Please explain a simple way to set up a D drive for documents

Apparently reading is fundamental!

gunrunnerjohn said:

Windows will do the copy for you, just as I detailed. I've done this on a bunch of systems, I always have my data on a separate logical drive for easy backup. It's a few clicks and it's done!

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How can Windows do the copy for me if all my files are on an external drive? Maybe I've missed something


Because theyre on external drive I wasnt sure if I could just copy and paste them in their respective secondary documents, pictures etc folders - directly onto the d drive from the external drive. I couldn't actually copy and paste them to the C Drive documents, pictures etc folders and then move them to the D Drive, because the C drive isn't big enough to take them all.

So If they are already on the D Drive, can I then just set up the "move" for any future files?

@RD Mercer I also remember computers that had a master and slave drive

Hazel123 said:

So If they are already on the D Drive, can I then just set up the "move" for any future files?

Click to expand...

Yes.

Try not to let it get complicated, Hazel, follow Brinks tutorials.
By following the tutorials, you’re telling Windows to remap the destination for your folders.
Then all roads will lead to D

But as it’s an external drive, if you remap the folder paths, your external needs to be connected when you boot into Windows or you’ll get error message.

Thanks. The external drive is just temporary storage before I move the files back on the computer, onto the new D drive. The external drive won't be being used after that - except for future backups.

I haven't done this for a long time - the last time was when I had files on an sd card! And I'm sure I just put them on there and saved to there and didn't do any redirection! But I can't really remember.

OK then, so for the time being, or before you get the new internal drive, keep everything safe on the external, remap the folders when you get the new drive.

Please disregard my comment. I posted it in the wrong forum, I thought I was in my Apple IIe forum.
Thanks RD.

Hazel123 said:

How can Windows do the copy for me if all my files are on an external drive? Maybe I've missed something


Because theyre on external drive I wasnt sure if I could just copy and paste them in their respective secondary documents, pictures etc folders - directly onto the d drive from the external drive. I couldn't actually copy and paste them to the C Drive documents, pictures etc folders and then move them to the D Drive, because the C drive isn't big enough to take them all.

So If they are already on the D Drive, can I then just set up the "move" for any future files?

@RD Mercer I also remember computers that had a master and slave drive

Click to expand...

Sorry I missed Glasskuter’s reply which explained that. Ok - I think I can keep it simple . I had just read a few things where people had had problems so wanted to keep it simple. Think I’ve got it now.

Final question - will I end up with two sets of folders showing in the left bar of explorer? Ie two each of Documents, Pictures etc.

And also - is this method the same on Windows 10? I assume so

Hazel123 said:

Final question - will I end up with two sets of folders showing in the left bar of explorer? Ie two each of Documents, Pictures etc.

Click to expand...

On the left side of File Explorer, I see:

This PC

and then indented under that I see C and D.

They are entirely separate. C is a Western Digital and D is an Intel.

In my case, C has 19 subfolders shown on the right side; "users" and 18 others. All Windows creations. I almost never look in any of them. Occasionally I have reason to look in "users".

D has 11 subfolders on the right, all of them data of my own creation and unrelated to Windows.

You are doing a transfer of data from C to D. I never had data on C to begin with, so your mileage may differ.

Thank you.

Ok so I've made new folders on the new D Drive. No files as yet except on the desktop. So on the C drive Desktop folder in properties - location, I clicked on "move", selected D/Desktop as the location, apply, yes ok.

So the files are now in D/Desktop. But they are also still in C/Desktop. Have I done something not right?

As that didn't seem right, I've restored them back again to C/Desktop as per Brink's tutorial. The Desktop folder from D Drive that I made has now disappeared from D Drive - I thought it would just leave the folder there but it be empty?

Also apologies if this is a noddy question, but do I actually need to use the move process via location? Could I not just copy and paste the files from the c drive folders, to their respective d drive folders, and then just always select d drive to save when saving a file?

Edwin said:

I didn't think it was this complicated!
Just plug in an external drive and put your stuff over there!

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I'll be honest. As a few of you must know by now, I'm also lazy. I don't do all that highfalutin' mumbo-jumbo confounded configuration (unless I have to).

Here's what I do:

1) Attach additional drive to system board when the unit is turned off.
2) Close up the unit, turn on the unit, boot to the OS and look for the new drive in Disk Manager or management or whatever they're calling it this days
3) Format the drive and label it whatever you like. (I like to call mine "Archives" because it sounds nifty.)
4) Change the drive letter to "D" or whatever letter you like in Disk Manager.
5) Make a shortcut on your desktop to that drive.

VIOLA! Done. You can open up the page to that drive directly and drag and drop whatever you like to it. Your recipe for grandma's apple pie, pictures of birthday parties, embarrassing photos of your pet cat, yes... even documents. Sure, it might lack all that finesse of everything automatically d-loading to a D drive but hey, at least you get to pick and choose.

Once a week I drag and drop anything of importance to my Archives. It keeps my C drive uncluttered and in the event the C drive craters, well I still have at least 95% of my important user data. Since I get to pick and choose what gets moved I can even leave copies of documents on my desktop until I'm done with them because I still have a back up copy in my "archives". Plus, if you feel real keen you can make a folder in your D drive and call it documents 2 or Earnest goes to Camp, or . . . And you can make as many of these as you like.

This is not to say backups aren't necessary. This is not to say clones are useless. This not to say stop making restore points and system images. This is just one more practical approach to hanging onto your data. Anyway, for what it's worth, there it is.

Hazel123 said:

D/Desktop

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I hope you mean D:\Desktop, otherwise this will explain the apparent complexity and confusion for what is an otherwise uncomplicated and common process.

Hazel123 said:

Ok so I've made new folders on the new D Drive. No files as yet except on the desktop. So on the C drive Desktop folder in properties - location, I clicked on "move", selected D/Desktop as the location, apply, yes ok.

So the files are now in D/Desktop. But they are also still in C/Desktop. Have I done something not right?

As that didn't seem right, I've restored them back again to C/Desktop as per Brink's tutorial. The Desktop folder from D Drive that I made has now disappeared from D Drive - I thought it would just leave the folder there but it be empty?

Also apologies if this is a noddy question, but do I actually need to use the move process via location? Could I not just copy and paste the files from the c drive folders, to their respective d drive folders, and then just always select d drive to save when saving a file?

Click to expand...

i would leave the desktop file/folder on C: drive
because if there are any problems with D: drive you wont have a desktop
which can be very annoying

all the other folders can be moved to D: drive
that's the way i have my system set up

Desktop Folder on C: drive
all other Folders Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Video all moved to D: drive
along with any other personal folders that i have created.

best of luck Steve ..

XxXxX said:

i would leave the desktop file/folder on C: drive
because if there are any problems with D: drive you wont have a desktop
which can be very annoying

all the other folders can be moved to D: drive
that's the way i have my system set up

Desktop Folder on C: drive
all other Folders Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Video all moved to D: drive
along with any other personal folders that i have created.

best of luck Steve ..

Click to expand...

Apparently that is how my wife has hers configured also. I just discovered this when she told me that when she learned about my putting her "archives" in RAID 1 on logical drives she decided just to 'cut to the chase' as it were and have all her videos, and documents, and downloads etc. go directly there. Says it keeps her desktop nice and tidy. :::shrugs::: To each their own, I guess.

I just moved documents to my data drive. It was easy and painless. For both you just right click on them, select Properties, and then Location. Move them to the desired location, (creating a folder if desired), and click APPLY.

Scannerman said:

I'll be honest. As a few of you must know by now, I'm also lazy. I don't do all that highfalutin' mumbo-jumbo confounded configuration (unless I have to).

Here's what I do:

1) Attach additional drive to system board when the unit is turned off.
2) Close up the unit, turn on the unit, boot to the OS and look for the new drive in Disk Manager or management or whatever they're calling it this days
3) Format the drive and label it whatever you like. (I like to call mine "Archives" because it sounds nifty.)
4) Change the drive letter to "D" or whatever letter you like in Disk Manager.
5) Make a shortcut on your desktop to that drive.

VIOLA! Done.

Click to expand...

Yeah, to easy for all these geeks, the gurunner dude couldn't even figure my same advise, so he just made some snarky comment, but I just don't pay much attention to the folks up in the cheap seats.

Thanks all. Yes after some thinking it’s best to leave desktop on c drive but also I’ve decided I don’t really want this two drive set up so have installed my image onto the 2tb sata drive and that is now c drive and disabled the small original c drive (that isn’t removal without destroying the laptop). It’s a good laptop - just had some drive issues.

I know a sata ssd isn’t as fast as an nvme but it seems fine. It’s a Samsung 870.

I realise it’s a simple thing to set up but ongoing it just seems like hassle