New
#1180
Neither, I'm the one that had my User folder installed on G: drive with fresh install of Win 10, due apps and certain games, that drive was getting low on space. So I wanted to buy a new Larger drive, and swap it out. You gave me the below instructions.
Theoretically, it should work. I must admit I have never done that, I will test that scenario later this week.
Thinking about it, about the fact that if you boot to Windows before the new drive has got letter G and the old G: is no longer present, Windows would fail to boot. You would get to sign-in screen but system could not proceed from there because G: where Users folder is located would be missing. On the other hand, if you boot with duplicate Users folders on two different partitions / disks, it might also cause issues.
This is how I would do it. Lot's of steps but trust me, this only takes a few minutes plus time required to clone old disk:
1.) Clone old disk to new HDD / SSD using your preferred imaging / cloning software.
2.) Shutdown PC
3.) Remove old disk (optional, see steps 7 & 8 below).
4.) Create a WinPE USB boot device (tutorial, process is fast and easy).
5.) Boot from WinPE USB, do not let Windows boot from hard disk!
6.) WinPE boots automatically to Command Prompt. Run Windows Disk Partitioning tool by typing diskpartand pressing Enter.
7.) Enter command list vol to get a list of all volumes. Check the list, find the drive letter for partition containing Users folder on old disk if you did not remove it in step 3. above, and drive letter for same partition on cloned new disk. Notice that when booting to WinPE, drive letters might be different than when booting normally, drive G: might be shown as drive F: or something else. In any case, whatever drive letters are shown, change them.
8.) If the old disk was not removed in step 3, select it by entering command sel vol X where X is its volume number. Change its drive letter to any unused letter with command assign letter=Y where Y is the new drive letter.
9.) Now select the cloned partition on new disk with command sel vol X where X is its volume number. Assign it the letter G with command assign letter=G
10.) Type exit and press Enter to quit Diskpart.
That's it. remove WinPE USB, reset / restart PC booting normally to Windows.