Best Location for Pictures Folder

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  1. Posts : 148
    Windows 10
       #1

    Best Location for Pictures Folder


    For the life of me this issue stumps me. Most of my photo folders are at OneDrive/Photographs while a much lesser number are at C: Pictures.

    Where is the best area to place our photographs?
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  2. Posts : 42,739
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    Hi
    1. Make sure your user data is not on C: at all - why- makes it almost independent of OS maintenance (think clean install).
    2. Do you wish to share data between devices? -> use a cloud service
    3. Do you wish your data to be backed up for you? -> use a cloud service
    4. Do you wish your data to be shared with others? -> use a cloud service
    5. Do you wish your data to be private and backed up by your own backup procedure? (Think- how secure is my backup from fire/theft/flood...) - keep your data on your PC
    6. Do you have restricted or unreliable internet? -> don't use a cloud service

    Considering where to put your photos on your PC:
    Move Location of Pictures Folder in Windows 10 Windows 10 Customization Tutorials
    Note: a few people get themselves into difficulty making mistakes when using this.

    You could also create your own folder and add it to your user library.
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  3. Posts : 50,055
    Windows 10 Home 64bit 21H1 and insider builds
       #3

    dalchina said:
    Hi
    1. Make sure your user data is not on C: at all - why- makes it almost independent of OS maintenance (think clean install).
    2. Do you wish to share data between devices? -> use a cloud service
    3. Do you wish your data to be backed up for you? -> use a cloud service
    4. Do you wish your data to be shared with others? -> use a cloud service
    5. Do you wish your data to be private and backed up by your own backup procedure? (Think- how secure is my backup from fire/theft/flood...) - keep your data on your PC
    6. Do you have restricted or unreliable internet? -> don't use a cloud service

    Considering where to put your photos on your PC:
    Move Location of Pictures Folder in Windows 10 Windows 10 Customization Tutorials
    Note: a few people get themselves into difficulty making mistakes when using this.

    You could also create your own folder and add it to your user library.
    I agree with all of that. keep as much as possible of your data off the C drive.
    Image you C drive with Macrium Reflect Free.
    Back up your data either to the cloud (not my preferred route} or with a file & folder backup solution to an external drive. You could use Microsoft's SyncToy for this.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 382
    Windows 10 Home
       #4

    Does this apply for the Documents file too?
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  5. Posts : 50,055
    Windows 10 Home 64bit 21H1 and insider builds
       #5

    prikker said:
    Does this count for the Documents file also?
    Yes, for all data. I find the easiest way to integrate this into you system is to add the folders into the appropriate library and make that folder the default.
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  6. Posts : 42,739
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #6

    I find the default library folders are full of folders created by programs I've installed.
    So I deem them 'Their folders' not mine - and use my own folders for Music/Photos/Documents etc.

    You can relocate your desktop too. (Not that keeping anything large or vital on it is a great idea anyway).

    Consider too any data related to programs that is held in files. Where is that? What would you lose if your system disk failed or your OS was reinstalled?

    Consider your email client, if you use one. Where's all the data related to that?
    Browser favourites, perhaps passwords...
    Etc...
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 50,055
    Windows 10 Home 64bit 21H1 and insider builds
       #7

    dalchina said:
    I find the default library folders are full of folders created by programs I've installed.
    So I deem them 'Their folders' not mine - and use my own folders for Music/Photos/Documents etc.

    You can relocate your desktop too. (Not that keeping anything large or vital on it is a great idea anyway).

    Consider too any data related to programs that is held in files. Where is that? What would you lose if your system disk failed or your OS was reinstalled?

    Consider your email client, if you use one. Where's all the data related to that?
    Browser favourites, perhaps passwords...
    Etc...
    A lot of rubbish is put into the default documents folder which is why I have removed it from my documents library. Where possible I have moved programs data folders to my new Documents folder. Where the program doesn't allow moving it's data folder I create symbolic links into my new documents folder so that I can leave the rubbish behind but that is for advanced users.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 5,899
    Win 11 Pro (x64) 22H2
       #8

    kado897 said:
    I agree with all of that. keep as much as possible of your data off the C drive.
    Image you C drive with Macrium Reflect Free.
    Back up your data either to the cloud (not my preferred route} or with a file & folder backup solution to an external drive. You could use Microsoft's SyncToy for this.
    I'm not exactly sure this is what the OP was looking for as it really doesn't answer the question.

    lpatrick said:
    For the life of me this issue stumps me. Most of my photo folders are at OneDrive/Photographs while a much lesser number are at C: Pictures.

    Where is the best area to place our photographs?
    This is really up to you, but the way I'd look at it is storage space and access - If you need to access the images from anywhere and/or are short on storage space, OneDrive. If you feel life is easier with the images on a local drive, Pictures.

    It really depends on you and what your needs are. For me I mainly use OneDrive for my jpeg files since I can access them anywhere. However, I also keep my master files on my local hard drive.

    And yes, we all have backup plans, but that's not the question.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 42,739
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #9

    Well, the question isn't actually stated in a way that can be properly answered.

    To answer the question means understanding what is desired to be done with the pictures.
    Given that, and the need for security, a better answer can be given.

    Hence my various options in my first post given the uncertainty.
    What is best for one person may not be best for another. Except that the best place is not on C:
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  10. Posts : 5,899
    Win 11 Pro (x64) 22H2
       #10

    dalchina said:
    Except that the best place is not on C:
    That would be an opinion, not a fact. Fact is, if Microsoft didn't want photos on C-Drive, they wouldn't have put the Pictures folder there. Now we can debate till the cows come home as to what the "best place" is, but C-Drive is Microsoft's option or else they wouldn't have placed the Pictures folder there.

    And for the record I keep my photos on s separate drive as well, but those are my master .tiff files for my photography. However, I keep copies of their jpeg equivalent in the Pictures folder on... C-Drive. That, however doesn't negate my argument that Microsoft thought C-Drive a good option.

    Anyway I answered the OP's question as posed.

    Peace
      My Computers


 

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