Move Users Folder Location in Windows 10  

Having struggled to update my Win 8.1 desktop for several days https://www.tenforums.com/installatio...tml#post400329 I finally gave up and went for a Clean install of Win 10 Home. Initially I followed the Clean-install-windows-10-directly-without-having-upgrade-first tutorial and that worked well giving me a fully working system off my SSD Drive C: with all store apps working properly.

I then followed this tutorial to relocate the user folders to Drive E: which appeared to work OK, however now I cannot access the Start menu, or any Store Apps and OneDrive is completely empty. I also have two User folders with the same name in my Drive E, and I cannot delete or rename the old one brought over from Win 8.1.

I have deleted the Microsoft Account and recreated it without any success, and also tried a local account.

I have tried re registering the Apps as per this tutorial https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3...ws-8-10-a.html without any success. I tried doing a Repair from my install disk but it says I need to move my C drive back first.

Is there anything else I should try before starting again with another clean install?

Strangely the only thing that is working is Cortana!! and I can access the Settings via the Notifications, but it is very slow.

Kari said:

Did you follow the instructions to the letter? Installing Windows, entering Audit Mode before creating any user accounts, relocating the Users folder to an empty drive not containing any Windows system folders like Users folder from another Windows installation?

I think my mistake was to relocate the Users folder to the HDD that still had the old Users Folders from the Win 8.1 installation. This is how I have now got two Users directories with the same name in Windows, but now different names when viewed via Command Prompt.

I'm just copying everything out of the old Users Folders now (even though I also have an Image backup) and will then reformat the HDD and start again - does that sound the best thing to do?

If I do another Clean Install am I right to think I wont need to relocate the User Folders back to C:?

PS I just reread your guide and saw this warning right at the end - I think I probably had not read it before - my fault.

Kari said:

Simply follow the instructions in the tutorial to the letter.


I really do not understand the question? Of course you don't have to move anything when clean installing. Just wipe the disk and install.

My question was because I tried to do a Repair with the install disk, but it would not let me as the user Folders had been relocated.

I will leave my User files copying and go to bed now - too tired to think straight anymore!!

Once again many thanks for these excellent guides - I would be completely lost without them.

Success!! I finally got there with a fully functioning Windows 10 install and my user folders relocated. I went back and did another Clean Install, activated the software using the Genuine Ticket.xml and then relocated the User Folders using the Method 2 process above. Everything running smoothly and very responsive system, Windows Update just completed its updates , and I think worth the effort in the end.

Thank you to everyone on these forums who has helped me.

Now just starting the task of reinstalling all my software, but that should be straightforward.

Kari said:

Good to know you finally got it working :)

I spoke a bit to soon as the User Folders were still a bit mixed up.
First time when I did the initial install I did just used a Local Account and it correctly moved the folders with everything still working, however as I had used Dummy as the Account name for the local account I was left with Dummy as the name of the user folder.
So I tried again from scratch (getting pretty good at the install routine now :)) with a Microsoft Account, and this time when I tried to move the user folders using Method 2 I was left with the Start screen, and Store apps not working (same as last night).
So third time I use the Method 1 Audit Mode and it all worked fine with correctly names User Folders and all apps et working. Looks like Method 1 Audit Mode is the best way to approach this.
Anyway now back to installing programs etc. and updating thing.

Am I right in saying this wont work for Windows Apps if you move the Program Files ? because I moved all folders 4 times over and still end up with the Windows Apps not working at all, even if I change the xApp key found in the registry, please view my reply on this post, as to how I get around it,

https://www.tenforums.com/general-discussion/18239-how-change-program-files-location-windows-10-a-2.html

Kari said:

Good to know you finally got it working :)