Old default location 'C:\Users\(existing user account)recreated again

Hadramawt · 07 Nov 2014

Hi,
I don't know if I came to the right forum section or not.

I have

I moved all existing user account profile folder from the default location(C:\Users) into (D\:Users) in both the Windows explorer and in the registry. by following the Brink's explanation

As this screen shots below shows:

View Screen Capture

By following Brink's explanation, I moved all newly created user account profile folder from the default location(C:\Users) into (D\:Users)

I moved public user account profile folder from the default location(C:\Users) into (D\:Users)

As this screen shot shows:

View Screen Capture

I did this six months ago, and everything is working well. The old default location(C:user) which no longer exists, it became unused by installing any programs or using any programs preinstalled with either a user account(existing user account, or public user account or newly user account). (E.e. the installed programs didn't save or look for any information in the old default location). The new default location for the current existing user account 'D:\Users\Mohammad' is only used and visible for all programs. And 'D:\Users\public' for Public user account.

However,
First: when I recently installed ' HP Support Assistant V(7.4.45.4)', I noticed that HP Support Assistant created file called 'RegistrationInfo' under the old default location which is 'C:\Users\.....', although the old default location of course no longer exists. The full path created by installing HP Support Assistant is "C:\Users\Mohammad\AppData\Local\Hewlett-Packard\HP Support Framework\Reg"

There is only one file called 'RegistrationInfo' created in the old default location above. However, it is still being edited with the date.

Second: when I installed the iSkysoft PDF Editor version 4.0.1, then it also re-used the old default location "C:\Users" for the current existing user account I am logged in to while installing the program. This is the full path recreated when I installed iSkysoft PDF Editor
C:\Users\Mohammad\AppData\Local\iSkysoft\ISHelper

However, when I open 'ISHelper' I found it empty and there is no data or information inside it.

Third: When I installed the driver of Sharp printer, it recreated the old default location for the public user account:
This is the full path: C:\Users\Public\Documents\Printer Status Monitor

This is the content of this file generated by the Printer Status Monitor

Code:

# This file is generated by the Printer Status Monitor.
#
# When the IP address setting of print controller is changed,
# the dialog is often indicated as "No response. Make sure the
# specified IP address is correct."
# If you want to monitor the printer, exit the printer status
# monitor, do the operation from A to D as follows, and start the
# printer status monitor.
#
# A. Check the power of printer whether it is on or not.
# B. When the power is on, check the IP addresses.
#    If you don't know how to check the IP addresses, please see 
#    your printer's operation manual or contact your network 
#    administrator.
# C.  If you use LPR software or LPR port on NT, 
#    1. Double-click the icon "My Computer", and double-click the
#       "Printer" icon.
#    2. Right-click the icon of the printer, and select "Properties".
#    3. For the "port to print to" in the "Details" tab (When it is
#       NT, "Print to the following port(s)." in the "Ports".),
#       select the port that is the correct IP address.
# D.  For the "port to print to", when you use LPR software that does
#     not use the IP address, or print by way of a server, describe
#     the correct IP address by editing this file.
#     Please ensure that you remove the '#' at the start of the line
#     to enable the added configuration.
#
# Syntax:
# IP-Address Printer-Name-Shown-In-The-Explorer
#
#         Printer-Name-Shown-In-The-Explorer : (This must be the name
#         used in "Printers".)
#
# Example:
# 192.168.122.23 SHARP AR-507 PCL6
# 192.168.122.24 SHARP AL-1600 Series PCL6
# 192.168.122.25 SHARP AR-160/200 Series PCL6
# 192.168.122.26 SHARP DM-2000 Series PCL6
# 192.168.122.27 SHARP AR-235 PCL6
# 192.168.122.28 SHARP AR-P350 PCL6
# 192.168.122.29 SHARP AR-M350 PCL6

I have installed another program 'Screenshot Studio' after those three above programs, it was well installed, and it saved all its information into the new location which is "D:\Users\Mohammad........'. As this screen shoot shows:

View Screen Capture

My questions are as follows:
First: Why did only these three programs recreate and use the old default location for existing user account "C:\Users\Mohammad" and the old default location for the public user account 'C:\Users\Public", although these old locations definitely no longer exist?

Second: If I want to git rid of this bug, what should I do? I really opened all those three programs, but I didn't see any option of changing the path to be modified? I really checked out the settings of those program looking for if the programs are setup in their settings to still save their information into the old default location, but I didn't find anything.

Finally: I saw that all information saved in the old location "C:\Users\Mohammad.....", and "C:Users\Public....." was insignificant, since for HP Support Assistant only saved the information for 'RegistrationInfo'. However, the file generated by the Printer Status Monitor is only edited since it Sharp printer got installed, and the iSkysoft PDF Editor didn't save any information in that path(its empty)

gregrocker · 08 Nov 2014

Not all programs can be redirected to install to another drive.

I would not install Programs anywhere except on C since they write keys to registry which integrate them into the OS until uninstalled and thus should remain on C. Likewise their Program data. Also on SSD's you lose the benefit of faster performance if Programs must be read from the slower drive.

The solution to this is not to move the User Profile but only the active User folders as in User Folders - Change Default Location

Is there another reason you wanted your OS profile on a non-OS drive?

townsbg · 08 Nov 2014

Many programs leave configuration files in the profile folder and some of them might be hard coded to look for that folder on the OS drive. If that is so you won't be able to completely move the profiles folder. Doing so could have messed up those programs. My recommendation is to only move your documents, movies, music, etc to the other drive and leave the rest in the default location. I also agree about only installing programs on the OS drive.

Hadramawt · 08 Nov 2014

Thank you both of you very much indeed,

I really did Not move the default location of installing programs, however, I have only moved the Default Location of a User Profile folder instead. If were not helpful, then why would Brink have discussed it at your forum
How to Change the Default Location of a User Profile in Vista and Windows 7'

The solution to this is not to move the User Profile but only the active User folders as in User Folders - Change Default Location

But if you have visited that link I provided in my very first post, you will be seeing that Brink discussed How to Change the Default Location of a User Profile in Vista and Windows 7' in whichHe said:
Warning
Some of the programs you have installed may not work properly after moving your user profile folder since they are still looking for their information in the user profile folder's original AppData folder location which of course no longer exists.
If you have this problem afterwards, then you may be able to uninstall and reinstall these programs, or use OPTION TWO in the tutorial to create a new user account and create new shortcuts for the programs to fix this.

-------------
I have moved the account profile folder six months ago without seeing any problem. But recentely I have installed three programs mentioned before, then this problem showed me.
I don't have any problems with the programs I have recently installed. They worked well after moving my user profile folder. However, the problem is only these programs are only saving saving their information in the user profile folder's original AppData folder location which of course no longer exists.

Only these three programs are saving their information the old location 'C:\Users' which was recreated by them since it no longer exists, the others are saving their information in the new location which is: C:\Users\.......

I hope I let my question clear.

Slartybart · 08 Nov 2014

Some programs don't use the correct key when they look up a User's profile location and default to: %SystemDrive%\Users

Other programs default when something returns a "not found" condition.

I noticed in your screen shot that Default is set to
%SystemDrive%\Users\Default

$Old default location 'C:\Users\(existing user account)recreated again-38jxxz.jpg$

I don't recall that being an issue on any of my machines when I relocated my user profile(s), so it's just an observation at this point.

A few things you can check:
1) make sure your environment variables reference the D:\users location
(HOMEDRIVE one that might throw off a not-so-smart program)

2) See if the junctions still exist
Open a command prompt (your current directory should be your user profile folder)
Enter the following command
dir /s /aL > ListJunctions.txt
exit

Look in ListJunctions.txt for the special backward compatible folder names Myxxxx (Mydocuments, Mypictures, ...) and Application Data. I think there are a few others, but I never fixed that on this machine (no older programs). You might have to add the junctions back to your user profile using
mklink /J SymLinkName TargetFolderName
ex: mklink "Application Data" "D:\Users\Mohammad\Appdata"
Your current directory in a command prompt would be d:\users\Mohammad
I'm not sure of you need the fully qualified folder names, so check what you create
dir /aL

date time <JUNCTION> Application Data ["D:\Users\Mohammad\Appdata]
is what I would expect you to see.

Junctions might not be carried over in a move. I'll have to look on my Win7 machine to get a good list.

As you've noted the files that got created are not of any consequence, still it would be nice to not have to worry about where things are placed.

I ran into this issue a few times, but can't recall how I ended up resolving it (other than what I posted above).
You might export your registry and look for any instance of C:\User, \User, or %SystemDrive%\User

If I can think of anything else, I'll post it.

Bill
.

Hadramawt · 09 Nov 2014

Slartybart said:

Some programs don't use the correct key when they look up a User's profile location and default to: %SystemDrive%\Users

Other programs default when something returns a "not found" condition.

Thank you so much,
Although I don't understand what you meant with this point, I would be saying:
If some programs are still looking for their information in the old default location of a user account's profile folder I changed, then check from inside the program, and change the location to new location as well. In other words, if the old location of a user account's profile folder you changed is still used by some programs, you should change the location from inside the program to the new location as well.

In some programs such as: (Bluetooth, Revo installer) you can change the default location from inside them.

I noticed in your screen shot that Default is set to
%SystemDrive%\Users\Default

$Old default location 'C:\Users\(existing user account)recreated again-38jxxz.jpg$

I don't recall that being an issue on any of my machines when I relocated my user profile(s), so it's just an observation at this point.

Since I noticed no importance, significant problems from moving or even not moving the default user profile folder, I really didn't move it for this Windows installation.

However, in other Windows 7 installations, I've also tried changing the default user account's profile folder from its default location '%SystemDrive%\Users\Default' into another one .
I really have been still asking myself what benefits or features there are from this kind of user account.
If you have a close look at this screen shot below taken from inside the default user account's profile folder, you will see that the date of all sub-folders is 2009. (I am really very perplexed about this date which is even far too much earlier than the data when I purchase my machine, which is was 2011.
There are only one folder and two files highlighted got dated with a date later than 2009.

View Screen Capture

With respect to Junctions, I really didn't create any junction when moving all my accounts into another location(D:\Users\....)
I only have followed the steps supported by Brink.

As you've noted the files that got created are not of any consequence, still it would be nice to not have to worry about where things are placed.

I really don't see any consequences of these files being recreated. However, I really have deleted the main folder 'Users' inside C: once all the user account got moved into the new location. Then, I've always been monitoring the drive 'C' to check out if any program re-installed or just installed recreate the folder 'users' to save information of its. However, I have stayed for about six months without getting that folder recreated again. However, the three programs motioned in my very first post resulted in recreating that folder in the C:. I know these files are not user DATA which should be separated from the OS drive, however, I really would perfect solution of this issue. I think all programs should be installed where a user direct them while installing them. However, they should be saving their information according to where Existing user account's profile folder , Public user account's profile folder are.

I ran into this issue a few times, but can't recall how I ended up resolving it (other than what I posted above).

I was having this problem with some programs, such as ((Bluetooth, Revo installer), which were installed after moving all the accounts into another location which is D:\users\...', . However, when I installed them, they were still saving their information in the old default location 'C:\Users\Existing user account' which of course no longer exists.
For instance, I have installed Revo installer after moving all accounts from 'C:\uses' into 'D:\Users'.
However, when Revo got installed, and whenever I uninstalled any program with it, then I found that Revo recreated 'C:\users\Existing account ' since its settings are set up to the default location "C:\Users\Existing account"

View Screen Capture

What I have done to solve this issue is: I changed the default location from inside them.(I opened the settings of a program still saving its information in the old default location 'C:\Users'. Then, I changed it into new 'D:\users\existing account'

View Screen Capture

After that, Rev became saving its information to the new location 'D:\users\Existing user account'.

You might export your registry and look for any instance of C:\User, \User, or %SystemDrive%\User

To check out if the new default location of the newly created accounts, and public user account is "D:\Users\...", I think no entries which should be checked out at registry other than 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList'

However, to check out if the new default location of the existing account is 'D:\Users\My Existing account", I think no entries which should be checked out at registry other than: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-21 for my existing account"

gregrocker · 09 Nov 2014

First of all, I've stopped advising users to use Revo after seeing it ruin several installs due to being overly aggressive. Meanwhile CCleaner has no documented case of ever messing up the registry with its less aggressive registry cleaner.

Enough issues have presented over the years with moving User Account that I don't advise it and the last time I asked Shawn he discouraged it, too. So you might want to address that with him in the tutorial Comments section to be sure. He may also be able to help you there with the issues you're having.

Meanwhile what does work well is moving the individual active User folders as I've already explained. On my devices I move the User folders into the OneDrive folder to synch them smoothly across all devices: Sync, Backup and Store your Files to the Cloud with OneDrive

Slartybart · 09 Nov 2014

Some programs get the locations from the wrong key in the registry (they make a wrong call to GETHISKEY or something- rookie mistake). The key itself states "DO NOT USE TIHS KEY TO GET ..... USE THIS KEY"
I forget the exact key name.

So there are or are not <JUNCTION> references under your D:\ profile?
The programs you installed might look for them and use a coded default (usually on c:\)
I don't know about every specific programs and don't see the merit in looking that deeply at the ones you installed.
This, as you know, is an artifact of moving a user profile.

How about those environment variables I asked about - anything still pointing back at C:\Users?

Did you get the chance to export the registry and look for C:\User, \User, or %SystemDrive%\User

I got lost in the Default user and Revo discussion - thanks for posting the information, but ...
I don't think you can change the destination for every program with Revo - only Revo settings would be affected - I could be wrong on that. Again, I didn't look that closely at your post. I'll go back and read it again.

Bill
.

Hadramawt · 09 Nov 2014

Thakns a lot, Slartybart, gregrocker.

So there are or are not <JUNCTION> references under your D:\ profile?
The programs you installed might look for them and use a coded default (usually on c:\)
I don't know about every specific programs and don't see the merit in looking that deeply at the ones you installed.
This, as you know, is an artifact of moving a user profile.

I just followed Brink's steps, and there is no junction mentioned at his thread.

I got lost in the Default user and Revo discussion - thanks for posting the information, but ...
I don't think you can change the destination for every program with Revo - only Revo settings would be affected - I could be wrong on that. Again, I didn't look that closely at your post. I'll go back and read it again.

With respect to what I said about Revo program, I meant that the default settings of installing Reov program is still 'C:users\existing user accont' even after moving the user accounts from 'C:users\existing user account' into 'D:users\exiting user account'. It mustn't have recognised the old location which of course no longer exists. Thus, whenever I open the Revo uninstaller, and uninstall a program with it, then Revo creates this folder 'VS Revo Group' in this old path 'C:\Users\User folder\AppData\local\'. And whenever a program was uninstalled by it, then Backup data of that program saved in this folder.the 'C:user"
However, I had to change it in the settings of Rev uninstaller into the the new location 'D:users', then Reov became saved in the new location.'D:users\....'

Yes, not all programs such Revo which can be configured from inside its settings. But I need a stable moving of the old default location into a new location of a user account's profile folder.

Slartybart · 09 Nov 2014

Yes, ... that's what I thought, thanks.

I'd like to see if an environment variable still references the C:\Users\... location
and what junctions, if any, are under your d:\users\... profile

Open a standard Command Prompt and type:

set > listEnv.txt

dir /s /aL > listJunct.txt
exit

Please attach both files created to your next post (use the paperclip icon on the post menu)

listEnv.txt
-- and --
ListJunct.txt

The files are in your top level user profile folder.