Boot Drive Space

[Para]

Ok Lads, i need to make space on my Boot Hdd, its a 30Gb SSD, i have already moved everything of non importance to another Hdd, eg: My Documents, pictures, videos, downloads folders ect..

but its not enough, any tips on making more space ?

[Gavac220]

Expanding your system volume urnder Win7-Bloody winsxs folder

Check my last post in this thread - may be of use mate. Ignore the first part as you cannot of course expand your volume.

http://www.ofcgaming.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4369

[Para]

Been having a few problems with my rig lately which i have traced to the Boot Drive being full and when Windows updates its self you get all kinds of error messeges which resulted in a massive crash on tuesday night and the only way i have got it fixed was through a complete re format & install of windows 7 64bit.

the problem is even though i have got the machine running again, i am back to square one with a nearly full Boot Drive (got 6Gb spare after the reformat) i have switched off Automatic updates to stop it filling the Hdd and making it crash.

thanks for what you posted Gav but thats over my head lol.

Anyone got any tips to make more space ? like i said i have already moved all the normal folders to another Hdd.

[MegaYoda]

This is what Bambam suggested about making use of your SSD


The short answer is "yes, you have to plan what you put on the SSD and move stuff around". However while SSD's don't change your life, they do make a *radical* difference to quite a few Windows operations (like app load times) and I think a reasonable statement would be anyone that now has an SSD in their PC wouldn't consider *not* having one in their next PC.

There is one technique for managing SSD's that just kicks ass - anyone that doesn't know this method has just received a major critical freebie piece of advice here:

1) Install the SSD as your BOOT drive (i.e. C:) - say min 60GB - now you have a fast boot but have already used 25GB. FYI turning hibernate off (see web) saves at least the amount of mem you have, e.g. 8GB so it's worth considering.

2) Install a decent sized hard drive - e.g. 1TB (e.g. E:)

3) Create a folder on your hard drive E:\Games (I also have E:\My Documents, same idea)

4) Install games as per normal to the C: drive - this makes things easy with Steam

5) When a game is less performance-critical (i.e. you play it less), e.g. Left 4 Dead:
5.1) COPY the C:\..\Left4Dead folder to E:\Games
5.2) RENAME the C:\..\Left4Dead folder to C:\..\Left4Dead_backup (just in case you fuck up)
5.3) Open a "CMD" window as administrator in the C:\.. folder that has Left4Dead
5.4) Use the command mklink /d "C:\..\Left4Dead" "E:\Games\Left4Dead" i.e. create a symlink pointing to the new E: folder with the exact same name the folder used to have.
5.5) test your game Left4Dead and it should be fine. If so, delete the C:\..\Left4Dead_backup folder.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/libr ... 10%29.aspx

See? This method simply moves whole folders from your SSD to your hard drive, and then creates a 'symlink' back on the SSD where the folder used to be so that PC software still thinks it's on C:. It's easy to check in Windows Explorer - you just click through the C: folders as normal and you'll move onto E: as you click on the folder that still appears to be on C:. I.e. to software the PC behaves 100% as if the "C:\..\Left4Dead\Zombies\BloodEffect\Spurt" folder still exists on the C: drive. The move is so seamless even Windows Explorer will give you folder-size stats for the Steam folder that include the stuff that's actually been moved (confusing, given the point of all this) but the *disk* stats correctly show the saved space on C:.

Major plusses of this approach are
* it's actually pretty simple
* you can move huge chunks of the filesystem over to the hard drive using the same technique, e.g. My Music, My Pictures, My Videos, without applications noticing you've done it
* the 'default' install of all software to C: is unchanged - Steam in particular installs to C: always so if you want an SSD boot drive you need to know how to do this
* it's not a 'sudden death' cutover - you can leave the C: folders in place (renamed) for a while until you're 100% confident you haven't fucked up - delete the link and rename the folder back reverses out the move.
* the 'default' for a game install is to have all files on the SSD for fast access, and you then move big chunks that you know are large volume, low performance. This is easier that starting with the game on E: (hard drive) and trying to find the bits that turn out to be important for performance and moving them to C:.
* there's a subtle benefit - moving some stuff that was in C:\Program Files to E:\ actually moves it out of the UAC controls, so pre-Vista software (like FSX) that clashes with UAC actually work better if you move their executable folders (i.e. Modules in FSX) over to E:\. In my case all the FSX scenery is still on the SSD so the app runs fast. The 'SimObjects\Airplanes' folder is huge but doesn't affect flight framerates (only aircraft load times) so that's moved to the hard drive. If/When I get bored with FSX I'll move all of it to the hard drive, not uninstall it.

Bamz
(Actual Link to this post is half way down this page http://www.ofcgaming.com/viewtopic.php? ... d&start=15)

[Gavac220]

I would simply say 30gb SSD is too small for a win7 64bit install without constant hassles. Ditch the SSD for now, or upgrade.

[dacanadianbomb]

"I would simply say 30gb SSD is too small for a win7 64bit install without constant hassles. Ditch the SSD for now, or upgrade."

Agreed. 30Gb drive is too small when you consider a game is about 10Gb nowadays
Turning off automatic updates is a sure way to get your machine funked.

[bambam]

I agree 30GB is too small for the boot drive, but could be used just for the games...

I.e. swap the disks around and install Windows on the HD and re-format the SSD to blank, then install (say) BF3 on the *HD*, move the entire game folder over to the SSD and use the mklink /d command create a symlink from the original HD folder over to wherever the game now is on the SSD.

[Para]

thanks for the tips lads very handy ! problem is W7 is getting bigger and bigger and has now almost outgrown the HDD, ive got the rig stable again and ive managed to free up about 6.5Gb by moving/deleting everything thats not nailed down but its not gonna last long !

Cock ! looks like another boot drive may be needed shortly

[OFCNOFEAR]

mate know this is not cheap but overclokers do great prices on ssd i just got 120gb for about 130.0 quid halve it for a 60gb

bargin problem solved !! start saving you slag .

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showprodu ... 04&subcat=

example only mate

[Gavac220]

http://www.ebuyer.com/268693-corsair-12 ... f120gb3-bk

Corsair 120GB Force 3 SSD for £109.00 need to be quick though!

[Para]

shit thats cheap for a corsair drive ! the ssd i use at the moment is a corsair 30gb model and it cost double that !!

[Para]

i cant really afford it but screw it , just ordered one of the above corsair 120Gb force 3 ssd's from ebuyer £109.00 and free delivery ! cant say fairer than that, cheap for a 120gb ssd

[Gavac220]

Nice one mate - good deal as always from e-buyer.

Now to recoup your loses:

Train your dog to beg for food from strangers, so you won't have to buy dog food.
Unplug your clocks at night to save on electricity.
Rub pine needles under your arms instead of buying deodorant.
Encourage mice in the house by leaving crumbs around - so your cat will have a free food supply.
Take extra napkins from fast food restaurants to save on toilet paper.
Pick up the leftover flowers at a cemetery for birthdays, romance and special occasions etc
Visit friends around dinner time to get free meals.

[Para]

Already doing all of the above Gav, except for the cat, i ate it two weeks ago ! always was a sucker for easy ginger pussy !

[OFCNOFEAR]

only got 33gb left on my ssd may have to get another asap !!!

lol at your post GAV !!!

glad your sorted para mate !