How Should I Appraoch This?

[Magicb6076]

I am going to do a disk format on my desktop PC probably around June to cleanse it of clutter and unused applications. When I put everything back on after the format, I am only going to include my top used programs. Unfortunately, in the nature of my business, I am constantly going through several different kinds of software, and I may put something on and only use it once or twice a year...which in turn, takes up space on the HDD. I would rather not put it on at all!!! I have a external HDD that uses a Firewire cable to transmit the data. Is there anyway I can install these applications that I hardly use to the external HDD and then connect to that HDD when I want to use them on my main computer? Would this be a slow way of using the programs even though I am using a Firewire cable? What is the best way of approaching this problem?
Thanks everyone!!

[xf1fty1ne]

you could simply just put the .exe files on the hard drive and install them when you need them.

Or you could set up a partition and put your software you dont really use on that partition.

They're a # of ways to go about this. I would just backup the exe files and install them when needed. (cause u said they weren't that important)

[glc]

With a 250gb hard drive, I wouldn't let that bother you - just install them. I have a bunch of stuff on here that I never or seldom use - on a 40gb hard drive and it's only half full.

[Magicb6076]

Originally Posted by glc With a 250gb hard drive, I wouldn't let that bother you - just install them. I have a bunch of stuff on here that I never or seldom use - on a 40gb hard drive and it's only half full.

I don't know it justs seems that the more of these programs I have (which include 1.0 GIG or greater programs: Autodesk Architectural Desktop, AutoCAD, 3D Studio Max etc.) the slower the computer runs?? Does that make any sense...Msconfig has been cleared and barely running any other background tasks. What do you think?

[glc]

How often do you do a disk cleanup and defrag the hard drive?

[Magicb6076]

Originally Posted by glc How often do you do a disk cleanup and defrag the hard drive?

I've been weary of doing a disk defrag because of the rumors that it can be bad for your HDD??? In all reality..about 2 times a year I guess. What do ya think?

[glc]

I think you should do both weekly.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Magicb6076 I've been weary of doing a disk defrag because of the rumors that it can be bad for your HDD???

And that's all they are...rumors...unfounded ones at that. You really should defrag on a regular basis. I defrag all my computers at least once a week. The 40GB HDD in my PIII 800MHz computer is at least 4 years old and it's still working fine after weekly disk cleanups and defrags.

Cricket

[Panama Red]

Another vote for weekly defragging. When I service someone else's machine, I add a folder on the desktop called "Weekly Maintenace". Inside are 4 short cuts and a Word doc. The doc is a tutorial on how to run the 4 shortcuts, Disk Cleanup, Adaware SE, Spybot-Search and Destroy, and Disk Defragmenter. Run them in that sequence weekly and 99% of their problems are cured.