How does Windows handle additional HDDs when the primary drive is full?

Question

I am using Windows 10, and my C drive is almost full. I plan to install a second internal HDD, C1. How will Windows know to use this new drive for additional storage? Will it automatically manage overflow, or will I need to configure something to use the second drive?

Answer 1

Windows will not automatically use a new hard drive when you install it on your PC, you need to perform these steps to get Windows to start using that drive, including moving data to that drive if necessary, because if your C drive is full that will result in a slowdown in Windows.

1.

Move all your User Library folders to D:

Open Windows File Explorer

In the right hand pane, right click your Documents folder and choose Properties

Select the Location tab

In the Location box, type D:\Documents then click Apply and OK.

Wait for the move to complete, when that move completes, do the same for Pictures, Videos, Downloads and Music.

Please Note, you must specify a folder location like D:\Documents, not just the drive like D:\

Each time, provide a new folder location, for example, Pictures will go to D:\Pictures

2.

Move the location of all future content downloaded from the Microsoft Store

Open the Settings App (gear icon on your Start Menu)

Go to System - Storage - Change where new content is saved:

Change all options you find there to D

Also, for any Apps or games that you may have downloaded, go to Settings - Apps, then select that game or App and there may be a Move option . .

3.

If you are a Steam Gamer

Stop all processes associated with Steam

Move the Steam folder to your D drive manually

Then open the Steam Control Panel and point that to the new location

4.

Please Note: this should ideally be done before you begin installing any software

For 3rd party applications, some will allow you to choose an installation location, for those, create a new Program files folder on your D drive, then for each application, create a new sub-folder of that folder

Other 3rd party applications will not allow you to change the installation location, and there is no safe way to move those to your D drive.