Thread: Excellent Practices for PC Function and Security

In the course of my function as a sales consultant here, I am frequently asked how I recommend adjusting a computer. Later all, furnishing suggestion similar to that on hardware configurations is my job! However, there are few deeper inner into how a PC can be set up which go beyond only choosing the right hardware. There are things I do not frequently have the chance to discuss, and which are not really within the purview of a system builder. I needed to assume few time to write about the ideas and practices I utilize in my own PC setups, in the hope that few of this suggest will assist others to acquire the most out of their PCs.




I primarily want to share setup insights not directly related to the hardware in any given system, but in order to facilitate that advice there are a couple of basic principles of computer design I would like to encourage. I strongly recommend having two hard drives: a smaller, fast one for Windows and applications, and a larger one for data storage. Some folks might need even more data drives (which is fine), but the important part is to separate your data from your OS installation and programs. There are several advantages to this approach, including


Personally, as of writing this document, I use a 80GB Intel SSD for my main drive with a 500GB data drive. I also use an external 1TB disk for backups.


If you want to make it easy to save data to your secondary drive without having to manually change where every file is saved, consider migrating your Documents folder to the drive. You can do this by opening the User folder (top-right option in Windows 7's start menu). In the window that opens, right-click on each of the folders listed there - My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, etc - and go to Properties. Select the Location tab and then click on Move to relocate the folder to your preferred drive.