User profiles

Note: The link you posted is messed up, it resolves to:

Code:

https://www.sevenforums.com/www.zdnet.com/dont-move-your-windows-user-profiles-folder-to-another-drive-7000022142/

should be:

Code:

http://www.zdnet.com/dont-move-your-windows-user-profiles-folder-to-another-drive-7000022142/

See the rebuttal by Keri on page 4 of the responses, near the bottom:

I have to most respectfully disagree!

As far as I can recall, this is the first time I have to disagree with you :). Not because I have written a few tutorials on those "third party websites" as you put it to instruct in doing this but because what you are saying is simply not valid and true.

Let's start with this extract from your article:

"Important

This setting should be used only in a test environment. By changing the default location of the user profile directories or program data folders to a volume other than the System volume, you will not be able to service your Windows installation. Any updates, fixes, or service packs will fail to be applied to the installation. Microsoft does not recommend that you change the location of the user profile directories or program data folders. [emphasis added]"

That is, to put it simple, absolutely totally not true. Since introduction of Windows Vista all my Windows systems private and business have had the main Users folder relocated on another partition than C: using sysprep and unattended answer file. I have never had any issues with Windows update nor with in-place upgrade installations.

As the method discussed changes the value of an internal windows environment variable, it is so well "hard coded" in system that Windows Update will recognize it and has no issues.

When upgrading I simply run sysprep on Windows first, using an answer file I relocate the Users folder back from E: to C:, reboot, run in-place upgrade and sysprep once again, moving Users back to E:.

Not a single issue. This laptop I'm using now was upgraded in above mentioned way from 7 to 8 august of 2012 and again August this year to 8.1, system files and folders except Users folder on C:, Users on E:, and the machine is working just fine, all updates done, Windows Update working as it should.

As Windows has evolved, so have its tools like sysprep. You did notice that the TechNet article you are referring to is already several years old (for instance it's using Vista Home Premium to Vista Ultimate as an upgrade example)?.

I can understand that there must be days with nothing new to write. However, scandalizing totally working methods and spreading false information is not a good way to get something published, if you ask my opinion.

Kari

KariFinn
16 December, 2013 21:17

Also this thread:

Heads up: Users cannot upgrade to 8.1 Pro if 7 User Profile was moved?

Please read this thread: Heads up: Users cannot upgrade to 8.1 Pro if 7 User Profile was moved?

My response is post #8.

Kari

Using your own brain for thinking is always allowed...

Of course you can move the profile folders back to C:. Simply move your personal docs, pics and media (the content of the folders you have moved) from folders like Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos and so on in Users\Your_Username to an external device to make the current profile folders as empty as possible.

Now move the profile folders back to C: using the same method originally used for moving the folders, and upgrade.

Kari

sargan said:

Understand I can move this off ... just taking Hrs to move to backup drives.

It's totally up to you. If you do not want to wait, just reinstall from scratch. At least your personal data is safe without any additional backup on locations you have moved it to.

sargan said:

If I have to do this every time I want to use 'repair' or when I come to upgrade, doesn't this then defeat the benefits ?

Again, it's totally up to you to decide your priorities when setting up a Windows computer. If your main priority is to get a working system where user data and the system are separated, locating on different drives, then you move the personal content to be stored on another drive using a method that best suits you.

However, if you main concern is to keep your system all time ready for a possible future repair or in-place upgrade installation then you simply do not move anything, do not change any default locations of any folder.

sargan said:

did follow original article and it worked fine, clear easy to follow steps .... but as I now have Profiles with a large amount of data. Having to move this off ... (My docs, pics, music, videos etc.) to allow restore of profiles to C:\
Wouldn't it be best to permananently locate those elsewhere ... in which case then the profiles are no longer huge .. and there seems to be little benefit to moving them off the C:\ ?

In your case a working solution could be to not move anything but use Libraries instead.

An example scenario from my computer: I have stored all videos and movies on various genre related root level folders on drive J:. I have also created a new library called Videos (Drive J):

This library contains the whole drive J: and nothing else:

Because the library content is a drive, when I now open this library it shows the root of the drive J: (folders like Comedy, Action, Drama, Documentaries and so on) and I can browse and use them normally.

Library takes a few kilobits on C:, all the content is on J:.

sargan said:

I know there is the idea that is you get an OS failure then you can quickly restore ... but in reality as your programs are on a separate HDD ... none of these are going to work with newly installed OS - registry will be wrong (or am I missing something)

Two main points in storing your personal data on a separate drive is to reduce the amount of used space on C: and to keep them safe in case of a crash or such.

Whatever method is used for this is irrelevant. Each user should think of a worse case scenario and create a recovery strategy in case that ever happens. In my case for instance, I have relocated the complete main profile folder to drive E: and created a system image containing only the system reserved partition and drive C:. If I need to restore my system, I simply restore the image which then automatically picks up my user data and all profiles on E:. Fast and easy.

Kari