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    Dual Hard Drive Setup (Page File/Programs)

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by mxl180, May 13, 2009.

  1. mxl180

    mxl180 Notebook Consultant

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    I'm adding another HD to my laptop.

    Here's what i'm thinking..

    HD1 (7200 RPM) = Windows OS & Program Installs
    HD2 (5400 RPM)= Virtual Memory & Downloading (torrents)

    sounds good?

    Hmmm I wonder where I should install firefox. Thats where I get most of my LAG with tons of tabs opened and Flash playing.
     
    mxl180, May 13, 2009
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  2. Evaders99

    Evaders99 Notebook Consultant

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    What do you mean by virtual memory on the 2nd drive? The page file?
    Given that Windows tries to optimize hard drive access to put files together and the page file is needed frequently for memory access, I wouldn't put anything on the 2nd drive other than data. Keep the faster 7200 RPM for Windows OS stuff.

    Firefox is getting to be more of a memory hog, depending on the addons and such you have running. You may want to try Chrome, it seems quite speedy
     
    Evaders99, May 13, 2009
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  3. mxl180

    mxl180 Notebook Consultant

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    I just ran into this Microsoft article... says to put Page File on 2nd Hard Drive.

    http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/tulloch_partition.mspx

    " A well-known method for improving performance on a Windows-based computer is to move the paging file (pagefile.sys) from its usual location on drive C to its own separate partition on a separate physical drive.
    "

     
    mxl180, May 13, 2009
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  4. jackluo923

    jackluo923 Notebook Virtuoso

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    I suggest you put page file on both hdd. The computer will automatically use the hdd that's the least busiest. E.g. when you're accessing data from OS drive, it'll store the Page file in D drive, if you're accessing data from D drive, it'll storage the page file on C drive.
     
    jackluo923, May 13, 2009
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  5. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

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    I have my pagefile on a second harddrive. With most of my usage, I see very little performance increases though. It still is an increase.
     
    surfasb, May 15, 2009
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  6. McGrady

    McGrady Notebook Virtuoso

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    I have the page file on a different hard disk. Since I have 4 gb of ram, I put only 1000 mb custom size for the C drive and System Managed Size on the other drive (Z). Don't really notice increase in performance, maybe I don't have it set it up to the best it could be.
     
    McGrady, May 18, 2009
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