Move Users Folder Location in Windows 10  


  1. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #1000

    Zonker said:
    Not serious?! I have the same problem. Brand new computer, followed your instructions and upon reboot, Administrator has been disabled again and the local account I had is still disabled. So, I can't log in. Thanks a lot.

    So now, after the fact, you tell us to do one more step. Kind of a crucial step, don't you think? Maybe you should include that step in the instructions, not bury it in a reply to someone's comments.

    While I appreciate all the hard work that's gone into this guide, seeing how it's incomplete, it really causes quite a problem.
    Throughout this thread I have told that Method Two, sysprepping an existing installation is somewhat risky. That's the reason why first sentence in Method Two part of this tutorial advices to create a system image before trying:
    Move Users Folder Location in Windows 10-image.png

    I suggest you to restore the image backup and either try again or forget it; done on an existing system is risky.

    Kari
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 5
    Windows, Mac, Linux
       #1001

    Yes, I have the system image that is accessible through the System Recovery option. But, actually, no, that is apparently also broken now. Brand-new, out-of-the-box system with SSD and HDD. The *first* thing I want to do is move Users to the HDD. These instructions seemed like the right thing. I still think they are....

    BUT, adding that *one* *little* *extra* step, about adding an account that doesn't get de-activated so that you can log in later, would have saved me an entire day trying to recover.

    Now, I have to dredge up my own Windows 10 disk instead of using the built-in recovery option.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 5
    Windows, Mac, Linux
       #1002

    Kari said:
    done on an existing system is risky.
    Kari
    Kari,

    I think far more people have existing systems than people who are installing from scratch.

    In your instructions, you have:

    Method One: Relocating Users folder during Installation
    Method Two: Relocating Users folder on an existing Windows installation

    For Method One, does that include a brand-new out-of-the-box system? Or does this only apply to blank, unformatted SSD/HDD combinations? I'm not entirely sure, but it seems like it only applies to the latter. In which case, I think there should be a Method Three: Relocating Users folder on brand new computer with pre-Installed Windows.

    Here's what I did, which I don't think is terribly controversial.

    1. Client bought new computer, gave it to me to set up and then transfer old data to it.
    2. Opened box, turned it on, went through the standard "Welcome to your new Windows computer" steps (language, region, Express/Customized Settings, create an Account, etc.)
    3. "Hi. We are preparing your system" forever.
    4. Log in.

    At that point, I see/remember that there's a small SSD and a huge HDD. And because my client will have no idea, if I don't do something now, he'll come to me a month from now and ask why his hard disk is full. <sigh>

    So, I search the web for variations on "Move Users folder to new different disk" and "configuring system with SSD/HDD" and I come across your very detailed instructions. Yay!

    The first problem I had with it was trying to decide if I should follow Method One or Two. Still not sure.

    The second problem I had was deciding if the built-in recovery partition counts as a System Image or not. It should, right? If it doesn't, why not? But, I have a Windows 10 DVD, so I knew if I had to, I could wipe it all and start over. I was just hoping to avoid all that.

    Again, I do appreciate the time and effort and expertise and knowledge that you've poured into these instructions. I'm just relating my experience, the troubles I had, and hoping for some suggestions to avoid having to start from scratch. And, I think putting the information about creating a temporary account that is *not* deactivated should be part of the Method Two instructions. It's never a bad idea to have a backup account at the ready. Lesson learned.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2,666
    Windows 11 21H2 (22000.593)
       #1003

    The biggest problem with moving on a new system with Windows pre-installed (and particularly from an OEM) is that they (usually) already have a sysprep answer file set up for that first time boot, and it can interfere with the instructions here to move the folders, in which case it is best to set up the computer and then use method 2.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 1
    Win 10 x64 Pro
       #1004

    Is there a way to create a "local user" on the C drive when locating Users to D or E when setting up a new system? I see the steps for an existing system (Method 2) but not for a new system. I have relocated User as well as Program Files from the Win 7 tutorial and am typing on a Win 10 machine at this time with everything moved to E because Win 7 was set up that way. Should I be concerned now and rebuild this? I did have another machine fail to let me in because of an E drive failure so I appreciate the idea of a local account just not sure how to set one up
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #1005

    Zonker said:
    1. Client bought new computer, gave it to me to set up and then transfer old data to it.
    2. Opened box, turned it on, went through the standard "Welcome to your new Windows computer" steps (language, region, Express/Customized Settings, create an Account, etc.)
    3. "Hi. We are preparing your system" forever.
    4. Log in.

    The first problem I had with it was trying to decide if I should follow Method One or Two. Still not sure.
    In setting up a new PC with pre-installed Windows, if you boot to Audit Mode from region selection (step 2 in your list above), it's a clean install and you will Method One. If you continue to step 3 and beyond, it's an existing installation and you need Method Two.


    Zonker said:
    The second problem I had was deciding if the built-in recovery partition counts as a System Image or not. It should, right? If it doesn't, why not? But, I have a Windows 10 DVD, so I knew if I had to, I could wipe it all and start over. I was just hoping to avoid all that.
    Kind of. OEM recovery partition allows a factory reset, to some extent it can be compared to a system image a user creates after clean installation.


    Zonker said:
    Again, I do appreciate the time and effort and expertise and knowledge that you've poured into these instructions. I'm just relating my experience, the troubles I had, and hoping for some suggestions to avoid having to start from scratch. And, I think putting the information about creating a temporary account that is *not* deactivated should be part of the Method Two instructions. It's never a bad idea to have a backup account at the ready. Lesson learned.
    That and some details will be reviewed when this tutorial will be rewritten next wee after official launch of Windows 10 Creators Update Version 1703 (release date April 11th).

    As @johngalt mentioned, the issue with pre-installed OEM versions of Windows is that OEMs tend to fill system with their own customizations. The whole thing comes up to a choice: Do I search and delete all OEM unattend.xml, setup.xml and other customization files and Sysprep with my own answer files, possibly risking that not all OEM software will work, or do I simple overwrite OEM pre-installed Windows with a clean installed Windows without any OEM customizations and software and be sure Sysprep works producing a healthy system with relocated Users folder to save space on system drive, but without any OEM customizations and software.

    As I said, I will take time to think this everything through and completely rewrite this tutorial when I've see the final release of version 1703 and possible changes in this method it does.

    Kari
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 2,666
    Windows 11 21H2 (22000.593)
       #1006

    I used to use another utility to move the user tree before I started using Kari's method exclusively on Win 7 and later OSs. It works just as well, but creates an interim step whereby you create a temporary login and then it moves the files to the new location that you specify.

    It's not as robust, and certainly not as foolproof as Kari's Method 1, but it will do OK for Method 2.
    @Kari - I suspect that it goes further than just making a backup of the files and then restoring them to their locations as needed after using Method 2, correct? I mean, could / would the customization files contain hardcoded paths that could / would need to be altered to allow all those customizations to work properly after a \Users tree move?
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 3
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #1007

    Is there a way to reset all folder security permissions? Using the backup of a USERS folder from an old installation, a security error occurs in folders and files, having to change each file or folder to be able to access, changing owner and permissions...
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 2,666
    Windows 11 21H2 (22000.593)
       #1008

    Do the top most folder's security and enable inheritance for all sub-folders, is the first thought that comes to mind.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 2
    10
       #1009

    Microsoft has switched from .wim files to .esd files...do you have a work around for this yet or can we simply edit the xml file from "wim" to "esd"

    if you try to use this WIM code with a ESD install it fails every time!
      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 05:12.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums