How do I install all programs and data on #2 drive?

Hello. I am using Windows 8 as an Operating System - Not a Microsoft service - this means all it's supposed to do is run the programs I tell it to run, nothing else. I'm setting this up on a machine that has a 64 gigabyte hard drive and need to be able to install everything related to my programs to another drive or partition. I know I need to tell each installer to manually use my preferred folder on the other drive/partition BUT I also need Windows to NOT put any data inside the AppData folder - I need all appdata on my 2nd partition or drive as well, Not on the Windows partition. I'd also need to tell Windows Not to use My Documents for game save folders. I need Everything and I mean Everything on my 2nd drive/partition.

How do I do this? Thanks!

I recommend against putting everything except Windows Prime onto a 2nd hard-drive or a 2nd partition
-- you will encounter lots of headaches and some problems attempting to dual-backup full images of both partitions, a restore of both partitions better work the first time every time.
-- you will encounter problems anytime you have to do a factory restore for any reason
-- you will encounter numerous software installs that will fight you every step of the way, you will maybe win a battle, however, very likely, the war of software integration/smooth operations will be continuous and sometimes easy-fought, sometimes hard-fought.

Concerning "moving" your user accounts and/or AppData folders/files. Pretty much as above, however, instead -- you will find software packages that will "insist" on its way or Microsoft way or the GoodBye way [meaning cancelling installations].
Moving user accounts will very likely cause you problems down the road, backups/restores, and other things.

What I have done with data: I "tell" each and every data-creating, pic-creating, graph/spreadsheet-creating program or utility to Save or Save As [if such has an autosave option in its menu] to my data-partition which Windows calls D-drive.

However, it's your computer, do as you will -- I would suggest also getting the advice of others here before commencing with your plans.

Yeah.. thanks.. I get all that.. I read that somewhere already.. That doesn't negate my need for doing this.. so if you don't mind.. can you give me instructions on how to do as I ask? I know the risks and am willing to take the risks. heck.. this copy of windows will not ever be activated (I disabled activation manually - I don't mind putting up with nag screens. I use Spybot's Anti beacon to make sure Windows doesn't try to communicate with microsoft, have Updates and Defender disabled in favor of other apps for these purposes ), it will never get any Microsoft updates and i'll backup using a Macrium Reflect image in case I ever need to re-install. The partition with my data and apps installed could easily just be backed up as data, no need for an image. The only two things this system needs to do is surf the web and play games - I don't require any Microsoft's built in help to administrate, clean, update, protect my system for any reason.. that's not what I bought an operating system for. Call me paranoid if you must but since Microsoft has been caught stealing user data in the 2013 NSA Prism Scandal ( as well as all the draconian spying they do in Windows 10) I cannot abide even letting microsoft having a flag on their servers stating I activated a copy of Windows. That's too much info for these crooks to have. If I could find another OS that will play all my collection of Pc games from my original game dvd's i'd do it in New York second but sadly Linux isn't up to the task and React OS hasn't grown up yet.

Understanding all this, How do I do it? Thanks!

RolandJS said:

I recommend against putting everything except Windows Prime onto a 2nd hard-drive or a 2nd partition
-- you will encounter lots of headaches and some problems attempting to dual-backup full images of both partitions, a restore of both partitions better work the first time every time.
-- you will encounter problems anytime you have to do a factory restore for any reason
-- you will encounter numerous software installs that will fight you every step of the way, you will maybe win a battle, however, very likely, the war of software integration/smooth operations will be continuous and sometimes easy-fought, sometimes hard-fought.

Concerning "moving" your user accounts and/or AppData folders/files. Pretty much as above, however, instead -- you will find software packages that will "insist" on its way or Microsoft way or the GoodBye way [meaning cancelling installations].
Moving user accounts will very likely cause you problems down the road, backups/restores, and other things.

What I have done with data: I "tell" each and every data-creating, pic-creating, graph/spreadsheet-creating program or utility to Save or Save As [if such has an autosave option in its menu] to my data-partition which Windows calls D-drive.

However, it's your computer, do as you will -- I would suggest also getting the advice of others here before commencing with your plans.

Click to expand...

Because I have never done what you are wanting to do, I cannot advise you.
**Await the others who have done such similar things -- follow their advice. **

MS Windows has been programmed from day one, to use the C: drive for it's own install and then use it for the location for programs, etc.
That could be, because in the early PC's it was customary to have just one HD.

Trying to go against how Windows is set up by MS, really isn't worth the effort. It's doomed to failure.

Good Luck

TechnoMage said:

MS Windows has been programmed from day one, to use the C: drive for it's own install and then use it for the location for programs, etc. That could be, because in the early PC's it was customary to have just one HD. Trying to go against how Windows is set up by MS, really isn't worth the effort. It's doomed to failure. Good Luck

Click to expand...

If he bravely desire to try his ideas, your signature is what I would recommend before proceeding:
Backup! Backup! Backup!

"...I also need Windows to NOT put any data inside the AppData folder [Not on the Windows partition]
- I need all appdata on my 2nd partition or drive as well..." -- DD, revised by rjs

Moving user accounts which includes moving AppData underneath each user account is doable -- there are threads in several places that give instructions for doing so. I do not have these bookmarked, however, google searches should make these instructions available.

RolandJS said:

TechnoMage said:

MS Windows has been programmed from day one, to use the C: drive for it's own install and then use it for the location for programs, etc. That could be, because in the early PC's it was customary to have just one HD. Trying to go against how Windows is set up by MS, really isn't worth the effort. It's doomed to failure. Good Luck

Click to expand...

If he bravely desire to try his ideas, your signature is what I would recommend before proceeding:
Backup! Backup! Backup!

Click to expand...

LOL! I guess that's sort of like saying, "if you insist on shooting yourself in the foot, make sure you have plenty of bandages on hand".

I don't like setting myself up for disaster. Having a smooth running PC is all important to me. I've been doing it since I built my first PC in ~1980. Following Microsoft's lead, in how to set up a hard drive, just seems to be the most logical. So it naturally bothers my sensibilities, when someone wants to go against the flow, so to speak.

But since those people do exist, my signature line does express my desire to give the best advise,* for those who will bother to Read & Heed.
* Backup! Backup! Backup!

Thank you RolandJS

TechnoMage