User Profiles - Create and Move During Windows 7 Installation

Kari said:

OK, I have tested a new, different scenario now on three PC's, and it works. Here's what you should do if installing Seven on SSD and relocating User folders using this method, or if for any reason wanting to move ProgramData and / or Users after Windows is already installed. This method can be used whenever you want to relocate Users to another disk on an existing installation of Seven.

If you want to install Seven on an SSD: Install Seven normally to SSD, disconnecting all other disks. After Windows has booted first time normally after installation, shut the computer down and reconnect other disks. Reboot Windows.

Relocating Users and ProgramData folders when Windows Seven is already installed:

Run Command Prompt as administrator by clicking Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories, then right clicking Command Prompt and selecting Run as Administrator:

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Type this to command prompt: C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\Sysprep.exe /audit /reboot, hit Enter.

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Windows reboots now to Audit Mode, "thinking" it's been started first time as the message on screen shows:

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Now continue from beginning of page 4 in tutorial, and follow the steps described. Running the script causes Windows to move ProgramData and Users folders from C: to another disk or partition, also moving all content of said folders. The later you do this, the longer it takes because Windows has more to move.

Notice that this really makes Windows think it's first boot, so you have to select country and keyboard layout and again create a user account when first time booted in OOBE (normal) mode after running the script. Because the Users folder already contains your user account folders, you get an error message if trying to input the same name:

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Use a temporary name, for instance Test to continue first boot routine. When Windows stops for login, choose your old account to login, for instance in my case I chose here Kari and not the account Test which I just created:

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When finally in Windows desktop, go to User Accounts and remove the unnecessary Test account. That account has yet no folders to remove because Windows does not create user folders when user account is created; the user folders are only created when user logs in first time.

That's it. Works without any problems whatsoever.

Kari

Does it really relocate all already made users? So for example C:\users\myname will be transfer to D:\base\myname? All junction points will also be created in D:\base\myname ?
Some installed programs save some stuff like C:\users\myname\documents hardcoded in registry. Will this be fixed?

Or does it just create a junction from C:\USERS to D:\BASE and moving all stuff (also junctions) inside?
Just doubleclick on C:\USERS and check

Yes, it transfers everything. The first OOBE boot after sysprep might take a long time, though, depending on how much user data there is to move (the move itself is not done when sysprepped, it's done during first OOBE boot).

All registry entries will be changed (current user, default user all users etc.), for this method changes the value of <ProfilesDirectory> variable completely, going through every instance of it in registry. It kind of hard codes the new value of this environment variable to the system. Each and every existing profile will be moved.

It does not create any junctions or links. It simply changes the default value of a Windows environment variable and acts thereafter as if this new value were the correct, default value. Drive_X:\Users will be the default value of <ProfilesDirectory> in every aspect, in a failproof way.

Kari

Kari said:

Yes, it transfers everything. The first OOBE boot after sysprep might take a long time, though, depending on how much user data there is to move (the move itself is not done when sysprepped, it's done during first OOBE boot).

All registry entries will be changed, for this method changes the value of <ProfilesDirectory> variable completely, going through every instance of it in registry. It kind of hard codes the new value of this environment variable to the system.

It does not create any junctions or links. It simply changes the default value of a Windows environment variable and acts thereafter as if this new value were the correct, default value. Drive_X:\Users will be the default value of <ProfilesDirectory> in every aspect, in a failproof way.

Kari

So it does sort of search and replace on ALL user registry files. But does it do the same thing on ini files and for example settings.dat in appdata? Many programs save their settings in appdata in files like settings.dat, perferences.cfg etc.

Yes. Everything.

Create a test machine on VirtualBox or VMware and see it yourself. When the variable value is changed, everything that was previously pointed at C:\Users will now be pointing to X:\Users.

Not many days ago I showed a neighbor how to do this. Over 80 gigs of user data on two accounts, Ms Office, VLC and a few more players, PhotoShop, Windows Live apps, bunch of games and other installed apps. Took almost an hour, everything works.

Kari

Kaktussoft yes it is all truly moved and it is one system spread over two drives. Even new accounts will be created on the secondary drive. when you click, say Documents, from the Start menu it will open without you even knowing Documents is on another drive. Nice slick way to do it. Even the Desktop folder is moved since it is in the Users folder.

My hang up was predicting how windows would assign drive letters for the script.

Hey, it's me again :) I have got some weird problem here. Installing Win 7 Enterprise 64bit on new and shiny computer. I have spent 2 days in Audit mode now installing drivers and other stuff. Now I would like to relocate Users and ProgramData folder. I have been doing this before on the old computer and it worked, that's why I am confused now.

Problem is, that sysprep.exe is not there where it should be. C:\Windows\System32\sysprep contains only empty folder "en-US". Same goes for C:\Windows\SysWOW64\sysprep.

I tried searching whole C: and it found it only once at this weird location:
C:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_microsoft-windows-sysprep_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.16385_none_4b73926c122be805\sysprep.exe

I am not really sure if I am supposed to use this one.

Anyway, only difference from the PDF guide is the dialog of sysprep tool when first booting to it from installation. I have been using another tutorial of yours and there is stated:

Now let's quit Sysprep t be able to customize Windows and install drivers and software. Select System Cleanup Action: Enter System Audit Mode and Shutdown Options: Quit as shown below and click OK

Could this cause the problem ? I tried restarting windows, dialog is always appearing again and I had hit Cancel, but to no use.

No, that is not the issue. I have never heard or seen about an empty sysprep folder. If your install media is valid, and you have done a normal install, it should be there.

I have to do some research, as I said this is the first time ever I have heard anything like this.

I have a suggestion, but I need first really warn you: I believe the tip below works, but as I cannot be sure I simply refuse any kind of responsibility if it fails. You need to understand the risks and that it might cause you losing the Windows functionality.

OK, the tip: Use sysprep from component storage folder (WinSxS) by running your answer file as follows:

Code:

C:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_microsoft-windows-sysprep_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.16385_none_4b73926c122be805\sysprep.exe /audit /reboot /unattend:DRIVE:\RELOCATE.XML

Interested to hear how it went...

Kari

That was good news! Happy computing, Scorpio.

Kari