Interesting issue

Hello all.

I am having an interesting issue with 2 IDENTICAL computers that have Windows 7 installed .. and was hoping you could help me out

Both computers have the SAME IDENTCIAL specs they are Dell Studio 1569(laptop) computers.
THe drives are partioned (per Dell C: for the OS, and D: for what SHOULD be the "other files", photos vids ect)

It seems like ALL FILES (programs, photos, videos etc) are being saved in the C: drive ,,, and there is NOTHING in the D: drive.

One computer HAS been reformatted (i.e. taken back to factory state via the built in restore and format ) (not by me) the other is still as it was when bought from the store.

How can i get the programs/files(mostly the files).. to make sure they 'Default" to be saved to the "D:" partition rather than the "C:" partiton

As it is now the C: partiton is filling up and NOTHING is going to the D: partition on both computers..mind you I am aware of the fact of just changing the file path to save the files ... but this is for freinds of mine that arent so "computer savy" and may forget or not exactly know HOW to do that ..

Any extra help to be able to set file paths automatically or what ever woudl be of great help..

Thanks in advance.
LoneWolf

Edited to add .. both systems have been scanned with Hijack this .. as well as a "cleaning up and out " with CCleaner.. nothing maliicous ( that I was able to determine) was found. Both systems are FULLY updated as far as windows updates other than possibly some optional updates(drivers). One System seems REALLY slow doing facebook games (i dont rightly remeber the games off the top of my head) while the other is fast.... one ( thew one with the issue) is wireless the other im GUESSING is wired .. im not 100% sure due to the fact that i was on telephone with the other person that has the same computer ( family member they both bought the systems at the same time form the same place) .

Generally speaking with retail PC's, the C: drive is the main drive for the OS and data. The D: drive is where the OS is stored for resetting it to factory defaults. If you click start orb, click my computer you should see the size of each drive. the D: drive should be about 10 Gb or some where there abouts.

Bassfisher~

The in lies the problem ..

EVERYTHING is being saved to the c driveOS(partiton) ..

Both of these systems have APPROXXIMATELY 300 gb of free Hard drive space on the d drive/partiton with nothing on it .. (which would give APPROXIMATELY 450-500 or so gb of full hard drive space).

I have never run nto this situation so its all "newbie" area to me ...

I would think it would "default" some how .. or some way to put files in the D drive(partiton) and not the C(OS) drive(partition)

"How can i get the programs/files(mostly the files).. to make sure they 'Default" to be saved to the "D:" partition rather than the "C:" partiton"

The only way to do that, if I understand your query, is to reinstall and select customised installs in each case, and select the D: partition/drive as the installation option. If it is not your intention to want to move the programs, then reinstall is, of course, not needed.

As it is now the C: partiton is filling up and NOTHING is going to the D: partition on both computers..mind you I am aware of the fact of just changing the file path to save the files ... but this is for friends of mine that arent so "computer savy" and may forget or not exactly know HOW to do that .. "

Well, you have supplied the answer. In most programs, there is an option for the default "save", or "save as". I can only suggest a simply written explanation to your friends would suffice.?

If all your data is under libraries, you can move those libraries and I believe it will accomplish what you seek.

On your D: drive I would create a Directory D:\LoneWolfMage

Then in windows Explorer go to C:\Users\LoneWolfMage
Find subfolder Documents and right-click, location tab and change it to D:\LoneWolfMage\Documents
Find subfolder Downloads and right-click, location tab and change it to D:\LoneWolfMage\Downloads
Find subfolder My Music and right-click, location tab and change it to D:\LoneWolfMage\Music
Find subfolder My Pictures and right-click, location tab and change it to D:\LoneWolfMage\Pictures
Find subfolder My Videos and right-click, location tab and change it to D:\LoneWolfMage\Videos

Are you sure it is two independent drives and not one single drive that has been partitioned? I've come across a setup like this and it was a single drive with two partitions. And like you describe the user had filled up the first partition while the second remained empty.

If it is a partitioned drive then the second partition can be removed allowing the first partition to be expanded to full capacity of the drive. Looking in disk management will indicate if it is one drive or two.

I believe he does say they are partitioned in his first post

Can you post a screen shot of your disk managment window?

Understand whenever you install ANYTHING, you should select the "Custom" install option. From there, you MUST select, manually, the location where the program will be installed.

If you do not manually do this EVERY time, Windows, by default, will install it on the boot drive.

It sounds to me like it is working exactly how it is set up.

Correct - as I said!



Agreed. Nothing wrong. You are just accepting the normal program inatallation and OS defaults at this stage.