2nd hard drive

[Daveroo]

im thinking of installing a second HD,if i go with an SSD,what size should i get?..(P3D onlywill be on it) and if i go with a 1tb "normal" drive,casn i copy and paste my p3d install over?..or will i have to reinstall everything?

[roger-wilco-66]

Dave,

that entirely depends on how much you want to spend. I think for the sim you should get at least a 256 GB SSD.
If money is an issue you can buy a SSHD, which is a hybrid technology and offers considerable faster loading times for the sim ( I use that because I need a 2 TB drive for the sim and dev environment). SSHDs cost about the same as conventional drives, at least here.


HTH
Mark

[Daveroo]

thanks mark

[Dimus]

Agree with Mark on the size. I have a 512 GB SSD for FSX and P3D only. Currently 68 are free but both sims are relatively ''full'' with ORBX stuff and many addons.

As for moving your install, yes you can copy it over but you have to create a symbolic link. I have done this in the past and it worked great. Here is the ''how to'' (taken from a MS help thread and adapted) here http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...14aa727?auth=1:

Step1: Copy all contents from the installation directory to the new drive, I would suggest if e.g. the new drive is F: "F:\Prepar3dv2"
Step2: Rename the original "C:\...\Prepar3dv2" to something like Prepar3dv2__
Step3: From an elevated command prompt, pointing to the original C:\...\Prepar3dv2 folder create a symbolic link to the copied one (If the new drive is F) type:
mklink /D : "Prepar3dv2""F:\Prepar3dv2"

More on symbolic links here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/278262-mklink-create-use-links-windows.html

and how to start an elevated command prompt here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...nd-prompt.html

I know it sounds a bit complex but if done right it works and saves you the hassle of reinstall.

[Daveroo]

Agree with Mark on the size. I have a 512 GB SSD for FSX and P3D only. Currently 68 are free but both sims are relatively ''full'' with ORBX stuff and many addons.

As for moving your install, yes you can copy it over but you have to create a symbolic link. I have done this in the past and it worked great. Here is the ''how to'' (taken from a MS help thread and adapted) here http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...14aa727?auth=1:

Step1: Copy all contents from the installation directory to the new drive, I would suggest if e.g. the new drive is F: "F:\Prepar3dv2"
Step2: Rename the original "C:\...\Prepar3dv2" to something like Prepar3dv2__
Step3: From an elevated command prompt, pointing to the original C:\...\Prepar3dv2 folder create a symbolic link to the copied one (If the new drive is F) type:
mklink /D : "Prepar3dv2""F:\Prepar3dv2"

More on symbolic links here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/278262-mklink-create-use-links-windows.html

and how to start an elevated command prompt here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...nd-prompt.html

I know it sounds a bit complex but if done right it works and saves you the hassle of reinstall.

OMG......well ill take this all in and try to learn it all..then buy the ssd or sshd and try.thanks

[Naismith]

Again, I agree with the above, I have a 2Gb Seagate Hybrid for FSX solely and am satisfied with its performance after nearly 1 year. Having said that I am assuredly in for a catastrophe - watch this space.

[roger-wilco-66]

Again, I agree with the above, I have a 2Gb Seagate Hybrid for FSX solely and am satisfied with its performance after nearly 1 year. Having said that I am assuredly in for a catastrophe - watch this space.

Hehe, are we a wee bit superstituous ?? With that remark I'm probably in, too :-)

The SSHD principle works very well with the simulator. Most content in the Sim is only read during run time, but then hundreds or thousands of small files. Once the drive has cached the objects often used, startup and loading goes like a breeze. Also works well as system drive, I threw one in my notebook and boy, what a difference that was.


Cheers,
Mark

[donnybalonny]

I´ll start with the last question:
If you plan to get a SSD, I would completely reinstall everything. Get a SSD that is big enough for windows and P3D. (250 - 512gb)

I have a 250gb SSD for win7-64 and P3D. I have my orbx and some addon stuff on the first partition of a Standard SATA3 HDD. Second partition is backup and stuff.
I Have FSX SE on a Separate SATA3 HDD. P3D loads a bit faster, but not a lot

There are hundreds of ways of doing things and you´ll get a hundred opinions as well (as usual) IMHO, the most important thing to have on the SSD is Windows. The rest is good to have on an SSD, but far less important.

[Daveroo]

ok,well i have 8.1 with the win 10 update...how would i move this to the new drive,without all my stuff thats there now?


maybe i should just forget this idea ...i have no clue.

[jmig]

ok,well i have 8.1 with the win 10 update...how would i move this to the new drive,without all my stuff thats there now?


maybe i should just forget this idea ...i have no clue.

SSDs come with a pprogram that allows you to clone your old drive onto the new one. I have done this several times without any problems.

[RockStarofRust]

Hey Dave!

Like John said above SSD's come with cloning software, Acronis seems to work very well!

This link http://www.todo-backup.com/backup-re...-10-to-ssd.htm

will kind of give you an idea what is involved in migrating HDD to SSD. I too agree you may want to put your operating system on an SSD!

Also to save some coin, you may want to check out a hybrid drive for your dedicated P3D install , also mentioned above. You may want/have to clean install P3D to the new hybrid drive for the best results! P3D v3 seems to be in the wind, so you may want clean install that version if and when it's available!

My rig for example;

512 gb Crucial SSD ($150 on sale) for Windows 10

1 TB Seagate SSHD ($65) dedicated to P3D

An older 1 TB Western Digital (Free customer throw away) for pictures, music etc.

Confused? Hope not!

Your friend in the valley!








































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