Long Term Storage and OS on Same Disk?

[Blackstone]

Do you guys think it is wise to have your operating system and long term files (media library) on the same disk, or is it better to have them on separate disks. Why?

What do you think the best setup is? I have my own opinions but I would like to hear yours.

 

[Dangman]

I'm a firm supporter of separate disks for the following reasons:
- I can remove the storage disks and put them in another PC without having to keep the current PC down.
- In case I need to reformat, all of my critical data is on the storage disk, not the OS disk.

 

[novadude]

Separate disks if possible, if not then definitely separate partitions.

 

[nitrobass24]

I'm a firm supporter of separate disks for the following reasons:
- I can remove the storage disks and put them in another PC without having to keep the current PC down.
- In case I need to reformat, all of my critical data is on the storage disk, not the OS disk.

QFMFT

 

[Justintoxicated]

If you have a backup then no worries.

I use a single disk on my laptop, and just keep the data backed up elsewhere

 

[kipper]

If you have a backup then no worries.

I use a single disk on my laptop, and just keep the data backed up elsewhere

I'm guessing the OP means desktop. and +1 to separate hard drives, if the OS fails, you can still get your data back by taking out the other hard drive. It's also much easier to reinstall operating systems with separate hard drives.

 

[Blackstone]

I'm guessing the OP means desktop. and +1 to separate hard drives, if the OS fails, you can still get your data back by taking out the other hard drive. It's also much easier to reinstall operating systems with separate hard drives.

I like a dedicated drive for OS and applications myself because I tend to reformat and reinstall windows a few times a year to keep the system running well. But if I had to use only one large capacity drive could the same thing be accomplished by creating a dedicated partition for the operating system? I could possibly wipe the OS partition if necessary. Anyone doing it that way?

 

[neoice]

I use to it do that way, now i use a seperate OS drive and storage is on a file server / HTPC or a sperate HD all together. I to tend to Format a few times a year as well.

 

[Elledan]

I have found keeping the OS separate (HDD or partition) to be invaluable as said when reinstalling the system. It is so much easier when you can disconnect the storage HDD(s) during installation too to make sure nothing goes wrong. It just makes life easier, and keeps the file fragmentation of the OS partition (temp folders...) away from long-term storage as well, which is nice

 

[Wildace]

this is some what related, but i havnt done much if any research on SSD's yet and was wondering how they are with the page file on the same drive as the OS.

is there still a need to move the page file to a diffrent drive?

ive always liked having my page file on a seprate drive but i dont know enough about SSD's wether they need it or not and if its worth putting on another drive.

like the setup im wanting to do is 2x SSD's in Raid 0 for OS, Games, programs ect, then 4x 640GB western digital AALS in a single raid 0 array for hd video capture which should have decent speed and storage for longer recording times, my best guess is i should be able to get 40 hours of 720p content with jpeg compression. then ill probly have 2 more 640's or 2 green 1TB drives none raid just for normal data storage which will hold the video after ive compressed it to more managable sizes.

i have just enough room for all 8 hard drives in my antec 900 case after i remove my internal SD card reader and replace it with a USB one. and my P5Q Pro has 8 Sata ports 6 on raid controller, 2 for storage stuff (i still use an IDE dvd drive lol) so i think my only option is to keep the page file on the SSD's

i also realise the raid controller on my MB will be bottlenecked if all 6 of the drives are trying to go at the same time. but i dont think that will be much of an issue because i dont plan on doing other stuff on my pc while its capturing video so only the 4 640's should be working hard. the only time the 4 640's and the 2 SSD's will probly really be doing anything at the same time is when im gaming on my pc and using Fraps.

so im guessing i wont have any noticable perf issues with the page file on the SSD's?

if i had more room in the case id get a couple fast and small SSD's just for the page file and a cheap raid controller. but that seems like a waste of money to me. i still need to buy 2x 640's, 2 SSD's once i find the price/perf/GB ratio im happy with, and the 2 1TB storage drives.


sorry for the long post and slightly off topic post but its kinda related.

my system spec right now:

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 3.62GHz (4 CPUs)
Memory: 4094MB RAM
Hard Drive: 3 TB Total, 2x 640GB Raid 0, 2x 320GB Raid 0, 2x 36GB Raptor Raid 0, 1x 320GB internal, 2x 500GB External
Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 1GB 4870
Monitor: Sharp Aquos 46" 1080p
Sound Card: SB X-Fi Platinum
Speakers/Headphones: Onkyo 7.1 True-HD/DTS-HD MA
Motherboard: Asus P5Q Pro
Computer Case: Antec 900
HD Capture Card: BMD Intensity Pro

 

[sphinx99]

I always keep data separated from any partition with software or applications. I find it to be a good practice because it reduces the risk of inadvertently losing something when you do an OS upgrade or some such. Thus even on a single drive laptop I'll split partitions.

This works out well except for the tendency for recent Microsoft OS platforms to emphasize comingling data with the system drive through My Documents, Desktop, W7 libraries, etc.

 

[Hamakua]

I'm a firm supporter of separate disks for the following reasons:
- I can remove the storage disks and put them in another PC without having to keep the current PC down.
- In case I need to reformat, all of my critical data is on the storage disk, not the OS disk.

Definitely this.

My windows 7 RC-> RTM was a breeze, wipe OS drive, install OS & configure, re-install programs & Configure, done, and that was a clean install. No need to move or backup over 600GBs of data not at all easily replaced (projects, movies, photos, random-sht over the years) At this point I have my music library on one drive, my produced work on another, and my movies on a 3rd. This also allows me to transport "just" my work if I need to and no need to plug in gigs of music or movies at whatever place.

Keeping the OS on a seperate drive also allows you to easily reformat or re-image whenever you feel the need.

I can't think of a bad point of keeping the stuff on two seperate drives other than maybe the extra initial cost as well as the cost in the extra power consumed.

this is some what related, but i havnt done much if any research on SSD's yet and was wondering how they are with the page file on the same drive as the OS.

is there still a need to move the page file to a diffrent drive?

ive always liked having my page file on a seprate drive but i dont know enough about SSD's wether they need it or not and if its worth putting on another drive.

like the setup im wanting to do is 2x SSD's in Raid 0 for OS, Games, programs ect, then 4x 640GB western digital AALS in a single raid 0 array for hd video capture which should have decent speed and storage for longer recording times, my best guess is i should be able to get 40 hours of 720p content with jpeg compression. then ill probly have 2 more 640's or 2 green 1TB drives none raid just for normal data storage which will hold the video after ive compressed it to more managable sizes.

i have just enough room for all 8 hard drives in my antec 900 case after i remove my internal SD card reader and replace it with a USB one. and my P5Q Pro has 8 Sata ports 6 on raid controller, 2 for storage stuff (i still use an IDE dvd drive lol) so i think my only option is to keep the page file on the SSD's

i also realise the raid controller on my MB will be bottlenecked if all 6 of the drives are trying to go at the same time. but i dont think that will be much of an issue because i dont plan on doing other stuff on my pc while its capturing video so only the 4 640's should be working hard. the only time the 4 640's and the 2 SSD's will probly really be doing anything at the same time is when im gaming on my pc and using Fraps.

so im guessing i wont have any noticable perf issues with the page file on the SSD's?

if i had more room in the case id get a couple fast and small SSD's just for the page file and a cheap raid controller. but that seems like a waste of money to me. i still need to buy 2x 640's, 2 SSD's once i find the price/perf/GB ratio im happy with, and the 2 1TB storage drives.


sorry for the long post and slightly off topic post but its kinda related.

my system spec right now:

To address this main point you should read this top to bottom. The part in particular that I always point out is the data they gathered.

Should the pagefile be placed on SSDs?

Yes. Most pagefile operations are small random reads or larger sequential writes, both of which are types of operations that SSDs handle well.

In looking at telemetry data from thousands of traces and focusing on pagefile reads and writes, we find that

* Pagefile.sys reads outnumber pagefile.sys writes by about 40 to 1,
* Pagefile.sys read sizes are typically quite small, with 67% less than or equal to 4 KB, and 88% less than 16 KB.
* Pagefile.sys writes are relatively large, with 62% greater than or equal to 128 KB and 45% being exactly 1 MB in size.

In fact, given typical pagefile reference patterns and the favorable performance characteristics SSDs have on those patterns, there are few files better than the pagefile to place on an SSD.

Emphasis mine.

 

[Elledan]

This works out well except for the tendency for recent Microsoft OS platforms to emphasize comingling data with the system drive through My Documents, Desktop, W7 libraries, etc.

Agreed. I wish it was easier to have programs on D: and such. I prefer to change the temp folder and the documents/settings folder to a path away from C: as well, though the latter is tricky as some files in there are locked and can't be copied unless you know how.

Though I guess it's nice to start with a fresh user hive after a format Just sucks to have to reinstall some apps.

 

[jimhsu]

Generally I do the same, but I keep a core set of documents (things I can't afford to lose) on the OS drive (Intel X25-M). That is then version-controlled (SVN) to the media drive (WD 640GB), which is rsync-ed to an external VPS, which itself is incrementally backed up. Anything else (media, music) goes onto the media drive. Redundancy FTW.