OS, programs, and files on different HDs ok?

WhiteFireDragon

WhiteFireDragon

New Member
is it possible to only have the OS on a HD with no programs installed on it, and another HD dedicated to run the programs only? after the computer boots, can the programs still run after the comp is booted up?

in the past, i've always put all files on storage in one HD and the OS and programs on another one. now i want to switch it up and have 3 partitions on one of the HD so i can have the OS, programs, and files on different partitions.

the reason i'm doing this is because sometimes i reinstall the OS and would have to install all the programs and drivers again. this takes time and i'd have to go look for all the CD keys too. i have to format again so would it be smart this time to have the OS and programs on separate partitions?
 
you can do it, but if you want to see the programs in your start folder and not have to go find each application to run it if you reinstall your os
 
well i'm doing this to prevent reinstalling programs if this happens again after this time. what type of program requires to be installed on the same OS? i thought that if you separate the drives, then formating will only affect either the OS or the programs but not both.

MrRandom said:
you can do it, but if you want to see the programs in your start folder and not have to go find each application to run it if you reinstall your os
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huh? are you saying i wont see these programs in the start menu if they are installed on separate drives? i would have to manually look for the program to open?
 
i thought that if you separate the drives, then formating will only affect either the OS or the programs but not both.
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Correct, but what SK means is most programs are 'linked' to a specific Installation, much like Windows is 'linked' to a specific MoBo. If you swap MoBo's, you will most likely have to reinstall Windows; if you reinstall Windows, you will most likely have to reinstall individual programs.

Take my setup, for example. My Windows HDD has the following partitions: Windows OS, Windows Software, and my personal partition. In my case, separating the OS from the installed software was purely an OCD/organizational preference, not to spare me from reinstalling programs after an OS format/reinstall.
 
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no, you can still run the programs just as normal. the problems start when you reinstall an os.

in your os, there is a file, telling all of the programs installed, where to find them, etc.

when you install a new os, that file will only include the programs pre installed into the os (internet explorer, windows mail, and so on) and the computer will basically think that the programs arent even there.

you can still run them, but you will need to either go through every folder every time you want to run a program, or create shortcuts to every application. also, you may loose the ability to uninstall programs, because windows uninstaller wont see that the programs are even there.

so really, dont do it, its just a waste of time.

you could however create a new partition for your personal files and they would always be there when you install a new os. that would be a good idea.
 
imsati said:
Take my setup, for example. My Windows HDD has the following partitions: Windows OS, Windows Software, and my personal partition. In my case, separating the OS from the installed software was purely an OCD/organizational preference, not to spare me from reinstalling programs after an OS format/reinstall.
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how is that working out for you so far? are you running to any kind of problems like creating shorcuts for every program or uninstalling them? i'm also partly doing this for organizational purposes.
MrRandom said:
in your os, there is a file, telling all of the programs installed, where to find them, etc.

when you install a new os, that file will only include the programs pre installed into the os (internet explorer, windows mail, and so on) and the computer will basically think that the programs arent even there.

you can still run them, but you will need to either go through every folder every time you want to run a program, or create shortcuts to every application. also, you may loose the ability to uninstall programs, because windows uninstaller wont see that the programs are even there.

so really, dont do it, its just a waste of time.
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hmm so would you happen to know where/name of this file that tells where to find the programs? if so, then cant i just save this file and when i reinstall the OS, then just replace the older file with the newer one?
 
how is that working out for you so far? are you running to any kind of problems like creating shorcuts for every program or uninstalling them? i'm also partly doing this for organizational purposes.
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It's working great and I love it; it makes everything much more tidy, both up front and behind the scenes, which I appreciate even more because for me, just *knowing* something is cluttered that doesn't need to be is a nightmare in itself. Shortcuts are a moot point, and the only active thing I need to do when installing software is change the default C:\Program Files install-point to D:\'Software Name'. After that, I just link whatever I need to my Desktop and eat cake.:)
 
I used to install my programs on a seperate partition labeled "Programs." Now I keep everything on the Windows partition. Don't really see the difference, and having programs with the Windows partition makes it a little easier to backup/restore my computer - at least it seems like it does. :o
 
ok i just did a trial and error installation of windows. i just found out the when you install programs on a separate partition, it still gets written in the registry of the C drive (or whichever the OS is installed on). so yeah... just like what MrRandom said earlier but instead of having a "file" that tells where all the programs are installed, it's in the registry.

i guess this means that a fresh installation of windows will wipe out the registry, so it's almost pointless to install in another drive
 
i guess this means that a fresh installation of windows will wipe out the registry, so it's almost pointless to install in another drive
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Indeed. Unless you like things super-organized, there's no real benefit.
 
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