Installing VideoStudio Ultimate 2021 NOT on C drive & related questions

[CliveHello]

Hello
I just purchased VideoStudio Ultimate 2021 & because my C Drive (SSD) is small I chose to install it onto a larger SSD drive (E) (it gave me that option during install process). It created several folders on another Hard disc drive (D), eg 'working folders', 'VSPTemplate' and so on. I don't know why it did that (my only guess is that for some reason it seems to be a 'default' 'documents' folder). I also installed two extra things VS_Templates & Overlays pack. I don't know where the overlays pack was installed to. I hope that explains it correctly.

Finally onto my question (1) Can I change the location of those items to my E bigger SSD drive (working folders, VS Templates, Overlays pack (wherever that it) and the proxy files) and would it be safe to do so?

As you can see I'd ideally want them all in folders on the SSD drive to keep them all on the one drive and secondly, are there any other parts of the program that installs folders elsewhere that i could change?

NB I used the Corel chat and was told "Presently, the installation process of the VideoStudio 2020 will detect the bit- version of the installed Windows operating system to download the appropriate VideoStudio 2020 version for the installed operating system and will only allow the program to install in the C: Drive as the default install location...." And if i installed it elsewhere it would cause crashing - but the installation allows for that! I am reluctant to reinstall it on the C drive as its small-ish.

Thank you and apologies for this long probably badly explained set of questions.

[lata]

Clive
Welcome to the forums

Generally we are in control of where our files are stored on the pc.
I use the C:Drive for program installations, all my personal files are on another drive/s

Video Studio allows us to choose some folder locations
1 / Working folders can be chosen from (F6) Preferences – General Tab

2 / By far the most greedy is Smart Proxy
Again from (F6) Preferences – Performance tab we can choose a Proxy Folder.

3 / 'VSPTemplate' folder has to be located within the documents folder structure, however is reasonably small in size ( Mb)
Some templates are automatically installed there, but others give an option to choose a save location when creating the template.

4 / Overlay pack – I do not have that so not sure where its installed, I suspect the 'VSPTemplate' folder, even so will be relatively small in MB size.

5 / Installing the program there is an option for the Contents Folder, did you also install away from the C:Drive, that is 3 Gb+

The largest files by far are going to be your own video files.

6 / From Share we can choose a save location, again keeping clear of the C:Drive

NB
You now mention 2020, is that a typo for 2021?

Yes we can choose an installation location and as far as I know with no issues

[CliveHello]

Hello Trevor. Thank you very much for your reply. Really helpful. In answer to your questions, yes well spotted 2020 was a typo, and from 5/ I installed the main program to my larger SSD drive E. Not the C drive with the operating system. As I said, the Corel chat person told me that you have to install it onto the C: drive and if you didn't you may have crashes etc. But I accept what you say that you can download it to another drive. I have actually uninstalled it in a panic really. But if you think it in fact is best to install it on the C: drive i shall take that onboard. Then as you suggest, change location of proxy folder etc
The other problem was that the extra 'packs' of overlays, proDAD and NewBlueFX automatically downloaded onto the C: drive (I had no choice) and (being new to this program) I can't see how the program would link to them
As I say, I have uninstalled it and removed all files for now. This has fed into my concern about having a small C: SSD drive of 225GB with programs filling it up and potentially reinstalling windows onto the bigger new SSD drive of 2TB, so things like this program (and its 'packs' are on that single drive - so its all 'consistent'. Sorry, I have veered into a general concern but it's been brought on by what's happened with this program. But I'd be very keen on your thoughts

[Davidk]

Hi Clive,
The ultimate version of CVS has licensed plug-in items - filters et al - and they auto install to C as part of the overall program install, even tho you have chosen a custom install CVS to another (larger) drive. Nothing you can do about that, and the program automatically links them to the VS workspace.
As Trevor indicated, as part of the custom install, you should install your shared content files (standard content 2 in the installer??) also to that alternative larger drive. If you didn't then it's on the default C drive and re-locating it as part of a re-install presents a possible/probable issue with a re-install - CVS puts that shared content folder location into the registry and remembers where it is for the next install (which could be a subsequent version) and won't let you change it in the installer. There is a method, but it impacts every CVS version that has a shared content folder so it's bloody tricky to change. If 2021 is the only version of CVS you have then un-installing it may remove the shared content folder and the registry entry - unsure about that.

With respect to the limited space on the C drive, you may find a less stressful space management solution is replacing it with a larger SSD unit, say 512Gb or even 1Tb. I've done this twice, once on a laptop and once on my desktop, in both cases replacing HDD with larger SSD units. This could be done by your local PC tech, but if you are happy with computer hardware, then this is how you do it:
- find a suitable large SSD unit with the same interface plug/socket as the one that's installed. There are several interfaces used now: SATA probably still good for desktops, but there others for laptops which minimise the volume of the connection.
- put your backup/recovery program onto a bootable media - DVD or usb - and test that the PC will boot from that media and the recovery program can be started.
- backup your existing C drive and store it somewhere a new boot can find it - not on the C drive.
- shut down the PC and replace the existing SSD with new one. This is probably the trickiest part - means opening the PC casing, find the drive, disconnect it and insert/connect the new unit, and then close the casing up.
- boot the PC using the bootable media and start a recovery sequence: recover the C drive using the backup file you made of the removed drive.
- when the recovery is complete, shut the PC down, remove the bootable media and then re-start.

[asik1]

When the last time you did a disk cleanup?
When the last time you simply look/check why C is clogged ?
My C is just 60GB

Tip#1 do a C size scan for files above 5MB
Tip#2 use the free Treesize app

[CliveHello]

Hi David. Thank you so much for the effort and thought you put in you're advice. And also thank you asik.