Why do preinstall apps on Y510 USE DRIVE C?

[jayhawk]

While trying to burn a dual layer DVD with the Power2Go burner application, I discovered that it is set to write temp files to Drive C. (specifically the C:/Users/name/AppData/Local/Temp directory).  While trying to burn a 6 Gb mpeg file to a DVD I started getting error messages from Power2Go that there was not enough room on the hard drive to make the burn.  Turns out the C drive was almost full, will only about 1 Gb free!!!!!!

Temp files created by the Power2Go application are about the size of the image to be burned, which in the case of a dual layer DVD, could be up to 8.5 Gb. 

Why oh Why has Lenovo partioned the Y510 with the big D drive for data, and yet set up all the preloaded apps to use the miniscule C drive for data like this?

I strongly approve of the concept of Lenovo partioning scheme, but the execution is AWFUL!  Especially since this is a consumer level product where the target user would not be expected to have experience at solving these kind of problems. 

(and why doesn't Lenovo make it more obvious to end users that they should install all applications and their directories on the D drive also....?)

Has Lenovo provided any instructions on how prevent this, or at least how to move the C:\Users\ directory to the D drive? (the C:\Users\ directory properties does NOT have a location tab that allows you to remap it to the D drive.  And I suspect that even if that could be done, it might cause big problems with the install of other applications which expect to see it on the C drive in any case). 

Lenovo, we need a fix.  ASAP.

--Bob Russell

[chargersfan420]

Isn't this more of an individual programming issue?  I installed a program today that creates two different folders in the program files folder.  It turns out that one folder was saved to the D drive, and the other to the C drive, so obviously the program didn't work...

It seems to me that since this particular program uses an older program plus an overlay, the older system wasn't designed to check the root drive of the operating system before installing its files.  The newer part of the program must have been designed to do this.

[jayhawk]

Its not an individual program issue, because it is Lenovo that partioned the C drive with little free space, expecting users to put all data, programs, etc on the D drive.  But then Lenovo set up their own preloaded applications (Power2Go in this case) letting it defaut to using the C drive.  And this application alone, because it creates large (up to 8.5 Gb) files used by the dual layer DVD burner. So files from a single DVD project can fill up the C drive. 

Again, I like the concept of using the D drive for everything, but it looks like Lenovo neglected to properly configure its own preloads, which will likely result in many expensive support calls when systems start crashing from filled up C drives.

So my quesiton remains whether the C:\Users\ directory can be remapped to the D drive.  And should I do that, or will that cause problems with installing applications that expect only to find \Users\ on the C drive?

--jayhawk

[shoguevara]

It's not the option set up by Lenovo, It's default option for windows applications, so I think it is MS's  imperfection.

Message Edited by shoguevara on 04-30-2008 11:32 AM

[skripatch]

Agree with Sho.
Such partitioning is great. Believe specialists
Saying it's not usefull is like "this car is bad, because it's pedals are working unlike bycicle's! Bycicle is far greater than a car!". You just don't know how to use features.
Im really curious - isn't there an option in soft to keep temp files on drive D: ?
if not, you can change %temp% and %tmp% locations manually. Also it's usefull by closer acquaintance with your notebook and OS, finding out how it works

[jayhawk]

But Sho, it IS the option set up by LENOVO!!!  This is not just some random application I bought separately, it is the application LENOVO installed on these systems.  And Lenovo installed it so that the application uses the C drive for the huge temporary files it creates! 

Better check all the preinstalled applications Lenovo installed, including the Windows applications - since it appears that Lenovo has incorrectly allowed all the preloaded applications to default to the C drive.

I just checked Windows DVD Maker, and it too is set to use the C drive for temporary files!  Why did Lenovo not change this?

Don't you think Lenovo should have set their own preloaded applications to use the D drive, especially for those apps for the DVD burner that commonly create files larger than the free space on the C drive?????

And for that matter, why hasn't Lenovo, in any of the documentation, warned the users about the limited free space on the C drive and that should be considered when installing applications.  There is nothing in the User Guide or any of the other documentation that comes with these Ideapads.

Don't get me wrong, I LIKE the D drive setup, I've been using that for many years on my previous systems. (Partion Magic makes that easy).  But Lenovo has clearly not thought this through well and have set themselves up for a lot of customer satisfaction problems when Lenovo's preloaded apps fill up the C drive.

--Jayhawk

[mikepasta]

jayhawk,

You're right. The "D" partition is a good idea but Lenovo should've notified consumers to change program defaults to store data to the D drive. When a company installs and distributes branded software with their hardware, that software is modified to the company's specs, that is, adding company logo's, setting default installations, etc. It appears that Lenovo opted to use standard/default installations. Not sure why. Wish they hadn't. I personally deleted the D drive and extended my C to reclaim the new real estate. I opted to keep the hidden partition intact.

I wish Lenovo had made it clear about the partitioning early on, I would have kept the HDD partitioned as it was and changed the defaults to point to D.

[skripatch]

Not everyone has a need to copy deal with so large images. Yes, I understand - if I don't use it, it doesn't mean no one uses it. But. If you need to deal with this - you must tune your system. It's as hard as turn a conditioner on in your car. It's not engine replace.
It's easy and fast.
Why to complain on operation that you can perform in less than a minute...
If you need some features from system - tou just tune it up. Common practise. It's impossible to make soft that works by default great for everybody - always someone says "I'd like to have that feature realised in another way".
Your complains could be understandable if there's no way to solve this case, but here there are, ways to solve it, right at the range of your head and hands.

[jayhawk]

Skripatch, you say "Not everyone has a need to copy deal with so large images." But if that were true, why would Lenovo put in a dual layer DVD burner?  Heck, the very purpose of that device is to burn images large enough to fill the C drive's free space.  A single sporting event, with pregame, halftime, and postgame shows needs a dual layer DVD.  (my case was the NCAA Basketball Championship game, in which the winning team, the University of Kansas, had a starter from Russia, Sasha Kaun!) 

You say "you must tune your system".  Sure, for the programs I install myself.  But the question is why didn't Lenovo tune THEIR OWN PRELOADED PROGRAMS.  ie why didn't Lenovo tune their DVD burner program to avoid this very obvious problem:  the fact that a single attempt to use the dual layer burner to over 50% of its capacity fills the free space of the C drive they "tuned" the program to use.  Lenovo knew they had limited free space on their C drive.  Why didn't they at least set up their own programs to use the D drive as they intended?

But Lenovo not only failed to set up their own programs correctly, they have not even told their customers about the C and D drive partioning.  They have not told us of the need to change the defaults of new programs, all of which, as everyone knows, defaults to the C drive.  I certainly know that now, and did before I even used the preinstalled burner program. But I did not know that program was set up to use the C drive, and only found out when it did.

Do you have a Lenovo Ideapad?  Have you gone through every preinstalled program, including the Windows programs like Movie Maker and DVD Maker to change ALL the defaults to use the D drive.  If not, why not, since you state "you must tune your system"?

--Jayhawk



 


Message Edited by jayhawk on 04-30-2008 11:38 PM

[skripatch]

"They have not even told their customers about the C and D drive partioning" - what's that? Can't you see that your HDD is parted? "Ford didn't tell us that it has an airbag..." It's wide known fact and a man with eyes can see that.

"They have not told us of the need to change the defaults of new programs, all of which, as everyone knows, defaults to the C drive.  I certainly know that now, and did before I even used the preinstalled burner program. But I did not know that program was set up to use the C drive, and only found out when it did." - good for you to know that. Certainly it's one of most common things to know - many programs use temp files, Windows has special directory in it for these, you can assign another path for that. Nothing difficult. Well-known. All progs I know refer to %tmp% and %temp% for temp files. Why lenovo must be an exception?

"But if that were true, why would Lenovo put in a dual layer DVD burner?" - because it gives an opportunity to use that if you want. if you've got a car that doesn't mean you must use it's full speed, right? You just have an ability to use that if you need.

"But the question is why didn't Lenovo tune THEIR OWN PRELOADED PROGRAMS." - why? They tuned, didn't they? It's your case that you need more space for some deal.

"1)ie why didn't Lenovo tune their DVD burner program to avoid this very obvious problem:  the fact that a single attempt to use the dual layer burner to over 50% of its capacity fills the free space of the C drive they "tuned" the program to use.  Lenovo knew they had limited free space on their C drive.  Why didn't they at least set up their own programs to use the D drive as they intended?
2)Have you gone through every preinstalled program, including the Windows programs like Movie Maker and DVD Maker to change ALL the defaults to use the D drive."
Here's a tip for you - temp folders are done just for that purpose. So you can specify any location for your temp directories if you need more space. No need to tune every prog's temp folder - it can be changed for all of them by single action. Convinient indeed.

Now let's imagine. lenovo places temp folder on drive D.
1)What if man used to have C for system, E for DATA and D drive to happen an optical drive since win-95 and he uses only that scheme? Should he blame Lenovo that temp folder isn't on drive E?
2)Person deleted D drive and made one partition and now his progs do not work because tmp folder is on D and D is now DVD-drive.
3)Person has to work with uncompress video somehow and 200 free gb on D isn't enough. Must he blame again Lenovo for little amount of space on D drive? Really there's no difference between your case and this one - it's just amount of space you need. So get it by any way you like and enjoy.

These shows that to follow everyone's wishes is impossible. That's why you must tune the system for your need.
Again like cars - don't blame Ford for uncomfortable seats position. Ford gave you an option to change it's position so it fits you well and mr.God gave you eyes to see that, brains to understand that and hands to make that! no impossible mind or hands force is needed to perform both seat fit and changing temp folder location. But what you do? You say "Ford didn't make proper seats for me".

"If not, why not, since you state "you must tune your system"?"
Oh, I do. Believe me - I do. I assembly all my computers (except notebooks) by my own hands, tune them, tune/tweak distributeves of OS to install, than tune OS itself and search for solutions on how to make it more pleasant for me. That's why i have answers on many questions here.

Don't make fly from an elefant.

P.S.How to change your temporary files location in Vista & XP:
1.Click Start, click Run  (or press Win+R).
2.type sysdm.cpl and press Enter.
3.Click on Advanced tab, then on Enviroment Variables.
3.Double-click on user variable TEMP and change it's path to whatever you like.
4.Do the same on user variable TMP and system variables TEMP and TMP.
5.Click OK and enjoy.