Move Users Folder Location in Windows 10  


  1. Posts : 5,478
    2004
       #380

    logicearth said:
    OPS said:
    The only problem I have, however, is that the "AppData" folder which is in each User folder, would move to the alternate disc too. This would mean that, if I ever had to revert to a previous system disk image, the "AppData" folder, on the D drive would not necessarily correspond to the programs installed on the C drive. Would this cause problems?.
    The contents of AppData is just configuration data, a place for applications to dump their stuff. It doesn't matter what it contains as far as Windows cares.
    It isn't quite that simple I don't think.

    Just a trivial example OneDrive contains hard coded paths for your onedrive folder in a .ini file in %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\settings\Personal. If the path says D:\Users\<users>\OneDrive but Windows is using C:\Users\<user>OneDrive because you restored a backup made prior to relocating folders then it will either not work or (if the folder still exists on D as well) it replicate the wrong things.

    So you could certainly restore back an image of C (from when you had user folders on C) and it will work as your C drive would be consistent - everything would be on C drive as it was before. Everything on D (including appdata) would remain on disk but not be used. If you then moved appdata from D to C (to save downloading your emails again for example) it would almost certainly break.

    If you have relocated user folders from C to D you can generally restore just C back to an image you made after you relocated and this works fine - I've done this dozens of times. It might not always work though - you could have data in Users folder for programs that don't exist on your backup (because you installed a program after making backup) or missing data (because you uninstalled a program after making the backup). Probably neither would matter - you'd just install or uninstall the program again.

    Note it isn't just appdata - programs scatter information in My Documents, their own directories in User folder (I have .cisco, .metadata, .oracle_jre_usage, .vec, .virtualbox in root of my users folder) and who knows where else.

    The only way to be 100% sure is to backup and restore both C and D in tandem so you have a consistent environment but like I said individually restoring an image of C (assuming the image was created after relocating users folder) has always worked for me.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1
    windows 8.1
       #381

    Kari said:
    No, it should be the install.wim file and that's the cause for your issue.

    If you create the Windows 10 install media as USB Flash drive in Media Creation Tool, the compressed and encrypted ESD file is used instead of the WIM file. You need to have an install media with the WIM file instead; easiest way to get it is to use the Media Creation Tool again, this time selecting the ISO image option. The ISO image created with the tool uses the WIM file. For Media Creation Tool, see tutorial: Windows 10 ISO Download - Windows 10 Forums

    Step 1, select Create installation media for another PC:
    Attachment 28723

    Step 2, select your language, edition and bit version. Be sure to select the same bit version as you are installing; you cannot use a 32 bit install.wim in sysprepping a 64 bit Windows and vice versa:
    Attachment 28724

    Step 3, select ISO file and let it be created. There's no need to burn the ISO to disk or flash drive if you already have an install media to use, the ISO will only needed when sysprepping :
    Attachment 28725

    When you have the ISO, do like this:
    • Install Windows 10 clean, boot to Audit Mode, create the answer file (this tutorial, Method One Steps 1 & 2)
    • Before sysprepping (Method One, Step 3), mount the ISO file as virtual DVD drive by double clicking it. Check the drive letter given for it by Windows, let's say the virtual drive gets letter F > use this CPI source in answer file:
      Code:
      cpi:source="wim:F:\sources\install.wim#Windows 10 PRO"
    • Sysprep as told in tutorial

    Should work now.

    Kari

    Tried creating with ISO with Mediacreationtool.exe ... After mounting ISO, I checked inside sources folder, and it's install.esd now...In fact... it's called "ESD-ISO" once mounted...
    There is no install.wim?!?! HELP!?

    Mediacreationtool.exe direct download: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=691209
    From the webpage: Windows 10 "Download tool now" button.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #382

    Evilbob said:
    Tried creating with ISO with Mediacreationtool.exe ... After mounting ISO, I checked inside sources folder, and it's install.esd now...In fact... it's called "ESD-ISO" once mounted...
    There is no install.wim?!?! HELP!?

    Mediacreationtool.exe direct download: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=691209
    From the webpage: Windows 10 "Download tool now" button.
    I gave this link in the post of mine you quoted: Windows 10 ISO Download - Windows 10 Forums. That tutorial has all the instructions needed to get an ISO with install.wim file.

    Apart of me coming to you and holding your hand while you try to follow the instructions given, I do not know how to help you.
      My Computer


  4. OPS
    Posts : 3
    Windows 10 and Windows Phone 8.1
       #383

    logicearth said:
    The contents of AppData is just configuration data, a place for applications to dump their stuff. It doesn't matter what it contains as far as Windows cares.
    Is that right? I was under the assumption that that directory contained lots of settings information regarding the personalised way that you have set up various programs. I always back it up when I backup my data, but, to be honest, I never really know quite what to do with those backed up files when I'm in the position of, say, having just done a reinstall of Windows (which I do every few months or so, to keep my system slick [in fact, it is to avoid doing this so often, that I want to do regular system disk images, which is why I asked the question on the thread in the first place]).
    So you think that it's not worth worrying too much about these files?

    OPS
      My Computer


  5. OPS
    Posts : 3
    Windows 10 and Windows Phone 8.1
       #384

    lx07 said:
    Note it isn't just appdata - programs scatter information in My Documents, their own directories in User folder (I have .cisco, .metadata, .oracle_jre_usage, .vec, .virtualbox in root of my users folder) and who knows where else.

    The only way to be 100% sure is to backup and restore both C and D in tandem so you have a consistent environment but like I said individually restoring an image of C (assuming the image was created after relocating users folder) has always worked for me.
    Okay, thanks for that. So, contrary to logicearth's opinion, you feel that it would be necessary to "backup and restore both C and D in tandem".

    I think you're absolutely right about programs scattering information all over the place – very annoying, especially as it's practically impossible to tell how important that information is.

    OPS
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 4
    Windows 10 Professional x64
       #385

    New to this forum - Thanks!


    Thank you for posting this.
    I am in the process of building a new PC w/ the specs as listed. I have a 512GB Samsung SSD 950 Pro to put in & since this was not available in a 1 TB version & the mb has no 2nd M.2 slot (and to keep cost down), I have a 500GB Samsung SSD 850EVO as the Data drive. I thought about a RAID setup, but I don't know if the M.2 NVMe drive can be RAIDED well with the SATA drive, so will use the scheme I just described. So you can see, I was quite happy to be able to move the entire Users folder to the SATA drive.
    Since it is suggested that I have the SATA drives unplugged while I am installing Windows, I am not quite sure what letter it will assign the SATA drive when I plug it in (D: I hope). I do know how to use the "Manage Computer" (at least in Win7) to assign letters, but since the moving of the Users folder must be completed during setup, not quite sure if it will work out. (keeping fingers crossed)

    On another note, I noticed several people commenting that they were hoping to MOVE the Program Files folders to D. That really is not needed to accomplish what they want to do. All they need to do is CREATE an additional Program Files folder on the D drive & install as many programs as possible there. Some will insist on residing on the C drive, so it is good to still have the folder there anyways. But at least that way most of the programs can be located on the larger D drive if they desire. I have done this on a previous Win7 setup BTW.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #386

    erh252 said:
    Since it is suggested that I have the SATA drives unplugged while I am installing Windows, I am not quite sure what letter it will assign the SATA drive when I plug it in (D: I hope).
    First, welcome to the Ten Forums!

    This is how I would do, other geeks my suggest something else:

    • Install Windows 10 only the SSD connected, all other disks disconnected
    • When the installation reaches the Settings dialog asking if you want to use Express settings or Customize settings, turn the PC off
    • Mount / connect all additional disks
    • Turn PC on, it resumes the OOBE (setup) phase
    • Reboot to Audit Mode as told in tutorial (with CTRL + SHIFT + F3) when again in Settings dialog
    • Continue as told in tutorial, setting the disk ID letters in Disk Management

    Kari
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1
    Win 10
       #387

    Hello, i had my win10 running and upgraded to build 1511, then following the guide to relocated data. But I'm stucked at OOBE screen in endless loop.
    (after applying quick setting it didn't ask me to create a dummy account, and the process begins again.)

    And i just found out the pitfall the hard way.

    Update: just nuke the installation and tested along the guide twice. Before installing the 1511(10586) works fine, with a little password reset glitch everytime you created a dummy user. my build is 10 pro 10240.
    Last edited by stevency; 08 Feb 2016 at 10:10. Reason: missed detail
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 3
    Windows 10
       #388

    THIS IS A WARNING TO ALL THAT WILL DO THE FOLDER REDIRECTION!
    It will not work with Version 1511.
    The following WILL happen.
    You will be stuck on OOBE where it says "Just a moment" then loops back to settings section.
    Start Menu, Cortana, and Action menu will not show at all.
    Errors that show up in Event Viewer:
    In Windows Logs > Application:
    "Activation of app Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy!CortanaUI failed with error: The app didn't start. See the Microsoft-Windows-TWinUI/Operational log for additional information."
    In Applications and Services > Microsoft > Windows > Apps > Microsoft-Windows-TWinUI/Operational
    "Activation of the app Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy!App for the Windows.Launch contract failed with error: The app didn't start.."
    "Activation via contract helper of the app Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy!App for the Windows.Launch contract failed with Server execution failed."
    Microsoft officially hates small SSD's and deep user customization.

    The only way to fix this is to move the user folders BACK to the same drive the windows folder is on.

    EDIT:
    Has anyone tried going with the Hard Link method of user redirection?

    EDIT 2:
    Apparently there's an alternate way that is built into windows to move user files over to a different directory.
    While it's not as efficient as moving the entire user folder to a different drive, it looks to be a safer way to move the folders within a user folder to a different drive.
    The procedure is exactly the same way as changing a Library folder to a different folder. Instead of going into library go into "C:\Users\<username>", right click and go to properties on any of the folders. There should be a tab labeled "Location". Go nuts.
    Most files wont be moved over, but a good chunk of it can be moved over. Anything that requires to save data into the user folder will have to be hard linked to the separate drive if the "Location" tab does not show up.
    Hidden folder AppData cannot be moved with this method, and I dont recommend it...
    Last edited by alatnet; 13 Feb 2016 at 23:01.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #389

    alatnet said:
    THIS IS A WARNING TO ALL THAT WILL DO THE FOLDER REDIRECTION!
    It will not work with Version 1511.
    I don't even want to comment that statement. Let's just say this:

    The method works perfectly well when done correctly. Here's a screenshot from the PC I am using at this very moment, Windows 10 Education TH2 version 1511 Build 10586.104. The folder Users exists on drive C: but it's empty as it should, all user profiles are located on drive E: as they should:

    Move Users Folder Location in Windows 10-2016_02_14_11_43_031.png
    (Click screenshot once to pop up, then again to enlarge.)
      My Computer


 

Tutorial Categories

Move Users Folder Location in Windows 10 Tutorial Index Network & Sharing Instalation and Upgrade Browsers and Email General Tips Gaming Customization Apps and Features Virtualization BSOD System Security User Accounts Hardware and Drivers Updates and Activation Backup and Restore Performance and Maintenance Mixed Reality Phone


  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:56.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums