Question: Is there a way to undo this so that I can possibly reset my PC? I've ran into a huge Cortana/malware/"I did something I wasn't supposed to do and should've known better" problem and need to reset/refresh my OS. However, Windows will not allow me to reset my desktop (and I'd like to avoid doing a "fresh install"). Any one have any advice on doing this?
No issues. Although it did reset my browser to Edge again, but it left the other default programs alone. Everything USD in place, no duplicated special folders. Time to make the ISO and then clean up the install dirs.
The need to move the Users back to C: drive before upgrade now no longer existing, there really are no reasons not to do this anymore :)
Not users folder, no, but it recreated default locations for my special folders. I keep documents, download, pictures, music, and videos on a 1 TB mechanical drive, away from system or users. But with new builds it re-creates them in the user tree, so they are duplicated.
Last edited by johngalt; 27 Mar 2016 at 13:40.
Hi Kari,
Excellent tutorial and help through the thread. I have tried to read through the thread for my problem and have seen it and the fix. I have tried what you propose and yet I'm stuck.
I have a Sansui Lifepad with only 16Gb on-board memory. Needless to say why I need to move the Users folder.
I tried the tutorial on upgrade from Windows 8.1, clean install and existing install. Each time I get stuck in the reboot loop. I have tried all the options you mentioned thought the thread including manually changing the drive letters. I expected that I have been miss typing the unattended answer file so I have been copying that and making the relevant changes. Still to no avail. Could it be that its not possible due to the lack of a DVD drive or does the windows mount supposed to be sufficient for the .wim file?
Please help if you can. Thanks in advance.
P.S. I'm not so tech savy
Hi Kari,
Great tutorial! I've used your method to relocate my Users folders many times in Windows 7 through 8.1 on various setups without issues.
I'm just about to start the process in Method One to freshly install Windows 10 on this Windows 7 machine and I have a question. Currently I have a 2TB HDD partitioned into 4 x 500 GB for my C: Windows 7 Home, D: Data (where Users are relocated to), and X: and Y: which I use for other storage/backups. I also have 3 other HDDs attached and partitioned (E: through to J:) for a variety of uses. My optical drive is Z:.I have just installed a 500 GB Samsung SSD 850 EVO mSATA on my mobo which is not yet formatted for the new Windows 10 install.
I have read your reply to erh252 on #386 which is a similar case to mine. I wish to use partition D: of my 2TB for the new location of Users and so I will reformat this D: partition after backing it up and pay great attention to manually setting the disc ID letter to D: in Disk Management as per tutorial. My question is, when I plug my HDDs back in at the Settings dialogue prior to Audit Mode what will happen when the computer detects my existing Windows 7 install on C: -won't that trigger it to restart in Windows 7 and screw up the Windows 10 install? Do I have to reset by BIOS first to only boot from the SSD, or do I need to reformat/erase my existing C: on the 2TB as well as the D:? I'd rather keep the old C: as it is as an additional/alternative backup copy, at least initially. Also, will all the other HDD partitions and the optical drive need to have their ID letters changed/reset as well, or will they stay the same as before? Finally, when you say 'turn the PC off' at the Settings dialogue prior to Audit Mode do you mean press the Power Button? Doesn't that risk wrecking the SSD or corrupting the install? Is there a way to ShutDown at this stage?
Your comments would be most helpful. Thanks.
Welcome to the Ten Forums.
First an important detail: I hope that you realize that installing Windows 10 on a dual boot system with Windows 7, you will need a valid Windows 10 license, in other words you need to pay for it. To use the free upgrade offer you need to replace Windows 7 with Windows 10, install the new OS on top of the old one.
Although the number of disks and partitions in your case is bigger than in an average scenario, the procedure you are planning is nothing but a normal dual boot installation. See this tutorial for all dual boot installation related questions and advice: Windows 10 - Dual Boot with Windows 7 or Windows 8 - Windows 10 Forums
In your case, thinking of the number of disks it might be better to let all disks be present all the time, in that way ensuring you get a proper boot menu created automatically. The case you referred to, my response in post #386 was not a dual boot scenario. In that case turning the PC off with the power switch is harmless as at that point there's no disk activity.
Kari
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