What directories in a Windows 7 SSD install would you link/junction to an HDD?

Solution 1:

In addition to Wil's answer, I put all BitTorrent downloads and most games onto an HDD, rather than an SSD. Although there is the potential for better performance with games on an SSD (such as reduced loading times), they tend to take up a lot of space. Also, if you don't need to use hibernation, you may wish to disable it to save space on the SSD.

Note that keeping some free space on the SSD is more to help the drive maintain performance over time, rather than to directly assist the wear levelling.

Solution 2:

I use an SSD alongside a HDD and install quite a bit more software than the SSD has space for. I'm answering anecdotally as I've been unable to find authoritative information for managing an ever growing Windows installation split between an SSD and a HHD

I manually manage a great deal of my installation and data. Every program that prompts for an installation path gets assigned to D:\Program Files or D:\Program Files (x86). Note that simply installing here without taking extra steps may create a security risk by bypassing the restrictions that Microsoft places on the C:\Program Files folders. I have not fully researched the implications of simply changing the installation path. I've also created a D:\Users\Chris\ folder and I take advantage of the Windows 7 Libraries feature to make manually setting save paths easier.

I use WinDirStat to find large files and folders on the SSD for selective junction creation to the HDD. Anything related to the Windows installation I research online, as I've seen suggestions that wholesale linking folders such as the Program Files directory or the \Windows\winsxs to a HDD will cause problems and instability.

Some of my junctioned folders are:

• Large chunks of data in the \ProgramData\ folder
• Adobe files (Common Files?)
• \Windows\Installer\ files

Windows seems to manage log files well and I haven't seen any that balloon up into significant sizes.

I strongly suggest making backups before moving and linking folders.