Multiple Drives Question

[Smack]

Wasn't really sure where to put this, as it's related to both OS (W7), and my storage drives, but I'll throw it here and I guess it can be moved if needed.

I have a 32GB SSD, a 120GB SSD and a 1TB HDD split into 2 drives. Currently, my 32GB SSD is my C Drive. This is now coming to the point where I'm having trouble installing updates, listening to music on Spotify, and just generally having next to no space on my C Drive. Every now and then I am able to clear up maybe 1-2GB of space, and I currently have 1.5GB, but it's getting to the point where it's harder and harder to make space on this small drive.

So my first question is how big should W7 be? Using TreeSize free, I currently show 20GB in my Windows folder. Then 5GB on Users data, and then a few folders of 1GB each. (One of these is $Recycle.Bin. Why does that have 1GB still if it's meant to be completely empty? I use CCleaner to try to keep things clean.)

Second question: I'm going on the assumption that I need to reformat my drives and reinstall an OS soon. (A whole other forum, but I'm considering install Ubuntu, or even running a dual boot of Ubuntu + Windows 7.) I know how to reformat my drives, I don't know how the computer decides which drive is the C drive. Do I need to pull out my drives and put the 120GB SSD at the top or something? I've installed the 1TB HDD myself, so I can take out the SSD's to reorder them if needed.

I have a 1TB external HDD to backup everything that's important, so that'll be fine.

Will answer any questions. Can provide print screens of anything that's needed, such as the TreeSize shot of my C Drive etc.


Note - I've done all of the following tweaks for my SSD drives from a guide I've read from another forum. They may be questionable, and if you disagree with any of them please let me know as I'm happy to revert back if needed. On top of that if there's any tweaks to add, I'll be happy to do them too.

• Enable Write Caching
• Disable indexing
• Turn off disk defragmenter schedule + disable disk defragmenting
• Disable superfetch + prefetch
• Disable pagefile (This bitch took up 7GB of space a few months back.)
• Disable system restore
• Disable hibernate
• Trim Commands. (Can't remeber if I enabled or disabled this.)
• Temporary Internet Folder is on one of my large HDD drives.
• Temp and Tmp files on a large HDD drive.

Thank you in advance to anyone who reads through all of this. I apologise for the fact that I do tend to waffle about stuff slightly unrelated.

 

[maniac]

My windows folder currently takes 25gb. personally i think 32gb is way too small for os, before i purchased my ssd everywhere i read they said to go with 64gb minimum.

now the recycle bin question, i can't say for sure but that 1gb is probably backup of the stuff you already deleted in case you wanted to restore it, i think the os will eventually overwrite it if there is no space left. correct me if i'm wrong on this one.

now for the second question. to my personal knowledge the c drive is always the drive that has the operating system on it, physical position inside the computer case doesn't make a difference. when it comes to c drive in a dual boot enviroment, i think the drive which you boot to will be the c drive. this is from what i remember as i only had dual boot for a couple of minutes as i personally hate it.

 

[Smack]

Alright, so if I was to reformat my drives to reinstall W7, does it have an option to select which drive as my C Drive? I've never installed an OS on a computer with multiple drives before. (Never had to install W7 on a pc full stop too.)

 

[maniac]

yes before installing you will be prompted to choose the hard drive you wish to install to.

note: you will lose everything upon formatting your ssd, also this was written as a summary and info may not be 100% correct and therefore i do not hold myself responsible for any data loss and/or hardware faults.