Ask HN: How do you organize your files and folders on your computer?

I like having three top level directories: archive, current, and scratch. I'd work the model you've presented into 'current', and move occasional snapshots into archive (usually by year, sometimes quarterly). Seems to be working well for me.

HD split into OS/Apps/Frameworks/Installations and My files.

myfiles/stuff/* where * is folder name a generalized name for its content's context. EG: 'university" contains everything i've done in school. "books" are all the books i have. "grad" is stuff relating to grad school. "songs" is...well, im sure you get the point. ps: 'songs' is also my iTunes default folder

myfiles/dev/* - * means project name. work/freelance/whatever - all go in here.

myfiles/myname/* - uber personal stuff

This is the final stage of evolution of how i structure my laptop. I actually quite like it now.

C Drive for OS and program installs. D Drive for Music, Pictures and all general life files except those on F drive for films, ISOs and other large media files.

The goal for the future will be that C drive could be formatted for OS reinstalls with minimal data loss, beyond the backup of user profile folders to another drive.

Beyond that, files are organised for ease of backup: 'Pictures' for images, 'Music', 'Written work' etc.

Ease of navigation is achieved through the copious use of shortcuts.

If it's a shared computer then I'd have a root folder for each family member and specifics go underneath those root folders. On my personal computer I have folders for each major activity like work, side-projects etc. and files are grouped under these folders.