Are There Issues to Moving Data Partition to New Disk?

starchase · 10 Feb 2024

I am thinking of moving my data, which currently resides as a partition on Disk Zero (0), to a separate disk all together, moving it to what is currently Disk 2. This is for security and isolation reasons, though I really don't anticipate any security breaches.

Currently Disk 2 is a 250GB Crucial MX500 2.5" SSD I bought August 2020 (CT250MX500SSD1). It was my primary operating system disk until recently. Now it still contains all the original files, Windows 10 and data partition.

In November 2023 I upgraded the Crucial with a Samsung EVO 870, 500GB SATA 2.5" SSD, which has a manufacturing date of June-2023. Its use mimics the configuration of the Crucial disk as you can see from the Disk Management image attached.

Are There Issues to Moving Data Partition to New Disk?-disk_management_2024-01-10.jpg

I'm thinking instead of having the Data partition on Disk 0, the EVO drive, I would wipe the Crucial disk (Disk 2 shown as G: and J:) and use it only for Data and deleting the Data D partition on Disk 0 and extending the Windows partition accordingly. I don't really see a need to the Recovery partition though what's 800MB in the scheme of things.

Are there any housekeeping issues for using a separate drive for "My Documents" as far as shortcuts are concerned? Or are there any negatives to this plan that anyone can see?

I keep weekly Macrium Reflect images of Disk 0 which includes the Data partition for a Backup regimen. I would just maintain backup images of Disk 2 to replace the transferred Data partition of Disk 0.

It seems a pretty straight forward plan but there may be issues I haven't considered.

Thanks for any feedback.

John
Windows 10, version 22H2, build 19045.3996, up to date for Win. Update

dalchina · 11 Feb 2024

Moving data - where there are no existing references or links to the files- has no consequences. E.g. a bunch of photos.

If the data is somehow linked to installed programs or to shortcuts, say- then that would be a problem.

It's a great idea to keep as much data off C: as possible for O/S maintenance reasons.

As I've repeatedly said, as you mention My Documents, I would NEVER use the Location tab.
Why?
a. Look at the tutorial. There is a warning and recommendation there to create a system image before doing so. Why did I ask of that to be added? Because making a mistake in setting the destination can be really dangerous and precatically irreversible.

b. My Documents etc get full of folders created by 3rd party programs making it 'Their Documents'
I prefer my data stored separately, in my folders.

c. If you relocate the default library folders to another disk and then clean install Windows, there is no link to them. You then have to sort that out afterwards, so if you thought that made life easier- it doesn't.

d. Moving data to another partition doesn't necessarily make things more secure.

e. You seem to have a DataBackup partition on an internal disk. I hope that's regarded as transient and you are using 3rd party disk imaging to external storage or proper data backup to offline storage.

Think- ransomware, PC failure, theft...etc

f. Disk 2 seems to have a recovery partition on it. That should not be.

g.

I don't really see a need to the Recovery partition though what's 800MB in the scheme of things.

Without that you don't have ready access to Advanced Startup options.

Whilst a number of those can be provided by booting from a Win 10 install disk, no Recovery partition means no easy way to boot to Safe Mode unless you have taken specific action (see the searchable Tutorial section).

starchase · 11 Feb 2024

Thanks dalchina. I'll ponder my next move. I think I will wipe Disk 2 since it is an old duplicate of Drive 0. I appreciate your input.
Regards.

Berton · 12 Feb 2024

Didn't see this til now but what @dalchina said but will add that I don't usually Move data but prefer to Copy it then delete later followed by emptying the Recycle Bin if everything worked. If any question I do a Properties of both sets of data for a comparison. Of course all that takes time but much shorter than having to recreate it.

starchase · 14 Feb 2024

Berton said:

Didn't see this til now but what @dalchina said but will add that I don't usually Move data but prefer to Copy it then delete later followed by emptying the Recycle Bin if everything worked. If any question I do a Properties of both sets of data for a comparison. Of course all that takes time but much shorter than having to recreate it.

What do they say about great minds . . . That is what I did. Spcifically I ran Mini Tool and deleted all the partitions from Disk 2 which was the former Windows disk. Then I made an image using Macrium Reflect of the Disk 0 Data partition and "restored" that image to the empty area of Disk 2 as it was a lot faster than actually copy/pasting 87 GB to the disk, and used that disk to work with its files to make sure the data was good. Then I made an image of the entire Disk 0 just in case I didn't like the results of my project, then deleted the Data partition on Disk 0 and moved and Resized the Recovery partition and then shrank it back to 500MB, and then Resized the C: Windows partition into the remaining unallocated space. So it looks like everything is working as it is supposed to.

Thanks for your input.

marite · 17 Feb 2024

"Symlink" might be your friend.