SSD Filling Up - What to do?

[daleweaver]

A bit over a year ago, I built my first PC rig. Here is a link to the partspicker for that build:

https://pcpartpicker.com/user/Daleweaver/saved/fYmJ7P

My plan was to use the HDD for documents and media and the SSD for software. My SSD is now full, and I am not sure how to proceed. Should I get another SSD or install future software to the HDD?

Second part of this is Windows configuration. Right now, I have my SSD set for software installation and my HDD for the rest. If I get another SSD, do I just set the new SSD for software; and, if so, how does that affect my first SSD. Will Windows recognize it as a software location?

Any help in resolving this is appreciated. Cheers, Stephen

 

[Ubrales]

You have a lot of questions here.

When properly configured, Windows will recognize software from multiple locations; SSDs HDDs. I like to see all software (programs at the same location.

Start by uninstalling obsolete programs and if that does not resolve the situation, I suggest a new larger SSD and put all your programs including the OS on it.

Another option is to put the OS on the SSD and games and other programs on a suitable HDD. When you install new software choose the HDD as the path to install.

 

[Karadjgne]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/819-hibernate-enable-disable.html
This'll free up some space on the SSD.

I'd keep the OS ssd pretty much for only the important software, stuff that's really integral like office, Adobe, steam etc. The rest, like saved games, documents, temp files, steam folders etc can be kept on the hdd or if that's starting to fill up too, then maybe it's time to move up the SSD to a larger size. I have a 128Gb ssd and it's packed, so considering moving to a 500 or better myself. Having a second ssd is probably not going to do much if anything for software performance since it's all activated through the OS cache anyways

 

[USAFRet]

You can't 'set' a different drive as the default for application installs. You have to choose individually for each application.

For other things (doc/music/video/downloads)...see this:
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

 

[JamesSneed]

Also take a peek at windirstat to help show where your space is used. Some oddball things like old iPhone backups, old core dumps, etc which might help free up some space for the short term.

 

[ddpruitt]

Move things that are less dependent on drive speed to the HDD and leave the things that need to be fast on the SSD. I used to have my older games with reasonable load times on my HDD and the games with long load times on the SSD. Documents, videos, things like that I leave on the HDD.

 

[USAFRet]

For Steam games, see this:
Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder

 

[Karadjgne]

That's what you named them? Games on the big ssd? Hah that's almost 'cute"

 

[USAFRet]

That's what you named them? Games on the big ssd? Hah that's almost 'cute"

At the time, yes. Those were the folder names.
To easily differentiate between the 120GB and the 960GB SSD's.