How do you configure your drive(s)?

barman58 · Aug 20, 2021

I move the system folders to data using the windows system of the location tab and the files are kept on the data partition in their own area.

I'm a Lightroom user too and although the basic photos are left in the relocated pictures folder my own images are kept in there own partition, also I keep the lightroom catalogue on my Fast Storage SSD which speeds up processing quite a lot, and protects them from the occasional need to do an emergency system reload. I could just use the System drive for speed of access but the separate drive is a useful protective measure

I use a number of other Photo editors as Plugins' to lightroom, (and standalone), and their catalogues / temp folders are also held on the Fast Storage SSD

EDIT

Another safety measure I use is to convert all my images to DNG format on import into Lightroom, as they store the metadata inside the file so no little metadata files to take care of, if you ever have a crash you can quickly rebuild the catalogue

My files are Also renamed to reverse Full date /time order on Import so they can naturally form an organised folder tree

Dru2 · Aug 20, 2021

My OS (as well as the Lightroom catalog) is already on my fastest drive - Samsung 970 Pro NVMe drive. And the catalog most definitely gets backed up. And all backups are backed up. I employ a 3 backup solution - Local, NAS, Online (Carbonite) :)

The only plugins I'm using (in Photoshop) are DXO's NIK Collection, mainly Silver Efex. Also have some Topaz plugins but don't use those much.

I've thought many times about converting my images to DNG files but thus far I've stuck with the NEF RAW files. That said, I only keep my most recent NEF files I've not finalized yet on the PC, the other stuff that's finished or not needed are either archived elsewhere or deleted. The only other images I keep on the PC are my master tiff files for prints/sells and their jpeg copies for online posting.

Zardoc · Aug 20, 2021

Here is my setup:

stormy13 · Aug 20, 2021

Also have a 2 TB external connected to my router for movies and music.

larc919 · Aug 20, 2021

I use this setup on all my computers (exc. E: & F: are partitions on same SATA SSD in laptop):
C: - System NVMe with UEFI Windows and all installed apps
D: - Reserved for USB drives
E: - Editing HDD for projects I'm working on, data I need to keep handy, downloads and portable apps
F: - Storage HDD for data seldom needed, install files, how-to files and backup images (copies of latter also stored in other places)
G: - CD/DVD burner (yes, I still have and use some of those)

Haydon · Sep 8, 2021

barman58 said:
There is an advantage of a sort in using Windows' built-in user folders - applications written for windows, and following microsoft's guidelines will default to saving in the relevant part of the folder tree.

That does not mean you have to risk the loss of the folder contents if you need to reinstall the OS - simply use the built in Location tab on these special folders to relocate them to the data drive

Will the following W10 > W11 work? (don't worry, there will be several backups as safeguards)

A year before the change, do the above mentioned location trick and move the built-in user folders on a separate internal data drive D:\ and live for a year with the moved data to make sure that the moved data is complete and undamaged, and that the W10 OS and user apps can access the moved data, and that the moved data can be backed up (I don't care about backing up OS and user apps, for better or for worse, I prefer to re-install)
Move the separate internal data drive D:\ to a new W11 machine. Will the W11 OS and user apps on drive C:\ be able to access the data on drive D:\ ? I trust that the data on drive D:\ in the new W11 machine can be backed up.

Sorry, if this is an obvious impossibility, I am just exploring data moving options.

PerpetualCycle · Sep 8, 2021

Dru2 said:
My OS (as well as the Lightroom catalog) is already on my fastest drive - Samsung 970 Pro NVMe drive. And the catalog most definitely gets backed up. And all backups are backed up. I employ a 3 backup solution - Local, NAS, Online (Carbonite) :)

The only plugins I'm using (in Photoshop) are DXO's NIK Collection, mainly Silver Efex. Also have some Topaz plugins but don't use those much.

I've thought many times about converting my images to DNG files but thus far I've stuck with the NEF RAW files. That said, I only keep my most recent NEF files I've not finalized yet on the PC, the other stuff that's finished or not needed are either archived elsewhere or deleted. The only other images I keep on the PC are my master tiff files for prints/sells and their jpeg copies for online posting.

I have my Photoshop cache's on my 960 Pro on a separate partition than the OS (so they can survive an OS restore).

I tried DNG too, but it is not as flexible as the camera RAW format and you cannot push them as much IMO. I guess you pay for the portability. I do use them as intermediate export-import format between DXO Photolab and Photoshop.

Have you tried DXO Photolab? It is a pretty good alternative to Adobe products especially for RAW conversion. Still photoshop shines in post processing. Haven't used Lightroom a lot, but I bet it is competitive. The deep-prime noise reduction is superior to anything I have ever used for high ISO - it performs it at the RAW level before demosaicing the RAW image using neural networking tech. You can run it through your CPU or GPU. Really fantastic results. In my current workflow, I process High ISO RAW images in Photolab with deep-prime, then export them as DNG to Photoshop for further processing.

I have accumulated enough RAW images that I keep them on external HDD. I have a large local copy on the 960 Pro though that regularly gets archived to HDD.

Cheers

barman58 · Sep 8, 2021

Haydon said:
Will the following W10 > W11 work? (don't worry, there will be several backups as safeguards)

A year before the change, do the above mentioned location trick and move the built-in user folders on a separate internal data drive D:\ and live for a year with the moved data to make sure that the moved data is complete and undamaged, and that the W10 OS and user apps can access the moved data, and that the moved data can be backed up (I don't care about backing up OS and user apps, for better or for worse, I prefer to re-install)

Move the separate internal data drive D:\ to a new W11 machine. Will the W11 OS and user apps on drive C:\ be able to access the data on drive D:\ ? I trust that the data on drive D:\ in the new W11 machine can be backed up.

Sorry, if this is an obvious impossibility, I am just exploring data moving options.

Not sure exactly when this option was added to Windows Maybe windows 7 or even Vista, I've used this system since slightly after that was available,
I create a specific area on the data drive (just a "MY Stuff" base folder), and move the user folders under here. I actually create them before I start but you can let the OS create the folder when you use the locate the OS will also move the contents of the folders for you automatically.

When it comes to moving the OS as you intend this is it's just a case of Taking ownership of the data drive from the new OS and performing the Location action on each of the folders to reconnect the coding.

an update install of an OS should not need any work only a fresh bare metal one onto new or existing hardware,

The good thing about this method of organisation is if you need to the folders are all directly accessible on the data drive like any other folders, even from non windows devices like Linux or android.

Reliability wise I've gone through several complete hardware changes and many update/upgrades (in place updates or complete bare metal installs) and not had any issues with restoring the link - obviously I back up the data on the data drive often onto external media .

Some of the data on my data drive in these moved folders is from at least the Windows 7 days and likely earlier - as you can imagine there have been Many monthly updates and also version updates even a few total hardware changes and they are still there [ my downloads folder probably contains a fair number of application installers which would never work with Windows 10 but I keep them incase :wink:

of course the biggest advantage of this is that you system drive is not cluttered with your data so your system and applications have room to run

Haydon · Sep 8, 2021

barman58 said:
Not sure exactly when this option was added to Windows Maybe windows 7 or even Vista, I've used this system since slightly after that was available,
I create a specific area on the data drive (just a "MY Stuff" base folder), and move the user folders under here. I actually create them before I start but you can let the OS create the folder when you use the locate the OS will also move the contents of the folders for you automatically.

When it comes to moving the OS as you intend this is it's just a case of Taking ownership of the data drive from the new OS and performing the Location action on each of the folders to reconnect the coding.

an update install of an OS should not need any work only a fresh bare metal one onto new or existing hardware,

The good thing about this method of organisation is if you need to the folders are all directly accessible on the data drive like any other folders, even from non windows devices like Linux or android.

Reliability wise I've gone through several complete hardware changes and many update/upgrades (in place updates or complete bare metal installs) and not had any issues with restoring the link - obviously I back up the data on the data drive often onto external media .

Some of the data on my data drive in these moved folders is from at least the Windows 7 days and likely earlier - as you can imagine there have been Many monthly updates and also version updates even a few total hardware changes and they are still there [ my downloads folder probably contains a fair number of application installers which would never work with Windows 10 but I keep them incase

of course the biggest advantage of this is that you system drive is not cluttered with your data so your system and applications have room to run

Wow, thanks! You make it sound so easy, I wonder, does the procedure also work with an external USB drive?

Do the location trick on the old W10 machine to relocate the user data from C:\ (where I have it) to an external USB drive
Plug the external USB drive in the new W11 machine
Do a reverse location trick to relocate the user data from the external USB drive to an internal drive of the new W11 machine (either on C:\ or on a separate drive)

z3r010 · Sep 8, 2021

Meh, I just have one drive - c: :what:

barman58 · Sep 8, 2021

I would not recommend using the system with a removable drive as you could accidently click on the eg. downloads folder and the system would not be able to find it and could go into a loop,

it would work generally as a removable drive is treated as a standard drive by the OS , but the possibility of accidentally clicking a personal folder when the drive was not attached would be too much of a risk, for me anyway

z3r010 said:
Meh, I just have one drive - c:

Your stuff is all online so you don't need to worry :wink:

barman58 · Sep 8, 2021

geneo said:
...

Have you tried DXO Photolab? It is a pretty good alternative to Adobe products especially for RAW conversion. Still photoshop shines in post processing. Haven't used Lightroom a lot, but I bet it is competitive. The deep-prime noise reduction is superior to anything I have ever used for high ISO - it performs it at the RAW level before demosaicing the RAW image using neural networking tech. You can run it through your CPU or GPU. Really fantastic results. In my current workflow, I process High ISO RAW images in Photolab with deep-prime, then export them as DNG to Photoshop for further processing.

...

Cheers

I have photolab 4 and the DXO Nik Suite and use it along with other options with Lightroom as my base processor and catalogue (DAM]

I'm just waiting for my copy of the latest ON1 PhotoRaw 2022 - I'm a long term user as a plugin for Lightroom, and they offered me a silly deal that gives me the new package, a huge set of extras, (LUTs, filters, brushes, skys etc etc), it also includes a complete set of ON1's standalone Plugins which are due for release late fall, so I can use the best of the package directly in LR, or Photoshop, or any other modern editing suite - it also gives me direct access to the developers if I have an issue :scream:

Looking at the latest On1 it could be a close thing to a photography plan from Adobe they have a subscription plan or importantly a regular lifetime licence

jvickers · Sep 8, 2021

C:\ has the OS and a few random programs that wouldn't install elsewhere or I accidentally installed there and didn't feel like moving
D:\ has programs, music, and movies
E:\ has backups of C:\ and F:\
F:\ (external) has work-related material
G:\ (external) has just C:\ backup but is rarely connected - only when I need a to update the backup

All drives are SSDs. You'll have to envision what it looks like in the File Explorer.

Quandary · Sep 8, 2021

Haydon said:
Will the following W10 > W11 work? (don't worry, there will be several backups as safeguards)

A year before the change, do the above mentioned location trick and move the built-in user folders on a separate internal data drive D:\ and live for a year with the moved data to make sure that the moved data is complete and undamaged, and that the W10 OS and user apps can access the moved data, and that the moved data can be backed up (I don't care about backing up OS and user apps, for better or for worse, I prefer to re-install)

Move the separate internal data drive D:\ to a new W11 machine. Will the W11 OS and user apps on drive C:\ be able to access the data on drive D:\ ? I trust that the data on drive D:\ in the new W11 machine can be backed up.

Sorry, if this is an obvious impossibility, I am just exploring data moving options.

A year before the change!!!! Wow, I could not wait that long. You will need to go to extreme measures to prevent your existing PC from upgrading if meets the requirements for Win 11.
I had been running my laptop with just a C: drive, then with Win 11 Insider installed it was time to split the drive and move data to a D: drive. Easy process:
- backup C: drive with MR7 to an external SSD
- repartition with drive with MiniTool Partition Wizard
- user folder Properties, Location, to move My Documents, Pictures, Music, Video to the D: drive
- backup C: drive and D: drive
Since then (within the last couple of months) I have restored the C: drive many times, and once restored the D: drive when I accidentally permanently deleted some stuff.
If you are getting a new Win 11 PC then it is an easy process to restore the backup of the D: drive to the new PC. You can then do one of the following:
1. restore the backup of the a D: drive to the corresponding folders on the new PC
2. create a D: drive on the new PC then restore the data. You will also need to relocate the My Documents etc to the D: drive (these files will be empty on the new install). The process will merge and not replace files in the target location.

The-Hive · Sep 8, 2021

One of my PC's has two SSD's so its
C:\ has OS and D:\ has the rest.
The other PC which I use for Win 11 testing has only a C: drive and no option to add a second drive so its all on one.

kellymac35 · Sep 8, 2021

C:\ Has Operating system and Apps.

Lance1 · Sep 8, 2021

C:\ OS and APPS and my downloads folder which I keep intending to relocate but never get around to it. I simply have two much Stuff... O! And 4 more drives on the shelf with, "You guessed It!" STUFF! The Elements drive is the image storage drive for all systems on my network which is connected only for image purposes then disconnected and stored away.

Haydon · Sep 8, 2021

Quandary said:
A year before the change!!!! Wow, I could not wait that long. You will need to go to extreme measures to prevent your existing PC from upgrading if meets the requirements for Win 11.
I had been running my laptop with just a C: drive, then with Win 11 Insider installed it was time to split the drive and move data to a D: drive. Easy process:
- backup C: drive with MR7 to an external SSD
- repartition with drive with MiniTool Partition Wizard
- user folder Properties, Location, to move My Documents, Pictures, Music, Video to the D: drive
- backup C: drive and D: drive
Since then (within the last couple of months) I have restored the C: drive many times, and once restored the D: drive when I accidentally permanently deleted some stuff.
If you are getting a new Win 11 PC then it is an easy process to restore the backup of the D: drive to the new PC. You can then do one of the following:
1. restore the backup of the a D: drive to the corresponding folders on the new PC
2. create a D: drive on the new PC then restore the data. You will also need to relocate the My Documents etc to the D: drive (these files will be empty on the new install). The process will merge and not replace files in the target location.

Wow, thanks! It's nice to have 2 people now attesting to the safety and reliability of the data moving procedure, it is definitely an option for me :)

The old W10 machine does not satisfy W11 requirements and is therefore safe from a surprise upgrade to W11. I plan on making the changes to the old W10 machine in the holiday season of 2023 when computer activities are down and I have time to correct if things go awry. The move to the new W11 will be in the holiday season 2024, sufficient time before W10 EOL and sufficient time for W11 to mature to a stable release (i.e. 3 annual version releases after RTM) Also, ample time to consider other data moving options if this one does not pan out for some reason or another. Yeah, that's me :)

Dru2 · Sep 8, 2021

geneo said:
geneo said:

I have my Photoshop cache's on my 960 Pro on a separate partition than the OS (so they can survive an OS restore).

Click to expand...

Yeah, I suppose could move both the Photoshop cache as well as my Lightroom catalog to my "E" (Photos) drive being it's also a Samsung 970 drive, just bigger, but I backup up my catalog anyway, and I can rebuild the PS cache as needed.

geneo said:
Have you tried DXO Photolab? It is a pretty good alternative to Adobe products especially for RAW conversion. Still photoshop shines in post processing. Haven't used Lightroom a lot, but I bet it is competitive. The deep-prime noise reduction is superior to anything I have ever used for high ISO - it performs it at the RAW level before demosaicing the RAW image using neural networking tech. You can run it through your CPU or GPU. Really fantastic results. In my current workflow, I process High ISO RAW images in Photolab with deep-prime, then export them as DNG to Photoshop for further processing.

I have accumulated enough RAW images that I keep them on external HDD. I have a large local copy on the 960 Pro though that regularly gets archived to HDD.

Cheers

The only DXO product I have is the Nik collection since my favorite of the Nik plugins is Silver Efex (B&W plugin). I do have some Topaz plugins - Impression, Adjust, and Clean, but the only one I really use there is Impression (provides art/paint like images).

The only noise reduction app I use is included in Adobe Lightroom, though I tend to try to keep my ISO at a max of 5000 if possible; especially on my D850 which tends to produce more noise at that level than my D800E. That said, most of the time I'm below 350 ISO so....

As for alternatives to Adobe, I've been using Photoshop for so long that I can't ever imagine not using it. BTW, I use Adobe Lightroom to process my RAW files and then Photoshop to finalize. That's me.

And yeah, my old RAW files are archived on external drives.

Quandary · Sep 8, 2021

Haydon said:
Wow, thanks! It's nice to have 2 people now attesting to the safety and reliability of the data moving procedure, it is definitely an option for me :)

The old W10 machine does not satisfy W11 requirements and is therefore safe from a surprise upgrade to W11. I plan on making the changes to the old W10 machine in the holiday season of 2023 when computer activities are down and I have time to correct if things go awry. The move to the new W11 will be in the holiday season 2024, sufficient time before W10 EOL and sufficient time for W11 to mature to a stable release (i.e. 3 annual version releases after RTM) Also, ample time to consider other data moving options if this one does not pan out for some reason or another. Yeah, that's me :)

It's great that you have a long term upgrade plan. A lot can change during that time, but having a good backup will give you peace of mind. Assuming that both your data are both on the C: drive you should try to do a periodic backup of the entire partition, and regular updates of your Data.
It is very rare but if something should go seriously wrong with your OS you could restore the partition and then apply the most current Data updates to it. This is one of the reasons to separate the Data from the OS. A separate OS partition also means smaller size backup.