How to relocate "data" on 2nd internal drive, separate from OS drive?

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  1. Posts : 3,502
    Win_8.1-Pro, Win_10.1607-Pro, Mint_17.3
       #11

    I recommend creating a Local account when you first boot up the machine. Reasons are numerous, but using a local account to sign-in retains the name you want in the folder locations. The folder names are parsed from the MS Account if you choose that.

    Local account sign-in: C:\Users\MoxiMomma
    MS account sign-in: C:\Users\MoxiM

    At least I think it's 5 characters from the MS account name

    That's just my recommendation for a sign-in account. You can always change the account type to a MS account later for ease-of-use with MS services.


    As essenbe mentioned there are various ways to move user data off of the SSD.

    I move the Slartybart folder wholesale to another drive or partition and change the profilelist entry in the registry so that Windows knows where my profile lives (essenbe's video and Brink's Win7 tutorial)

    There are some reports that this method causes upgrades (not update) to fail. I've never had that problem - maybe it's becasue I also have a 2nd Admin account that lives in C:\Users. Oh yeah, it's a good idea to create a 2nd Admin account in case you need it

    Moving the profile wholesale means you don't have to worry about the other storage (temp, history, internet, mail,.....)


    The new option in Win10 is Settings > Save locations.
    This essentially tells Windows that you want to save stuff (docs, music, pics, vids) to another location.
    If you use this, expect to see a folder named MoxieMomma (or whatever your account name is) on the drive with the corresponding folder (Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos) under that. You don't get to pick the folder. just the drive.


    Another method is to change the Location properties of each User folder. Here you can specify any drive and folder tree that you want. If you use this method, don't move the AppData folder - I suggest changing the location of only 4 folders (Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos)

    What AppData folder you say ... the hidden one (Explorer > View menu ribbon - tick Hidden items)

    A few notes about the tutorial:

    1) My Documents, My Pictures .... is sooooooo Win7
    Win8 and Win10 just call them Documents, Pictures .....

    2) The move and ok buttons
    Move lets you pick the new location - drive, folder AND file name
    After filling in the new location press OK

    I find it easier to just change the drive letter in the location window to point to a different drive
    Cur. location = C:\Users\Slartybart\Documents
    New location = D:\Users\Slartybart\Documents
    then hit OK (not move)

    Answer yes to move files


    There ya go 15 ways to move User data off your SSD

    Take your time, plan out how you want your system to look and operate - read many tuts and ask plenty of questions. If you do that, you'll have fun.

    Oh wait there's also using Libraires

    I couldn't find a tutorial on Onedrive, but I think you can change the location in the pgm's settings. You cannot use the other methods above.

    I don't recall if that was during the tech preview or after. Then again, I've been having memory leaks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 12,799
    Windows 11 Pro
       #12

    I've been doing it just the way the video is since Windows 7 first came out. I've continued through a brief stint with 8 and now 10. I Move everything except the AppData and have never had a problem. 10 seems to handle it just as well as 7, maybe even better. I have a local and MS account. Both are admin accounts. I have never had an upgrade fail. I don't do any regedits or anything. Everything works exactly the same as it does with the user folders on C. Just my experience. Other's mileage may vary.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3,502
    Win_8.1-Pro, Win_10.1607-Pro, Mint_17.3
       #13

    essenbe said:
    I've been doing it just the way the video is since Windows 7 first came out. I've continued through a brief stint with 8 and now 10. I Move everything except the AppData and have never had a problem. 10 seems to handle it just as well as 7, maybe even better. I have a local and MS account. Both are admin accounts. I have never had an upgrade fail. I don't do any regedits or anything. Everything works exactly the same as it does with the user folders on C. Just my experience. Other's mileage may vary.
    Now I have to watch the video again ... I've done this so many ways, I think I just wing it

    Move or Relocate User Folders (Video)

    Hmmm, after reading your post above (no reg mods) , I wonder ... am I referring to a different Tutorial?
    User Profile - Change Default Location - Windows 7 Help Forums

    This is one of the first tuts I have used religiously after joining Vistax64 (trying to solve a HW issue) and then SevenForums

    I do agree that moving the user profile wholesale is the cleanest method
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 12,799
    Windows 11 Pro
       #14

    Slartybart said:
    Now I have to watch the video again ... I've done this so many ways, I think I just wing it

    Move or Relocate User Folders (Video)

    Hmmm, after reading your post above (no reg mods) , I wonder ... am I referring to a different Tutorial?
    User Profile - Change Default Location - Windows 7 Help Forums

    This is one of the first tuts I have used religiously after joining Vistax64 (trying to solve a HW issue) and then SevenForums

    I do agree that moving the user profile wholesale is the cleanest method
    Yes, you read the tutorial right. I just have never done the registry edit. No particular reason except I forgot the first time I did it and everything worked perfectly. After that, I just omitted that step. Maybe I should do it, but just never have. The tutorial does say to do it.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,750
    Windows 10 Pro
       #15

    fdegrove said:
    Hi,

    To my mind (and 30 years in the industry) data and OS should be separate. Call that old school if you like but it still seems like a sound plan to me.

    Cheers,
    +1 for this idea. I never store any real data in "My what-its" folder. I always, always, always create a separate D: partition (and sometimes E: and F:) for real data, or music and photos, etc.) Sometimes E: and F:, being primarily for bulk storage, are on a separate HDD, while C: and D: are on an SSD. But, when, not if, Windows goes south, at least I don't have a problem with restoring user data.

    This isn't just some theory. It's hard-won best practice.

    x509
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 824
    Win10/64 Pro 1511 (and 2 Win 7/64 Ult & Pro systems)
    Thread Starter
       #16

    Just a quick update to say that I chickened out from relocating the entire Windows Users folder.
    I ended up creating Documents, Videos, Pictures and Downloads folders on the D:\ drive and just pointed Windows to them.
    Seems to be working just fine.

    Perhaps one of these days I will nuke/pave/install Win10 on my older Win7 desktop and gin up the courage to try the Users Folder relocation.

    Thanks to everyone for their kind and expert help.

    MM
      My Computer


 

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