2 HDD question

[Koa]

My lappy has got 2 hard drives. One with OS at 75gb and 35 now spare and one that is named DATA with a full 75gb spare.

So obviously operating system and one for other bits.

My question is regarding which one to install stuff on and store all photos/videos etc.

It's my first time with a laptop and two drives, the OS drive has all the "My documents" and folders already there so it's easy to just put everything there and the program files just default to this drive anyway.
But should I be looking to install programs and photos on the HDD that doesn't contain the OS and if so what are the advantages in your experiences peeps ?

ATM I don't see any particular advantage to installing or storing on the data drive because I'd have to browse to the folders each time I wanted to get to anything or at least create a whole load of extra shortcuts to clutter everything up and I want to keep things as standard as possible on this laptop.

Cheers,

Mark.

 

[Stu R]

It wouldn't be a HP laptop by any chance??

Mine came with two also and say OS and data. at 65 - 70GB each

It would depend on what programs you use and how big your data files are.

The more cluttered up a hard drive is the slower it will perform as it has to search more through the HDD to get the relevent information.

I use the OS to store the OS (obviously ) and all programs.

I use my Documents, which are stored in the OS HDD for files that are small and I would use on a regular basis.

I use the data HDD for more complex files that are bigger in size, or I use less often.

I store my music on my Data HDD too. At the moment i'm at 6Gb of music and getting bigger.

My old laptop used to have 1 HDD and i bought a very small external HDD to do the same.

At the moment though I have more Gb than i know what to do with.

Got two HDD in my laptop, one very small HDD at 80Gb and anothjer external one at 250Gb. I'm sure they will all come in use eventully

 

[Koa]

Cheers Stu, that answers my question perfectly mate.

Yes it's a HP It's the HP DV9030EA. The main reason I asked is when I installed photoshop it actually recommended I install it on a different drive to the OS to make it run faster, and I'd never had that option come up before.
No problems with speed and access so far, it's been running great and runs games with ease as it's got the GeForce 7600 in it. HL2 runs like a dream, far surpasing my expectations of a 1k laptop.

 

[Stu R]

I don't remember seeing that laptop.

I just got mine that cost 1k. HP pevillion DV9000. plus £400 of acessories.
Last one was insured

Mines runs sweet too, with the 256mb nVidia graphics. Not tested it on Games yet but programs run lovely.

If the program recomends using a different HD then use it. The HDD is built in and shortcut will still show up on your Desktop if you use that and your start Menu like it would if you were using the C: (Os) HDD.

 

[Stu R]

Only thing I can see extra is you have slightly more HDD space.

All other spec same.

Love the laptop but a pain to keep those figure marks off.

 

[Koa]

Thanks again Stu.

lol, yeah keeping it clean is a right pain in the bum

It's a really good spec machine for that money, with 2gig of ram and that 256mb graphics card, I couldn't be happier for that money, I have just been playing Company of Heroes with most settings on high and it runs great. I may think about getting an SLi setup sometime if any games start to struggle.

I like the HP website update system it's rather handy to find all the drivers in one place, saves a lot of messing about. Although I suspect there must be a later version of the Nvidia go 7 series driver out there somewhere.

 

[The Negotiator]

Generally (unless HP make a special effort, doubt it) you can't get graphic driver updates for laptops, why? Nvida and ATi make it impossible. You have to do it manually yourself, which is fine, but a little annoying. Laptop GPU Nivda drivers will proabably get you the site you want, there's a huge site for it.

In terms of HDDs, I assume you have one HDD partitioned rather than two physical HDDs?

 

[Stu DemonD]

Ah, glad someone mentioned partitions, because I was about to.

In reality, you only need about 30Gb max partition to run an OS - that is what I do here - and I don't use the C drive for anything apart from OS stuff - all media, program files, My Documents, etc, are all stored elsewhere, across the balance of that physical drive on Partition D, and the 4 other HDDs I have in here.

 

[Koa]

I have come accross quite a few GPU updates, on the Nvidia site and on the HP sites and they are for the laptops cards as well as the PC cards. I have always found Nvidia to be well up on these.

I think i read it was two physical HDD's for this laptop with one of them partitioned for the restoring windows stuff.

 

[Stu R]

Nope, The new HP's have two physical HDD.

Says so in the manuals you get with them. Because a partition is what I first thought.

Glossy A4 paper that reads this Laptop is equipped with the HDD, 1 called OS that includes your operating system and partition with boot files, and another called data for storage purpose.

Or words to that effect Not as clever as HP with my choice of words lol

EDIT: Will see if I still have it knocking round and will post it up.

 

[Stu R]

Cant find the paper but here is the review of the dv9040us.

http://compreviews.about.com/od/deskreplace/gr/HPPavildv9040us.htm

does say in the review about the 2 hdd it has.

 

[Koa]

Stu, do you have the Intel duel core or the AMD Turion 64x2 in your HP ?

 

[Stu R]

AMD Turion64 x2

If I remember rightly the Intel was a couple hundred extra which would have left me with naff all to buy my acessories.

I also been told of many computer experts I know that AMD run a lot better than Intel.

Not asked if this version works better than the current Intel, but it runs well for me

EDIT:
Just found out that my laptop is the same one as your mate

The laptop says DV9000 on both bottom and top right corner on monitor.

I just checked my HDD's and got just under (Is normal to be lower than stated) 160Gb. I then decided to check my box to which I have not had chance to throw out yet.

Says in big letters "HP Pavilllion DV9030EA"

Silly Me!!

 

[Koa]

AMD Turion64 x2

If I remember rightly the Intel was a couple hundred extra which would have left me with naff all to buy my acessories.

I also been told of many computer experts I know that AMD run a lot better than Intel.

Not asked if this version works better than the current Intel, but it runs well for me

EDIT:
Just found out that my laptop is the same one as your mate

The laptop says DV9000 on both bottom and top right corner on monitor.

I just checked my HDD's and got just under (Is normal to be lower than stated) 160Gb. I then decided to check my box to which I have not had chance to throw out yet.

Says in big letters "HP Pavilllion DV9030EA"

Silly Me!!

lol, you got better than you initially thought then

Yeah the AMD's have always favoured gamers and I have never had any problems with desktops running on them :slayer:

If you come across anything that may be of benefit to us, hints, tips and maybe what to avoid driver wise etc on this laptop then post it up here and I'll do the same

I did download the AMD duel core optimizer the other day, not noticed anything untoward since installing it.

 

[Stu R]

No probs

you can always email or msn me on the addy below if you prefer.

I don't always post on here but I am on most nights so do check regular. Will post of I find any probs un stuff etc.

I did notice that HP driver for the nVi. I did was well out of date. I did update most of the other stuff with no problems running so far.

Not had chance though to really put it through its paces. Might have to install Fifa 07 and see how it handles it.

Failing that there is always my trustful Lemmings