Windows 7: How to change appdata/temp folder from C drive to D drive

This is basically to reduce writing to the C drive. Say I want to install a 4gb game, the installer may unpack data/cab files to the C drive, then delete it after the installation is complete.

This means I have just basically written 4gb of data onto my SSD. I DO NOT want that to happen. I cringe everytime I see data written on to my beautiful SSD drive.

What can I do to change appdata/temp folder to the d drive so that the default behaviour of such installation will be to unpack/extract needed info to the D drive instead of into folders on my C drive which is SSD?

Thank you.

Hello there.

Go to computer, properties, advanced system settings. and follow the attachments.

I believe that you can only change the TEMP/TMP folders. not the AppData one

But, let me ask, if the files are deleted automatically after installation, what's the big hussle? i mean, the space once occupied by the files is now available

Is it not the "system variables" too? in the box below where it says TEMP/TMP

Because the box you highlighted me is for "User variables"

Because a SSD has a limited write/erase cycle before it becomes read-only and the more write/erase cycles there are, the worse it's performance. Writing to the SSD is like making it smoke.

Yep, you can edit actually the System Variables, TEMP is on the bottom of the list IIRC

So I need to edit both the User variables AND the sytem variables? Currently, they are not showing the same location.

Default user variable is set to %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp
System variables is set to C:\Windows\TEMP

So then do I need to creat 2 different temp folders on my D drive? One to set the user variable to and one to set the System variable to? ie D:\Appdata\Local\Temp and D:\Windows\TEMP?

Actually you could set them both to be "D:\TEMP" and that's it. you have ALL your temporary files in 1 folder, and that will be actually easier.

Gracias (you're obviously from Spain)

Will try now and reboot.

De nada! (nop hehe.. Valencia, Venezuela)

Reboot and report back after that

Seem to be working, I am installing game now and I can see data being written to D drive while unpacking. Just saved about 4gbs or writes on my SSD! It'll live healthier for longer now.

Yay awesome, this thread can be marked as solved now

Enjoy you SSD