Move Users Folder Location in Windows 10  


  1. Posts : 17
    Windwos 10 Pro
       #680

    Kari said:
    Sysprep running without issues, Windows thereafter going through OOBE again without issues but Users folder not being relocated, the reason is always wrong drive assignment. Always.
    OK, I had discounted that particular warning because my system does not have an optical drive. However, I will follow a modified procedure, using Disk Management, before Sysprepping:


    • map the target drive to some other letter, such as Q:
    • map it back to D: again


    If I have understood you correctly now, this will make the assignment of that drive letter explicit rather than being just how the lettering falls out based on the order Windows encounters the devices. I will attempt this tomorrow and report back.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #681

    dtbullock said:
    If I have understood you correctly now, this will make the assignment of that drive letter explicit rather than being just how the lettering falls out based on the order Windows encounters the devices. I will attempt this tomorrow and report back.
    Yes.

    When Sysprep is run and told to exit to OOBE, the next boot is always a so called First Run OOBE boot. Windows "thinks" it is the first time ever Windows will be started on that machine. It will then do the drive assignment.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 14
    Windows 10 Pro
       #682

    Kari said:
    Hi Tracy, welcome to Ten Forums. I appreciate you joining us in order to be able to share your experience :)

    A relocated ProgramData system folder has been an issue when upgrading. Its "alias", environmet variable referring to it reveals its true purpose: try entering variable %allusersprofile% in File Explorer address bar and hit Enter, you will be taken to C:\ProgramData. It works as AppData for all users, applications storing there the shared AppData, storing the user specific data then in %userprofile%\AppData. It is crucial to many applications, therefore I still recommend to manually move it back to C: when upgrading from Windows 7.

    However, Windows 10 gets better and better with every build. It's only about a year since we have been able to upgrade from 7 or later even with relocated Users folder, now Windows 10 upgrade takes care of moving ProgramData back to C:. I will still wait some time before removing the warning and instructions from this tutorial.

    Anyway, nice to hear the success stories :)

    Kari
    I still wouldn't remove the warnings, but I wanted to tell you what happened when I rolled back to Windows 7 Ultimate. (I rolled back for various reasons.)

    I did the rollback through Settings/Update/Recovery, and it put everything back where it found it, including ProgramData.

    Just thought this would be interesting to you.

    Tracy
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #683

    THEnt said:
    I did the rollback through Settings/Update/Recovery, and it put everything back where it found it, including ProgramData.
    That is incredibly interesting! A bit curios why you had to roll back but putting that aside, it is good to know how secure and well functioning MS has made both the upgrade and roll back features.

    Your case is a good example of that Windows 7 with both Users and ProgramData folders relocated, upgrading to 10 the process works without issues automatically moving ProgramData back to C: because relocating is no longer supported in 10, keeping Users on another drive, then when you roll back to 7 ProgramData automatically relocated back to another drive.

    Thanks for sharing. I simply have to test this myself this weekend :)
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 14
    Windows 10 Pro
       #684

    Kari said:
    That is incredibly interesting! A bit curios why you had to roll back but putting that aside, it is good to know how secure and well functioning MS has made both the upgrade and roll back features.

    Your case is a good example of that Windows 7 with both Users and ProgramData folders relocated, upgrading to 10 the process works without issues automatically moving ProgramData back to C: because relocating is no longer supported in 10, keeping Users on another drive, then when you roll back to 7 ProgramData automatically relocated back to another drive.

    Thanks for sharing. I simply have to test this myself this weekend :)
    Have fun!

    Please post or PM me about how it works.

    As far as reasons why: I need to run QuickBooks and can't yet afford to upgrade to a version that is supported in Win 10. Once I can do that, I should be ok.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 17
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit Going to Win 10
       #685

    Kari,
    I've been undecided about using sysprep or save locations method of moving users to another drive. I will only ever have two users on this system and I've read that some programs except to see AppData on C:
    Your thoughts?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #686

    nhbeachguy said:
    Kari,
    I've been undecided about using sysprep or save locations method of moving users to another drive. I will only ever have two users on this system and I've read that some programs except to see AppData on C:
    Your thoughts?
    Hypothetical question: You have heard or read some programs expecting to find AppData on C: drive. If I now write here for you to read that it is not true, do you change your opinion and tell in next conversation about this topic that you have read that AppData can be relocated to another drive without issues?

    Anyway, no answer expected, as I said that was hypothetical.

    Since my last divorce I am also the sole user of all my computers. That, number of users has nothing to do with the fact that I always, without an exception relocate the whole Users folder. I use this method because it saves storage space on C: drive, or rather on disk where C: partition is. I do it also because I want to be sure my data is secured and safe also if / when my OS drive suddenly stops working, or my registry mods or other general stupidity of mine makes Windows suddenly unbootable and beyond rescue. I do it to keep my system images I make with Macrium small; I only need to image UEFI system partitions and C: drive, and when something happens I restore that small image only containing Windows and installed software, which then picks up my user data from E: where I keep the Users folder.

    I have done this since early 2006 when I started to test first beta versions of Windows Vista. My computer usage is heavy duty video editing, virtualization, testing various sysprep scenarios and so on, yet I have never had an issue which was caused by relocated Users folder.

    Here's my C: drive now, Folder Options window open to show that all hidden and system protected content is shown. Not a trace of Users folder, I have it on E: drive.
    Move Users Folder Location in Windows 10-2016_07_22_20_10_481.png

    Your question was composed as if you were a buyer, I the seller and you would like me to convince you to buy the product. That will not happen; I have written the tutorial, you have found it and you alone decide if you want to do what tutorial shows.

    Kari
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 17
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit Going to Win 10
       #687

    Thanks for the reply. Not sure what I'll do yet but I appreciate you creating a detailed tutorial any supporting it by answering posts.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #688

    You are welcome.

    BTW, my previous post came out a bit harsh, that was not my intention. I blame insomnia, whisky and English not being my native language. In this order :)
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 17
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit Going to Win 10
       #689

    After sleeping on it, I think I'll do it "your way" but will wait to make sure I don't need to go back to win 7 for any reason.
    One of the things that bugs me about this is the having to "move back" if doing a major update. Do you think the upcoming Anniversary Update would require moving the users back? Or does it have to me something more complex that that?

    Oh and I've been trying for hours to change the name of my home directory from the first 5 of my MS email to sometime I've been using forever... "Dave". I see you discuss it in the new install video but I don't see how to do it after the fact. I've not move my documents to the Windows 10 machine if that helps. This should be easy - but I'm not sure how to do it.
    Last edited by nhbeachguy; 23 Jul 2016 at 13:12.
      My Computer


 

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