How to install WIndows 10 in 1 drive and save data in the other drive?

Arkas said:

During installation, how do I do that?
Thanks.

You don't do it during installation, do it after the installation is complete but before you restore all your data files from the backup.

Open Windows Explorer > navigate to your user folders (Users > {account name}) > select the folder you want to move (e,g, Documents) > right-click > Properties > Location tab > change the location path to your 1TB drive (instead of c:\Users\{username}\Documents, change it to D:\ Documents, assuming your 1TB is D:\ drive) > OK > you will be prompted that it does not exist so you must Create (Yes) > Yes to move all the files across (even though probably there aren't there).

Repeat for each user folder you want to move to the new destination. Then (re)backup all your data.

If you make an error, you can always restore the folders to their default location, using
Restore Default Location of Personal Folders in Windows 10

WARNING : You can't backup image your system drive if the user folders are located on a different drive (well, you can but any restoration of the image will fail because the restored version won't be able to find the user system folders in the default location).

Best way around this (if you want your user files on a separate drive), is to set up a file movement schedule (e.g. I use Robocopy command line scheduled using Task Scheduler) to periodically/regularly move the contents of whichever user folders in C:\Users\{Username} folder to the separate drive.

Note that if you split Windows like that, you increase the risk of significant failure- you are then dependent on the integrity of both drives for the continuing operation of your system.

You are then necessarily forced to maintain disk images of BOTH drives created at the same time to permit recovery.

If you do not, and, say, your larger drive fails, then e.g. the registry keys and any related drivers etc etc for your programs will remain on the system drive. Uninstallation may then not be possible.

A safer plan is to keep all progs on the system drive, and all personal data on the larger drive as far as possible.

Whatever your choice, plan your backup and recovery strategy very carefully.

Hello @Arkas,

Arkas said:

If I only use the second SSD for personal file storage and for files from torrents for example would that be ok with backing up just the Windows drive?

Yes, it would just become a two-step process.

[1] You would backup your OS by creating a System Image using an Imaging Program.
[2] Backup the SSD using a Backup Program [ XCopy, RoboCopy, or a dedicated backup Program ].

If you need further details on either of the above then please let us know and we will provide the relevant information.

I hope this helps.

Ya any Linux distro can be hard to grasp, I like Zorin, but I only use it for emergencies.

You can of course create a disk image of any drive or partition. The basic set is ALL partitions making up Windows.

Whether you use a data backup program for your other drive or imaging - or both- depends on things like
- how important the data is
- how fast it changes

In the ultimate case, you would use synchronised backup to external or even cloud storage for fast changing key data.

A great benefit of keeping your personal data off C: is that C: is the most likely to have its disk image restored. That natutrally affects any data on C: potentially losing recent data. Keeping data off C: minimises that frustration.