Relocate windows user/s profile WITHOUT SYSPREP

obieephyhm · 20 Jun 2021

I am at the basic configuration stage of the new system (current version of Windows 10 pro) just installed last week (finally).

Before I begin installing a plethora of software I need, I want to shift the profiles off the SSD to a more robust HDD to save wear-n-tear. I found the tutorial or part of a tutorial much earlier this year when I updated/graded my former desktop from Windows 7 ultimate to Windows 10 pro. Unfortunately, that computer got hosed trying to make it into a replacement for my dead DAW so I can't find what it is I did.

This shouldn't be complicated -- it wasn't before -- but when I did a search on the web this time and followed what I thought were the correct instructions (activating the built in admin account, switching to it, editing the registry then copying files over) I ended up in a situation where the OS no longer could recognize any profile (my original nor the admin) and it seemed to be stuck in a loop where it wanted me to 'log out' but it couldn't load whatever it was trying to load -- lather, rinse, repeat.

I had done a restore point prior to making the attempt so I restored it and I'm back to where I was an hour ago. But as to what I did wrong, I'm not sure.

To be even more specific, if I wasn't clear enough -- I'm looking to MOVE my existing user profile off the 'c' ssd drive to my 'data' drive on an HDD. Then I want make sure that any future users defined to the system automatically have their profiles created on the HDD data drive NOT the ssd 'c' drive.

Suggestions? Point me to the correct tutorial that I can't find?

dalchina · 20 Jun 2021

Hi, here's how to search for such things:

- and the tutorial you want.

Method 2.

Wear and tear on your SSD is not a good reason to move it (well, that's my opinion).

mngerhold · 22 Jun 2021

To add to what dalchina wrote: you do realise that the 'plethora' of sw you plan to install will likely be many, many more bytes than the user profiles you want to move? To add to that, any system images you create of the boot drive will no longer contain user info. I wouldn't bother. Do you know of anyone who has 'worn out' their SSD in normal use?

obieephyhm · 24 Jun 2021

dalchina said:

Hi, here's how to search for such things:

- and the tutorial you want.

Method 2.

Wear and tear on your SSD is not a good reason to move it (well, that's my opinion).

For reference: how many DAWs have you built and used for content creation? If you have, how many DAW applications have you had installed and in use at the same time? How many of them were legacy? How much outboard equipment did you have attached? Do you have any direct experience that is relevant to my intended purpose? Are you assuming that I am new to computer use because of the nature of the problems I have been experiencing?

- - - Updated - - -

mngerhold said:

To add to what dalchina wrote: you do realise that the 'plethora' of sw you plan to install will likely be many, many more bytes than the user profiles you want to move? To add to that, any system images you create of the boot drive will no longer contain user info. I wouldn't bother. Do you know of anyone who has 'worn out' their SSD in normal use?

Same questions.

dalchina · 24 Jun 2021

Thank you for your reply.

obieephyhm · 24 Jun 2021

I am unable to make the process work as described but I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that the problems are unrelated to the processes described here and, instead, appear to result from something deeply wrong with the hardware (specifically, the motherboard). I went on to follow the tutorial for a clean install and could not make that work either because no matter what I set the bios to, I end up with blank screens and nothing happening.

I managed (in the last six or eight days) to do two clean installs. In both cases, they somehow become corrupted within 48 hours of installation and I can no longer boot from them. Since it has happened two times now, I'm concerned there is a hardware problem that I have failed to recognize.

Relocate windows user/s profile WITHOUT SYSPREP

Relocate windows user/s profile WITHOUT SYSPREP

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