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

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  1. Posts : 824
    Win10/64 Pro 1511 (and 2 Win 7/64 Ult & Pro systems)
       #1

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


    Hi, all:

    Seeing this thread, being preoccupied today with work projects, and generally obsessing over the imminent arrival of my first system with dual internal drives, I must ask my next really stupid question:

    How do I relocate my data from "My Documents" on the 256GB SSD OS drive on which I assume it will arrive from the factory to the other, internal, data drive (a 2 TB spinner)?

    All of my previous and current systems had/have a single hard drive (either a spinner or a SSD, but not both).
    So this is new for me.

    This will be an OEM box, not an upgrade and not a home-built system.
    I assume it will arrive from the factory with "everything" on the SSD (C:\) and "nothing" on the spinner (I guess the HDD will be D:\?).
    FWIW the system will have only a single, Admin user account.

    Before I get too far down a rabbit hole when it arrives later this week and before I move my "old" data from the old system to the new one, I just need to know how to make sure that I properly locate my data folders (documents, pictures, videos, etc.) on the new system's data HDD, rather than on its OS SSD.

    I presume it's not as easy as a mere "drag and drop" of the "My Documents" folder from C:\ to D:\, right?
    I have to somehow "point" Windoze to the new, non-default location?

    I know, this is a really, really stupid question from an old geezer.

    So thanks very much for your patience,:)

    MM
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,621
    Windows 10 Home
       #2

    Yes, if all your data sub-folders and files are within the Libraries, My Documents section, you can go into each of the directories within Documents and copy everything belonging to you from the source directories over into the target directories.
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  3. Posts : 12,799
    Windows 11 Pro
       #3

    Here are 2 ways to do it. See option 2 here Users Folder - Move Location in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

    Here is another method

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  4. Posts : 824
    Win10/64 Pro 1511 (and 2 Win 7/64 Ult & Pro systems)
    Thread Starter
       #4

    RolandJS said:
    Yes, if all your data sub-folders and files are within the Libraries, My Documents section, you can go into each of the directories within Documents and copy everything belonging to you from the source directories over into the target directories.
    Thanks, but I'm not sure I understand what you mean about "target directories" -- how do I create them without screwing up the default Windows behavior. I guess you are saying that I would just manually create a folder called "My Documents" (and all the usual sub-folders) on the data drive?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 824
    Win10/64 Pro 1511 (and 2 Win 7/64 Ult & Pro systems)
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Hi:

    essenbe said:
    Here are 2 ways to do it. See option 2 here Users Folder - Move Location in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

    Here is another method

    O
    M
    G
    CRAP!
    I knew it would not be easy.

    When I boot up the system for the first time, out of the box, I think the first step will be to agree to the Dell EULA.
    Then, Windows will ask me to create a user account/profile, no?

    I just had a quick read of the tutorial (Option 2). It is very well done, as always....
    BUT I'm a bit unnerved by the red box warning, as I really depend on the start menu (Luddite) and search function.
    And, if I understand the tutorial correctly, it would be best to move the folders BEFORE I create my User account and after creating a system image -- but how would I do that if I don't even yet have a Windows User account???? (Feels like a Catch-22.)

    And the tutorial itself appears to be very far over my head. @Kari's video is GREAT, but I already see a major problem for me: I will NOT have the Windows install media.
    Dell no longer ships Windows media discs with new computers.
    I cannot order the media for ~3 weeks after purchase.
    So it seems there is no way for me to follow the tutorial/video because I cannot perform this step:
    • Line 10: Change the location of Windows 10 install.wim file (CPI Source). In this example the Windows install media is on drive E:
    • Following the install media location, separated with #, see that you have the Windows version correctly (Windows 10, Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Education or Windows 10 Enterprise). Notice that the installation media must be present when we continue with Sysprep!
    OK, I will have to spend more time on this when I can focus and better process the instructions.
    It looks daunting and dangerous, in terms of breaking something before I even have the thing up and running.

    Sigh.
    I will be back with more questions eventually.

    Thanks,
    MM
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #6

    MoxieMomma said:
    ... but I already see a major problem for me: I will NOT have the Windows install media.
    You can download Windows 10 ISO image here: Tech Bench

    When downloaded, you can then follow the instructions in this tutorial (Option Two) to create a USB install media from the Windows 10 ISO image: USB Flash Drive - Create to Install Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 12,799
    Windows 11 Pro
       #7

    As with most things, it is not as complicated as it looks.
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  8. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #8

    essenbe said:
    As with most things, it is not as complicated as it looks.
    I completely agree with that!

    @MoxieMomma, the method shown in Essenbe's excellent video might suit you better. It is easy, the video shows you exactly what and in which order to do.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 824
    Win10/64 Pro 1511 (and 2 Win 7/64 Ult & Pro systems)
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Thanks, everyone.

    I'll be back in touch soon.

    Much obliged,
    MM
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 2,832
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #10

    Hi,

    I presume it's not as easy as a mere "drag and drop" of the "My Documents" folder from C:\ to D:\, right?
    I have to somehow "point" Windoze to the new, non-default location?
    Actually it can be that simple. It all depends on the user really.
    If you just create the storage folders on your d:\ drive/partition and make a habit of saving files there then that's all there is to it.

    Personally I leave all these folders Windows creates on the OS partitions for what they should be IMHO : empty.
    No idea if the latest builds still tend to messing this up but on several machines I've encountered various troubles when these folders were relocated to a different partition.
    On one occasion I've even seen some of them relocated to OneDrive with the user swearing he'd never touched it. Go figure.

    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,
    Last edited by fdegrove; 01 Jul 2016 at 16:36.
      My Computers


 

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