The capacity of solid land disks (SSDs) is growing and the toll is falling, but there is nevertheless a broad gap betwixt SSDs and traditional internal hard disks (HDDs). The problem is that games and other software takes upwardly a lot of space, and you may not have room on your C: drive for everything. Here we'll explicate how to install software on a second hard drive, and even how to move your whole Program Files folder to another bulldoze.

Installing software on an external drive

If yous practice have a small-scale-chapters SSD, Windows can exist installed on it and your files can be stored on a hard bulldoze. Ideally, you need an internal hard drive, but external drives can be used if that's your but choice: a USB 3 model is almost as fast as an internal one.

Bear in mind that using an external drive can cause all sorts of problems. You'll need to make sure it'south e'er continued when Windows boots up, otherwise programs may not load when you launch them. Also, if you don't have a laptop or PC with USB 3, you'll detect games and programs launch considerably slower than from an internal or USB iii hard drive.

How to install software on a second hard drive

Information technology's very easy to install a program on whatsoever hard drive connected to your PC. All you practice is await out for the location pick during the installation process. Click the Scan button and direct Windows to install it wherever you like. Software doesn't have to be installed in the Program Files folder - that's simply a Windows convention.

How to install software on a second hard drive

How to movement the Programme Files folder

Even if yous have a 128GB SSD, y'all'll soon fill up it up with applications. By this point, information technology's too late to install them on a different difficult drive, unless you desire to become through and uninstall and reinstall programs individually.

It's possible to move the C:\Program Files folder to a different hard drive but nosotros don't recommend this considering the folder is hard-wired into Windows and there will be bug if it isn't where Windows expects it to be. Plus, it's a very in-depth procedure to do it properly using symbolic links.

For programs that are already installed on your C: drive, it'south possible to move their subfolders which are stored within C:\Program Files. Don't forget that if you move programs from an SSD to a hard drive then you volition lose the speed do good of the SSD when launching that program. Keep your most used software on the SSD then that information technology loads and runs quickly when you demand it.

You can't simply elevate program folders to a different drive, though. What you lot must practise is to create what is called a symbolic link. It's a bit similar the shortcuts to programs, folders and websites that litter the desktop, but they are more than powerful. When Windows or any programme tries to admission the folder, the symbolic link redirects information technology to the new location. Information technology is completely transparent to software and Windows.

Symbolic links can be created manually and there is a command line tool called mklink. Expert users tin open a command prompt window and enter mklink to see the options. At that place is no need to resort to complicated commands though and there is a unproblematic and free utility that does everything for you lot. Become to mobasoftware.com and download SymMover.

There are carve up Programme Files folders for 32-bit and 64-flake programs on 64-bit Windows, so you'll need to move subfolders from both if you have them.

Stride 1. When installing SymMover, exist careful every bit it will also install things y'all don't desire if you use the default options. Select Custom Setup and decline all the extras.

Move program files folder Windows - Step 1

Stride 2. When you install any software, it always asks where you desire to shop it. SymMover can be stored on your hd drive instead of the SSD if y'all want. Only click the Browse button and select the drive and folder.

Move program files folder Windows - Step 2

Pace iii. When installation is complete, run SymMover from the Start bill of fare or Start screen. It has ii halves and dividing them down the middle is a cavalcade of icons. We need to choose the source folders and the destination.

Move program files folder Windows - Step 3

Step 4. Prepare the destination folder at the lesser, such every bit East:\SymMover, click the plus push button, select a plan and click Add Folder. If a program isn't listed, click 'Folders on your computer' and select its folder in C:\Programme Files.

Move program files folder Windows - Step 4

Step 5. Repeat the last pace for each of the folders that you desire to move from the SSD to the hard disk. The left paw side of SymMover fills up with the folders you want to move. Brand sure that they are all ticked.

Move program files folder Windows - Step 5

Step half dozen. Click the green pointer in the toolbar in the middle and SymMover copies the source folders to the destination and replaces them with symbolic links. Quit and restart Windows later. The programs now run from the hard drive.

Move program files folder Windows - Step 6

See likewise: How to install an SSD in your PC and How to upgrade your laptop to an SSD