Is it possible to split a Windows installation across hard drives?


  1. CursedLemon
    Posts : 23
    Windows 10 Home
       New #1

    Is it possible to split a Windows installation across hard drives?


    Just curious if this is possible, in basically the same way that one can do it in Linux.

    I just have a little idyllic scenario in my head where my Windows system folder is on a small NVMe drive, my Program Files folders are on a separate SSD of some kind, and my Users folder is on some big ol' HDDs.

    It would be cool, is all! As far as backup is concerned, well I know what I would be getting into. lol
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  3. Plankton
    Posts : 2,075
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #2

    I had no idea that was even possible on Linux. Would like to see some links on that.
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  4. CursedLemon
    Posts : 23
    Windows 10 Home
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Plankton said:
    I had no idea that was even possible on Linux. Would like to see some links on that.
    You can install different root directories in Linux (etc, home, lib, so on) to basically wherever you want. Across different partitions, different drives, etc. You can probably even install them over network locations, although I've never tried that. It's pretty neat!
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  6. cereberus
    Posts : 15,491
    Windows10
       New #4

    CursedLemon said:
    Just curious if this is possible, in basically the same way that one can do it in Linux.

    I just have a little idyllic scenario in my head where my Windows system folder is on a small NVMe drive, my Program Files folders are on a separate SSD of some kind, and my Users folder is on some big ol' HDDs.

    It would be cool, is all! As far as backup is concerned, well I know what I would be getting into. lol
    Sure - relocating user folders is easy - do it from settings, system, storage menus.

    Program Files folder can be relocated using symbolic links BUT be warned, each time there is a buid upgrade, those links can get broken leaving things in a mess. Advise you do not go there.
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  7. Plankton
    Posts : 2,075
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #5

    cereberus said:
    Sure - relocating user folders is easy - do it from settings, system, storage menus.

    Program Files folder can be relocated using symbolic links BUT be warned, each time there is a buid upgrade, those links can get broken leaving things in a mess. Advise you do not go there.
    That's what I was going to ask....I just didn't see how that would work long term with the way MS has windows 10 set. Next question for me would be; why would anybody want to do that? I see no viable point in doing so.
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  8. CursedLemon
    Posts : 23
    Windows 10 Home
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    If Windows doesn't natively know how to split the installation across multiple devices then the point is sadly moot!

    My only reason for wanting to attempt it is that it would be easy to store the Windows system on a small drive, and then have a bigger drive for Program Files as I install more and more applications (like huge games and whatnot). I like the idea of being able to manipulate permissions between those two resources so as to keep the Windows system itself fairly isolated from everything else, but that's anal-level tinkering.

    It was just a thought!
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  9. cereberus
    Posts : 15,491
    Windows10
       New #7

    CursedLemon said:
    If Windows doesn't natively know how to split the installation across multiple devices then the point is sadly moot!

    My only reason for wanting to attempt it is that it would be easy to store the Windows system on a small drive, and then have a bigger drive for Program Files as I install more and more applications (like huge games and whatnot). I like the idea of being able to manipulate permissions between those two resources so as to keep the Windows system itself fairly isolated from everything else, but that's anal-level tinkering.

    It was just a thought!
    Many games are portable. These can be telicated on other drives (steam games certainly) without any problems.
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  10. ThrashZone
    Posts : 7,724
    3-Win-7Prox64 3-Win10Prox64 3-LinuxMint20.2
       New #8

    Hi,
    I'm guessing that is what raid 5-10 configurations are for.
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