Preparing an SSD and a SATA hard drive
Preparing an SSD and a SATA hard drive
You don't need to create a directory but you must point Microsoft Store to install apps onto the HDD. Then it will manage the rest automatically.
However, this isn't helpful since many apps already store files on the SSD, and your user folder is also on the SSD. This approach would lead to confusion.
It's better to keep files on the HDD.
Regarding Steam, it can use any drive for each game you install. Just configure the drives in Steam settings.
It's advisable to use one large drive for everything—it's straightforward.
I haven't tried air cooling; I've relied on water cooling since around 2011.
2. You noted about 1/2 TB per SSD and SATA HDD—another point about focusing on SSDs makes sense. A single 1 TB SSD, even with a 2.5 inch SATA interface instead of NVMe, is preferable to mixing drives. A 0.5 TB SATA HDD seems unusual given the nearly discounted price for a 4TB unit. I own both types, but the HDD was significantly larger and was used for storing many DVDs while I processed them with MakeMKV (over 200 DVDs across multiple sets). That was a solid use of the HDD, especially when speed isn't critical (I was mainly ripping files). I'd recommend sticking with SSDs otherwise. I've owned an SSD since that time and never regretted it, but I've also kept a larger HDD for media—such as a few thousand CDs used for archiving.
3. Having 16 GB of RAM is sufficient, and a 500W PSU is adequate since you're not gaming (I work on SW development).
4. Allow Windows to set up the installation directories, including Program Files. If you ever add another SSD, consider moving all data there, though it adds some complexity. It's not overly complicated, but it involves managing numerous folders across different locations. For example, right-click on a folder like your music directory (documents is more complex due to hidden profile folders), select properties, then choose location. If you have another manually created folder, all files will move there, updating the icon accordingly. The benefit of a data drive is that if you ever need to reinstall Windows, your data stays intact without moving it from your original C: drive (I use D: for everything).
5. Avoid relocating programs beyond their default paths. If you're installing software originally meant for Unix/Linux, ensure it follows the C:\something convention rather than C:\Program Files (or 86 for 32-bit apps). Just follow the instructions, but I'd prefer all software adheres to Microsoft standards for simplicity.
6. If you ever need to reinstall Windows and a Samsung NVME drive failed (it worked briefly before failing again), keep an external drive of several hundred GB as a backup—especially if it's not in use. Back up your downloads folder, browser files, utilities like Notepad++ or 7Zip, and other essentials before changing locations. Even though some files may become outdated, most software updates automatically. Your antivirus and office suite installers will also handle this smoothly.
These suggestions are straightforward; I hope you enjoy your new system. Just keep things simple—don’t overcomplicate the moves.
One final tip: check out the video by JayzTwoCents on installing Windows—useful if you're handling it yourself and want to skip local account issues. It covers the steps in detail, about 20 minutes of valuable guidance. "What to do AFTER you build your PC... Updated for 2023" is a good reference if you assemble hardware yourself, though it may still suit your needs.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhHtHMQygzE
Thanks for the reply. It's clear now. I imagined that when I accessed the second drive, I'd switch to a different desktop. For example, if I create a folder on D: (the hard drive), put Ccleaner there, install it, and set the location so the desktop icon points to that folder. Then when I click it, Ccleaner would appear, and all its files would be stored on the hard drive instead of the SSD. Got it?