Move Users Folder Location in Windows 10  


  1. Posts : 2
    7
       #260

    Hi Kari, thanks a lot for that tutorial.

    I'm about to clean install windows 10 on my personal computer running windows 7. I wanted to install the OS on a 120GB SSD and the "users folder" on a 2TB HDD.

    So i downloaded Macrium, and prepared a boot disk. But which WIN PE should i download for the rescue Media ? the one corresponding to windows 10 or the windows 7 one ?

    I guess it's the more recent (i.e. windows 10) but i wanted to be sure

    Thx again !
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #261

    WinPE 5.0 is the right choice for you.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2
    7
       #262

    Okay, thanks :) i already created a winPE 10 boot disk, but nevermind i'll start again
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 6
    Win 10 Home
       #263

    Has anyone tried an in-place upgrade with the moved users folder? My WU is completely messed beyond all reason, just wanted to know before I blow it all up
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 5,478
    2004
       #264

    SpiralZero said:
    Has anyone tried an in-place upgrade with the moved users folder?
    Many times - it works fine.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #265

    dinankou said:
    Okay, thanks :) i already created a winPE 10 boot disk, but nevermind i'll start again
    That's OK, too. Let me refrase my previous reply: WinPE 5.0 or later.

    SpiralZero said:
    Has anyone tried an in-place upgrade with the moved users folder? My WU is completely messed beyond all reason, just wanted to know before I blow it all up
    As Halasz already told you, it works.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 3
    windows 8.1
       #266

    Kari said:
    Hi Steel, welcome to the Ten Forums.


    This is a valid and working method but I do recommended it only when upgrading from Windows 7 if the ProgramData folder is also relocated. As you know, relocating ProgramData is possible and works flawless in Windows 7 meaning quite a many users have done it; when upgrading they need to sysprep in any case to move ProgramData back to C: drive, in which case I also recommend moving Users back before the upgrade with the same sysprep run using the same answer file.

    As a relocated ProgramData causes a lot of issues in Windows 8 & 8.1 and does not work at all in Windows 10, this reason does not usually apply to those upgrading from 8.1 because the ProgramData is not relocated.


    This is the method I recommend. The worst case scenario in doing this is that the upgrade for some reason can't be done and is interrupted, in which case Windows automatically reverts to underlying original Windows version. No harm done.

    However, speaking only based on my personal experience with several upgrades, it has worked every time without issues.

    The build you will receive, be it upgrade through Windows Update, Windows Store or using the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool is always the build 10240, the official release build. All later builds at the moment are only available for registered Windows Insiders, all earlier builds were preview builds.

    Kari
    Hi Kari, and forum members who've upgraded in place their Win8.1 to Win10 systems:

    Just wanted to let you know after following your advice, that I upgraded in place my Windows 8.1 system to Windows 10 without having to rerun Sysprep or anything to retain the Userfiles on my D drive. Thanks so much for your insight and kudos to your Win8 and Win10 tutorial! This and Eight Forums have been a great place to get good info.

    I did notice a slight side effect that I didn't notice when I moved the Userfiles with Win8, and I'd like you to check your upgraded-in-place Win10 system. I'm seeing duplicated User files on C drive with Win10. If I venture into my C: SSD drive under C:\Users\<myprofile> and check the various folders like \pictures, \documents, etc, I see that all of my files/folders from the D:\User files are there, in addition to being on my D drive. But don't worry, it appears the C:\users\myprofile\files are only "symbolic links" to the D userfiles. I proved this by creating a new file on D:\users\documents\text.txt it shows up also in C:\users\documents.

    Do you see this folder duplication on C drive on your upgraded Win10 system? I did confirm the C:\user files do not consume disk space on C drive.

    Thanks again,

    Steel
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #267

    steelgate said:
    Do you see this folder duplication on C drive on your upgraded Win10 system? I did confirm the C:\user files do not consume disk space on C drive.
    Hi Steel, welcome to the Ten Forums.

    No, I have not seen that on my systems. You got me interested, I think I will try to reproduce that in the near future, install first 8.1 and sysprep it, then upgrade it and see what happens. If nothing, I just need to redo the test changing the scenario a bit until i succeed :)

    Kari
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 3
    windows 8.1
       #268

    Kari said:
    Hi Steel, welcome to the Ten Forums.

    No, I have not seen that on my systems. You got me interested, I think I will try to reproduce that in the near future, install first 8.1 and sysprep it, then upgrade it and see what happens. If nothing, I just need to redo the test changing the scenario a bit until i succeed :)

    Kari
    My mistake, the actual duplicate folders could be found under C:\Documents and Settings\<user>, not C:\users. I checked further and saw that it was actually a shortcut created on 7-30-2015. After checking it wasn't a Junction or SYMLINK using a c: \ DIR/w at the command prompt, I just deleted it.

    I don't think it was there because of the upgrade.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 2
    Windows 10 Pro
       #269

    Stuck in a boot loop


    I've got a big problem--any help would be appreciated!!! I'm at my wit's end.

    I have a brand-new Windows 10 Pro 64-bit Build 10240 desktop. It has a 240GB SSD (Drive C:\) and a 1TB traditional hard drive (Drive D:\). After setting up the computer, I noticed that my SSD was filling up pretty quickly since I do graphic design work. I wanted to move the users folder from the C to the D. So, I thought I followed Method #2's directions to the letter, and everything seemed to be going fine, but when I got back to my desktop after the boot, I ran into the same problems jaminroe and Nico ran into on page 8 of this thread:

    • My start menu barely works now, nothing comes up if I click the Windows button for the start menu. Only the Cortana search bar is working sort of.
    • My taskbar was totally empty, and some of my programs won't launch now or say they can't be found
    • Explorer takes forever to come up, along with any system settings, etc.
    • Things just seem way slower in general, besides apps that still work, like Chrome and Steam (for whatever reason)


    So, figuring I had goofed up somewhere, I decided to start over like Nico and reset my computer and try again.

    I'm going to share my experience on moving the Users folder on Windows 10 build 10240, coming from Windows 8.1.

    Prior to upgrading, my machine was running Windows 8.1 Pro with the users directory in its default location (C:\Users). I backed up all my important files to a network drive, then proceeded with the usual upgrade process using an ISO created from the leaked 10240 ESD files. I chose the first option (keep my Windows settings, apps and files). The upgrade went smoothly.

    After the first boot, I decided to start from a clean installation of Windows 10 by using the Reset feature (Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC). No problems yet.
    Here's where I ran into big problems: A few minutes into my system reset, I received a notification that the reset had failed and could not be completed. The computer restarted, and now, whenever I power on the computer, it gets stuck in a boot/reboot loop. When I press F11 to open the boot menu and try to use the recovery/boot disk, all my drives are grayed out as being unable to install Windows.

    Can anyone help?
      My Computer


 

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