Move Users Folder Location in Windows 10  


  1. Posts : 72
    W10
       #1230

    Optimistic said:
    Hi Kari
    .... re-moving it back to the SSD every time an upgrade (hope I used the correct term) comes along. ......
    Hello §Optimistic, I'm not Kari but I can answer your two questions..

    a) speaking of UPGRADES: It's for people from W8 and W7 ... not for people already running W10 ...
    .....W10 UPDATE itself, so no problem, even with MAJOR updates, you'll have to do nothing.

    b) Using Properties "repositioning" to move User: It will not guaranty you that all program will be redirected,
    some will re-create the user in C: not finding it.
    (my old Office version, for instance, and other normal programs I cant remember)

    Be confident, I moved Users folders in all my systems, ...from Vista onward

    a FINAL NOTE: Please check in settings then there are NO PENDING UPDATEs from W10.
    (it just wasted a new build I'm doing to-day - and that's a first - I will start again from scratch)

    Alain
    Last edited by AlainCh2; 11 Dec 2018 at 08:42.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 20
    Windows 10
       #1231

    I think this is the method I've used to move my Users folder for my last several builds. My computer is acting up and I probably need to do a clean install. Using this method to move the Users folder, Windows also views the drive that you move the Users folder to as a system drive, correct? I name that drive "Data". So if I want to create a system image it also images the Data drive, correct?

    Just want to verify, because I want to avoid this with this install. I'd like to move the Users folder to my Data drive but be able to do a system image of just my OS drive. I believe there's a way to do that, but haven't found it, so if someone can point me in that direction it would be appreciated.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #1232

    GryphonBR said:
    … doesn't move the Users folder at the end of the process.
    This system is fool proof. If the Users folder is not relocated after the Sysprep, there are only four possible reasons:
    - The answer file is not correctly made, or not found when Sysprep is run
    - Sysprep cannot find the drive where to relocate Users folder
    - The intended drive contains system files or folders from an earlier installation, or from another computer
    - The intended drive is a removable drive (SDS card, external HDD etc.)


    AlainCh2 said:
    Do your videotutorial have no sound ?
    Yes, video in the beginning of this tutorial is narrated, does have sound.


    AlainCh2 said:
    "I'm Karin, Welcome to my channel, this tutorial has NO SOUND"
    I would never say that because my name is not Karin. However, at 22 second mark on video is this tutorial, I say "Hello geeks, welcome to Ten Forums", and then continue to narrate until the end of the video.


    Optimistic said:
    Have a question for you. I've searched around the web and this post and I can't find an answer to a question I have (sorry if already asked). I also would like to move the User's directory of the C: drive of an SSD to a HDD, but don't want to keep re-moving it back to the SSD every time an upgrade.
    Upgrades work just fine also with relocated Users folder. Only when upgrading from Windows 7 or 8 to Windows 10 you must move Users back to C: drive before upgrading. Upgrading from any Windows 10 version to next one, Users folder may remain relocated, causing no issues.


    Optimistic said:
    For example: C:\Users\Optimistic is currently what I have, login under Admin and move just Optimistic directory to HDD, and then make a symbolic link from C:\Users\Optimistic (symbolic link) to D:\Users\Optimistic.
    I very strongly advice against using symbolic links and junctions to relocate user data.


    monumental said:
    Using this method to move the Users folder, Windows also views the drive that you move the Users folder to as a system drive, correct? I name that drive "Data". So if I want to create a system image it also images the Data drive, correct?
    When creating a full system image backup, you must manually select partition C: and all MBR or GPT system partitions from your system disk, plus the partition where Users folder is relocated.

    For instance, in my case, when creating a Macrium Reflect backup, I select everything on the primary disk which contains the C: partition in addition to MBR partitions EFI, MSR and OEM (Recovery), then my E: partition on secondary disk where Users folder is relocated.

    Kari
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 20
    Windows 10
       #1233

    Kari said:
    When creating a full system image backup, you must manually select partition C: and all MBR or GPT system partitions from your system disk, plus the partition where Users folder is relocated.
    For instance, in my case, when creating a Macrium Reflect backup, I select everything on the primary disk which contains MBR partitions EFI, MSR and OEM (Recovery), then my E: partition on secondary where Users folder is relocated.
    Kari
    Right, thanks Kari. That's what I've done in the past and want to avoid because my Users folders just get too large. Is there another option so move the Users folder that doesn't create that issue?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #1234

    monumental said:
    Right, thanks Kari. That's what I've done in the past and want to avoid because my Users folders just get too large. Is there another option so move the Users folder that doesn't create that issue?
    When Users folder has been relocated, the all important AppData folders are no longer on C: drive. This means that if you do not include the drive with Users folder in backup, the applications might not work correctly after restoring the image.

    My solution is to use OneDrive and its excellent Files on Demand function for absolutely all of my personal data. When doing an image backup, I first right click the OneDrive main folder and select Clear space:
    Move Users Folder Location in Windows 10-image.png

    This removes everything from OneDrive folder on local computer, but everything is still in cloud. If I ever need to restore the image, I can then re-sync the data I need on local device, too, in addition to having everything in cloud.

    Turn On or Off OneDrive Files On-Demand in Windows 10 | Tutorials

    Another option is to move all personal data (except AppData!) to an external HDD before creating the image, then move it back when ready.

    This is in no way different compared to a default setup with Users folder on C: drive, not relocated. When there's a lot of personal data in it, the choice is either to include everything in image backup, or use methods like those told above to temporarily reduce the size of the user profile folders.

    Kari
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 16
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #1235

    I'm doing fresh install of Windows 10 Pro (ver 1809) from a USB stick created by the MS Media Generation tool.
    It seems this version doesn't have as many reboots as the older versions did. At which install screen should I start the sysprep process for the 1809 build? I tried it once at the privacy settings screen but it then takes you back to the beginning of the OOBE where it asks about which country your in and which keyboard you want. It worked from what I can tell but is there a better/earlier point in the setup to run the sysprep with 1809?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #1236

    geobrick said:
    I'm doing fresh install of Windows 10 Pro (ver 1809) from a USB stick created by the MS Media Generation tool.
    It seems this version doesn't have as many reboots as the older versions did. At which install screen should I start the sysprep process for the 1809 build? I tried it once at the privacy settings screen but it then takes you back to the beginning of the OOBE where it asks about which country your in and which keyboard you want. It worked from what I can tell but is there a better/earlier point in the setup to run the sysprep with 1809?
    Thanks for pointing out that tutorial was a bit outdated. I removed old videos, will replace them later, and edited the beginning to show how and when to boot to Audit Mode and Sysprep.

    See the beginning of Method One in tutorial for updated information.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 16
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #1237

    Thanks Kari! That was an amazingly fast reply.
    I'm installing it now.
    Your method his has worked for me many times over the past few years (I have a printed copy of the tutorial).
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1
    Windows 10 Professional version 1809
       #1238

    I'm installing a fresh copy of Windows 10 version 1809 from a USB created by Media Creation Tool. Following all the steps in your method 1, after running the sysprep command and it rebooted, it is stuck at the screen with Windows logo and a spinning wheel for more than an hour with no error. The disk LED flashes every 5-10 seconds. Both C and D drives are new M.2 NVMe SSD's. Does sysprep usually take a long time even for new installation?

    I generated my answer file from Windows System Image Manager, which also sets the administrator password, creates two local user accounts and sets the time zone. I am moving the User/profile folder to D:\ instead of D:\Users. The answer file contains only OOBE phase settings and was validated without any warning or error. I also verified there is no empty/blank elements in the answer file.
    Last edited by anson5; 21 Jan 2019 at 02:06. Reason: Additional information
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #1239

    anson5 said:
    I'm installing a fresh copy of Windows 10 version 1809 from a USB created by Media Creation Tool. Following all the steps in your method 1, after running the sysprep command and it rebooted, it is stuck at the screen with Windows logo and a spinning wheel for more than an hour with no error. The disk LED flashes every 5-10 seconds. Both C and D drives are new M.2 NVMe SSD's. Does sysprep usually take a long time even for new installation?
    No, it should not take that long. Please zip your answer file and attach to a post here, I'll check if I can spot something.

    Kari
      My Computer


 

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