Get error trying to move Documents folder to new drive

Hi, as I've said before and explained- I do not recommend using the Location tab for several reasons. (See below).
It is, however, a very good idea to keep personal files off C: for maintenance reasons.

Are you aware of the huge searchable Tutorials section here? Fully illustrated.
Move Location of Documents Folder in Windows 10

Please note that this is a potentially hazardous action. If you get it wrong, there may be no way back.
That is why I asked for the recommendation to create a disk image before attempting this to be added to the tutorial.
I hope you already use 3rd party disk imaging routinely (free programs available) to external storage as is endlessly recommended here.

Far better and safer to simply create your own 'My Documents' (e.g.) folder on the drive, then if you wish, add it to a library or even create your own library. Much safer and more maintainable.

Plus when you install 3rd party programs which create THEIR folders in Documents, Pictures etc- your 'My Documents' contains your folders and files, not theirs.

Using the Location tab creates further problems to resolve should you need to clean install Win 10.

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If you're doing this for space reasons, try Wiztree (free) to give a great picture of how space is used. (Scan and choose to have a cushion map displayed as well as a tree).

There's also a tutorial on saving and recovering space.

jack63ss said:

What does this mean ?

It can mean that Windows thinks you have already moved another user folder into the original path or the one you are trying to change it to. To find out, look in your Registry User shell folders.
- Run RegEdit.exe
- Paste this into its address bar

Code:

HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

- Read the path in the Personal entry [Personal = your Documents folder]
- Do any other entries have the same path as Personal or any subfolder of it?
- Do any other entries have the same path as C:\Users\jack6\Documents or any subfolder of it?
- Read the path in the entry {F42EE2D3-909F-4907-8871-4C22FC0BF756} if that entry exists at all. This entry can normally be deleted but I'd prefer to find put if it exists & what's in it first.
If you tell me what you find there I expect to be able to explain what you need to do to fix things.


By the way, when it comes to doing the 'move' I would suggest copying all your files & folders within C:\Users\jack6\Documents [but not the folder C:\Users\jack6\Documents itself] first so that the 'move' will have less work to do.
I have only seen Windows lose files once during the 'move' but it was so inconvenient that I prefer playing safe by doing it manually.
The 'move' itself will then just be telling Windows which new path to regard as your Documents user folder.


Do note that you do not need to 'move' your user folder. You could, if you wanted, just start saving your files in the folders you want in your D drive without telling Windows to do anything about it.
I change mine but I know lots of people don't bother doing so.
Your applications will adapt to where you save your files by offering your last saved path as a potential SaveAs location and they'll do the same in your file open dialogs.
And, as dalchina says above, make a new system image before doing the job so that you can get back to square one if it all goes wrong.



All the best,
Denis

Some important things I've learned with all versions of Windows since my first in '92 with MS-DOS and Win3.1, one is that most program installations may look for the existence of the swap file/paging file, the presence of a Temp folder and default locations of folders for the Users. Basically put, there's a process for the move of the folders from C:\Users\USERNAMEHERE so the installs know about them.

jack63ss said:

regedit on my system does not show a Personal entry under User Shell Folders, it has Common Documents instead. But, under User Shell Folders\Backup there is a Personal entry. I also find it interesting that User Shell Folders uses %PUBLIC% and the Backup uses %USERPROFILE%. Not sure if that is the issue or not.

I urge you not to do anything yet.
Your comments indicate an unusual situation.
Please post screenshots of both these items and, in each case, please drag the column dividers around so all the text can be seen.
1 HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders [I am worried that the missing Personal entry indicates a fault. I think it is one that can be repaired easily.]
2 User Shell Folders\Backup {I have never even seen anybody mention that before. Is it possible that it is something you have created or that has been created by a utility you put on your computer?}

jack63ss said:

I will do a FULL backup of the C: directory first though by copying it to D:, just using a different folder name

That is not the same as making a system image and does not provide the protection that a system image does.
Guides for Macrium Reflect, AOMEI Backupper and Hasleo Backup Suite - ElevenForum


Denis