mSATA FAQ: A Basic Primer

[yrc]

I have all of my documents, temp files, browser caches, etc. on my mechanical hard drive to reduce writes to the SSD. Even so, loading documents is faster, as is browsing, since the application files are on the SSD.

The FAQ is excellent...so once more, a big thank you. Any chance we could persuade you to provide some instructions or links to external sites on how to best isolate documents, temp file, etc. to mechanical drives? I am sure that this would be helpful to many users like me who would like a 310 ssd drive on their system but are not expert users of Win 7.

[david1274]

Just to throw my 2 cents in, I also have an x220 with an aftermarket 80gb intel 310 SSD as the boot drive. The SSD makes the system feel much more responsive. A 2.5" SSD would be faster, but then you'd lose out on the cheap storage from the conventional HD. It all comes down to your budget and storage needs.

I posted my experiences here.

Would like to add an mSATA drive to my existing HDD but am not confident enough to install the former and don't anyone who can help.

For those of you without experience taking apart electronics, I'd watch the service video before purchasing the mSATA SSD. Lenovo has clearly gone to great lengths to make the x220 user serviceable. That being said, the install involves removing, and more importantly replacing the keyboard and palmrest. If this sounds like too much, either get a friend to help or consider a 7mm SSD in the main bay (a considerably easier install).

[becme]

I've been wondering about ways to make the machine as bullet-proof as possible in case of any drive or system problems. Would there be any likely concerns with setting the mSATA up as the boot drive, but leaving the factory install on the HDD?

[LoneWolf15]

I've been wondering about ways to make the machine as bullet-proof as possible in case of any drive or system problems. Would there be any likely concerns with setting the mSATA up as the boot drive, but leaving the factory install on the HDD?

Honestly, the best method for bullet-proofing a system is a good backup. Better to have an external drive, either USB or eSATA. Windows 7 has much improved backup software from previous versions of Windows; it is possible to do a complete bare-metal backup, or you can select which files and folders you want done individually.

Yrc, I'll look into an optimization guide. Right now, your best option is to look at guides like the following:

The SSD Optimization Guide | The SSD Review

TweakTown’s Solid State Drive Optimization Guide :: TweakTown USA Edition

I don't guarantee they'll show how to move your folders --but I'll look into posting a guide when I have a chance, if people want it.
NOTE: Some of the options in the above guides are for advanced users only.
If you are warned in the guides that a setting is controversial or may be tricky, don't do it unless you're sure you know what you are doing.

Finally, to David --If you watch Lenovo's videos first, you should do just fine. Also, use the Hardware Maintenance Manual for your model of ThinkPad, which is fully illustrated (the links to the manuals are in the first post of the thread). Go slowly, and I think you'll be good.

[david1274]

Thanks for the info- May attempt it in a few months .

[spam123]

Hey LoneWolf, thanks for the link to TweakTown, good info!

[ranranran]

The FAQ is excellent...so once more, a big thank you. Any chance we could persuade you to provide some instructions or links to external sites on how to best isolate documents, temp file, etc. to mechanical drives? I am sure that this would be helpful to many users like me who would like a 310 ssd drive on their system but are not expert users of Win 7.

There is so much info available on the 'net - you can move your "my documents" "my pictures", "my music" folders, Desktop folder, pretty much any of them via the properties window. in your browser, you can specify where to store the cache files (e.g. IE will store them on your SSD unless you tell it otherwise). Also, you can move your swap file to your mechanical drive as well if you're concerned about writes to the SSD (under "my computer" --> properties.... etc.. Finally, for most non essential progs, you can specify the install directory to the HD instead of the SSD.

I have Win7, Office, and my MMORPG's on the SSD. Everything else is on the mechanical hard drive. Works very nicely...

[becme]

Honestly, the best method for bullet-proofing a system is a good backup. Better to have an external drive, either USB or eSATA. Windows 7 has much improved backup software from previous versions of Windows; it is possible to do a complete bare-metal backup, or you can select which files and folders you want done individually.

I didn't mean instead of a good backup, I meant in addition to. It would be very helpful in case of problems to be able to switch to a different drive and be up and running instantly - also to trouble-shoot the initial problem. Also, I essentially live on the road, staying in different places for various periods, so I can't rely on a home setup. But yes, I do always have a backup drive in my suitcase (weekly) and a backup usb in my pocket (daily) ....

So, would there be any likely problems leaving the factory install on the HDD?

[LoneWolf15]

So, would there be any likely problems leaving the factory install on the HDD?

I don't think so, other than that it probably wouldn't make a very good data drive at that point, unless you shrink the partition on the drive, and create a second partition with the free space to hold the data.

Maybe your best bet is to keep it packed with you, but have another drive installed in the system. Only swap the drive in if you need it; that way it's clean.

[yrc]

[QUOTE=LoneWolf15;7468840]

There is so much info available on the 'net - you can move your "my documents" "my pictures", "my music" folders, Desktop folder, pretty much any of them via the properties window. in your browser, you can specify where to store the cache files (e.g. IE will store them on your SSD unless you tell it otherwise). Also, you can move your swap file to your mechanical drive as well if you're concerned about writes to the SSD (under "my computer" --> properties.... etc.. Finally, for most non essential progs, you can specify the install directory to the HD instead of the SSD.

I have Win7, Office, and my MMORPG's on the SSD. Everything else is on the mechanical hard drive. Works very nicely...

Lonewolf, thanks for the links to the optimization guides, I will take a look at them while waiting for my mSata to show up (hopefully around June 1).....Ranranran, thanks for your information too. However, I was looking for a more "elegant" solution along the lines of Ubuntu. Meaning, I would like to isolate all user files to a different drive/partition by default. Your suggestions do work, but one would have to go into each user profile and individually change the settings for each profile. What I would prefer is for user files to end up on D:\Users\abcd, etc. instead of C:\Users\abcd by default. One such solution that is floating around on the net is this one: Move the Users Directory in Windows 7. I would be curious to find out if anyone has tried this solution and whether it is a stable alternative?