# USB Hard drive without changing install directory

**URL:** https://dietpi.com/forum/t/usb-hard-drive-without-changing-install-directory/207
**Category:** Requests
**Created:** [6 December 2015 18:47 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/usb-hard-drive-without-changing-install-directory/207 "2015-12-06T18:47:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![deadtechnology](https://dietpi.com/forum/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/ac8455/32.png) [@deadtechnology](https://dietpi.com/forum/u/deadtechnology)
#### Post date: [6 December 2015 18:47 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/usb-hard-drive-without-changing-install-directory/207/1 "2015-12-06T18:47:11Z")

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I love the automated hard drive optimization but since I am using the hard drive for automated downloads and as an nas, I would like to keep as much as possible on the SD card. Would it be possible to enable this in the installation process?

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### Author: ![Fourdee](https://dietpi.com/forum/user_avatar/dietpi.com/fourdee/32/11_2.png) [@Fourdee](https://dietpi.com/forum/u/Fourdee)
#### Post date: [6 December 2015 20:16 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/usb-hard-drive-without-changing-install-directory/207/2 "2015-12-06T20:16:03Z")

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> [@deadtechnology](#):
>
> I love the automated hard drive optimization but since I am using the hard drive for automated downloads and as an nas, I would like to keep as much as possible on the SD card.

This is already the case.  
If you have setup a dedicated USB drive, all personal will be stored on it. The programs are still run from your SD card.

**Examples of Personal Data that gets sent to USB drive:**

- Owncloud data storage
- AMpache Music
- BitTorrent Downloads
- Fileservers (samba + proftp)
- etc etc

**If you want to see whats on your drive and its usage:**

```plaintext
cd /mnt/usb_1
treesize

```

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### Author: ![deadtechnology](https://dietpi.com/forum/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/ac8455/32.png) [@deadtechnology](https://dietpi.com/forum/u/deadtechnology)
#### Post date: [6 December 2015 21:25 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/usb-hard-drive-without-changing-install-directory/207/3 "2015-12-06T21:25:03Z")

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That makes total sense. “DietPi will automatically setup all future software installations to utilize the USB Drive rather than the SD card.” was confusing me in the setup guide. That would explain why combing over the source code I couldn’t find any change of install directory.