mentions downloads, while another requires scripting your registry (which causes problems).

I simply want to put Windows 10 on one ssd, put my games on another, and then anything else I can on the Hdd, as long as the move won't cause issues. I was hoping someone who has done this would be kind enough to explain what files or folders should actually be moved? I don't want to go to all this trouble moving games to a separate ssd, only to have the mods or data files go to my boot drive and fill it up defeating the whole point.

From the best I can tell, configure your ssd, install windows, install steam, origin, and games on separate ssd, then redirect your libraries (documents, music, pictures, video, downloads) to your HD. There will still be some game data going to C: drive in app data, but it doesn't amount to much space? Also install your mods where your game is installed, and mod managers, like nexusmodmanager, on the same drive as the games and set it up to install on that drive. Is that it? Am I missing anything?

 

[basroil]

From the best I can tell, configure your ssd, install windows, install steam, origin, and games on separate ssd, then redirect your libraries (documents, music, pictures, video, downloads) to your HD.

That is exactly all you need to do. If you have issues with appdata being too large transfer the entire profile to another disk.

 

[cbrian1978]

I was reading http://www.zdnet.com/article/dont-move-your-windows-user-profiles-folder-to-another-drive/. Moving your entire profile is apparently not supported? This is why I was so confused. I guess I will just stick with the basics; documents, videos, pictures, music, download to hdd, and games, mods, modmanagers to second ssd. I guess I can leave all the page logs, app data and logs on C: drive and hope it doesn't fill up.