Move Users Folder Location in Windows 10  


  1. Posts : 27
    Windows 10
       #790

    Hi there. I'm new here so a big HELLO to you all. :)

    @Kari This is a very good tutorial you have published. I'm going to attempt to move the 'Users' folder. I have not yet decided which method I will use. I have a brand new install but since it has no updates or any of my programs installed yet I may just start from scratch and reinstall.

    I have some questions. If you would be kind enough to spare a few minutes of your time I would be very grateful if you could answer the following:

    I see that you published this tutorial in October 2014. Does the tutorial still work with the latest version of Windows 10 (Anniversary Edition)?

    Does the partition that I want the 'Users' folder to be located on HAVE to be empty? Will the method(s) described erase existing data on the selected partition? It's just that if at all possible I'd like to have the 'Users' folder on the same partition as my Videos, Documents, Music and Picture folders are on.

    If I'm dual booting two Windows 10 installs can I have both installs using the same 'Users' folder or will this cause problems.
    I know that I can use the same documents, music, video etc folders for both OS's (because I am doing) so I was wondering if the same would apply for App data folders?

    Many thanks in advance.

    Andrew :)

      My Computer


  2. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #791

    everway9 said:
    I see that you published this tutorial in October 2014. Does the tutorial still work with the latest version of Windows 10 (Anniversary Edition)?
    Yes. I used this method last time yesterday when I created Windows 10 PRO Insider Build 14946 deployment image in a Hyper-V virtual machine then deployed it to a few machines, all of them now having Users on E: drive.

    Screenshot from machine I am using at the moment, installed / deployed just before midnight yesterday, running the latest Insider Preview build, Users folder relocated:
    Move Users Folder Location in Windows 10-2016_10_17_12_48_571.png


    everway9 said:
    Does the partition that I want the 'Users' folder to be located on HAVE to be empty? Will the method(s) described erase existing data on the selected partition?
    It does not have to be empty but it may not contain any system files or folders from any Windows installation.


    everway9 said:
    It's just that if at all possible I'd like to have the 'Users' folder on the same partition as my Videos, Documents, Music and Picture folders are on.
    If you have used Settings app to change storage location for the folders you mentioned, then these must be removed before you use Sysprep to relocate Users folder. See above what I said about system files or folders.


    everway9 said:
    If I'm dual booting two Windows 10 installs can I have both installs using the same 'Users' folder or will this cause problems.
    No.

    Again, see above what I said about system files and folders: the target drive may contain other folders created by user or third party apps, but it may not contain any system files and folders from any other Windows installation, be it from previous Windows installations on the same machine or from other installations.

    everway9 said:
    I know that I can use the same documents, music, video etc folders for both OS's (because I am doing) so I was wondering if the same would apply for App data folders?
    No. See all above.

    Kari
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 27
    Windows 10
       #792

    Hi Kari.

    Thanks so much for your swift reply.

    You have provided me with some excellent info and I'm truly very grateful.

    I'm going to try the moving of the users folder (during install) when I get my new desktop PC... hopefully next month. Cant wait

    Thanks again.

    Best wishes :)
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 5
    Windows
       #793

    Hi Kari,

    Following on from the question the previous person asked, would I need to delete the 'Users' folder before I start the clean install or am I able to delete it in Audit Mode during sysprep?

    Cheers.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #794

    Karpin said:
    Hi Kari,

    Following on from the question the previous person asked, would I need to delete the 'Users' folder before I start the clean install or am I able to delete it in Audit Mode during sysprep?

    Cheers.
    Audit Mode is a fully working mode of Windows, allowing you to manage your computer totally normally. In fact managing the PC in Audit Mode is even easier than in Windows normal mode because Audit Mode signs you in with "God Mode", with all powerful built-in administrator account.

    Only difference to normal mode is that as it's using built-in admin profile, no UWP apps work (modern Windows Store apps. For instance Edge browser does not work, nor does apps like Weather, People, Mail and so on.

    Short: yes, you can delete and add folders, format disks and so on in Audit Mode.

    Kari
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 5
    Windows
       #795

    Hi Kari,

    It looks like I have an install.esd file instead of an install.wim file. Do I simply need to change the relocate.xml file to read install.esd or do I need to convert the .esd file to .wim?

    Cheers
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #796

    Karpin said:
    Hi Kari,

    It looks like I have an install.esd file instead of an install.wim file. Do I simply need to change the relocate.xml file to read install.esd or do I need to convert the .esd file to .wim?

    Cheers
    Screenshot from beginning of this tutorial:
    Move Users Folder Location in Windows 10-image.png
    (Click to enlarge.)
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 5
    Windows
       #797

    Kari said:
    Screenshot from beginning of this tutorial:
    Move Users Folder Location in Windows 10-image.png
    (Click to enlarge.)
    My bad, I didn't see that. I'm following too many guides with this thing and they all say different things. So just to be clear, after downloading the .iso would I then use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool to create a Bootable Windows 10 USB, clean install, and then follow the tutorial?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #798

    Karpin said:
    ...would I then use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool to create a Bootable Windows 10 USB, clean install, and then follow the tutorial?
    If your PC is legacy BIOS / MBR machine, then you can use that tool. If your PC is UEFI / GPT you need another tool, for instance Rufus as told in Option Two in this tutorial: USB Flash Drive - Create to Install Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 80
    Windows 10
       #799

    pietro said:
    bug advice for anniversary update. downloaded the iso for my Language, italian. clean install and relocate. the start menu have some voices in english, so few folders (ie: users\public). installing w10 without relocating it is all in italian...
    3 months, many many updates and builds... is there any chance to see this bug resolved?!? have i to try to correct it manually??!!!
      My Computer


 

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