Windows 7: User Folders - Change Default Location

Brink · 29 Jul 2009

How to Change the Default Location of User Folders in Windows 7 and Windows 8

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Click here to read the entire tutorial

Last edited by Brink; 11 Apr 2013 at 12:01 PM..

kungfupanda7 · 27 Nov 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

Hello kungfupanda,

No. You would not want to try and rename one of your user folders like "My Videos". Doing so will break it's symbolic link. If you like, I would recommend to move these folders back to your C drive, then do what's in the yellow Tip box at the top of the tutorial to use libraries instead. This way you can create a folder named what and where you like for this instead without the risk of messing up your user folders.

Yes, you can change your G drive letter to I, but only do so if you do not have anything (ex: shortcuts) that run or save automatically to the G drive. If you do and change the drive letter, then they will no longer work since they are still looking for the G drive. Use caution.

You should have no issue with changing your DVD's E letter to Z.

Drive Letter - Add, Change, or Remove in Windows 7

Hope this helps,

Shawn

dear brink hi...

um i've decided to do clean install for my laptop from zero (since it's long overdue anyway), i've used this tutorial in the past when i first install my windows

User Folders - Change Default Location

however at that time, i didn't rename the my videos etc folders, i just moved it.

Now, i'd like to ask, if i do clean install of my laptop now, when i point to new location say, the "my pictures" from C to "new folders" on E, is it possibleto rename the "new folders" on E to like "something music" instead of the same "my music"

i apologize for the not concise english on my part...

have a great day,

Kungfupanda

Brink · 27 Nov 2012

Hello Kungfupanda,

I wouldn't recommend to rename your user folders. Doing so will mess up their symbolic link.

If you like, you might consider using the yellow Tip box at the top of this tutorial to use libraries. This way you can name the folders on E what you like, and just include them in your libraries on C with them still being stored on E. This way you do not have to move your user folders, and worry about messing them up by mistake.

kungfupanda7 · 27 Nov 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

Hello Kungfupanda,

I wouldn't recommend to rename your user folders. Doing so will mess up their symbolic link.

If you like, you might consider using the yellow Tip box at the top of this tutorial to use libraries. This way you can name the folders on E what you like, and just include them in your libraries on C with them still being stored on E. This way you do not have to move your user folders, and worry about messing them up by mistake.

I see, thank you for your answer, I will do this when i do a clean install, by the way brink, 1 more question,

when i first got my laptop i follow the clean all tutorial,

Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command

Now, i heard that we shouldn't do clean all command too often, my question is, i did it 2 times already in the past on the same laptop, is it overkill when i do clean install now, i do it again? thank you very much,

kungfupanda

Brink · 27 Nov 2012

Since you are not selling or giving your computer away, the "Clean all" command would be overkill.

I would recommend to just do a normal clean install instead. It formats the HDD before installation anyways.

richierein · 25 Dec 2012

Hi Brink,

I plan on relocating my Music folder (100gb) to an external drive. I assume that this procedure does not actually relocate the files. You mention in Step 11 'a few seconds'. Transferring all these files will most likely take several hours. I would still like iTunes to recognize the new location. Is it necessary to make a registry edit as it was when I relocated a complete user profile? At an earlier date I changed the location of my user profile but have since moved it back to C:.

Brink · 25 Dec 2012

Hello Richard,

In this case, I would recommend to do what's in the yellow Tip box at the top of the tutorial instead of moving your "My Music" folder.

It would be much safer to do, and work better for what you wanted to do.

Hope this helps,

Shawn

richierein · 25 Dec 2012

Should I expect it to take several hours to move the files?

Brink · 25 Dec 2012

It really depends on how the external drive is connected. If it's USB 2.0 or slower, then yeah 100GB is going to take a long time to copy over.

richierein · 25 Dec 2012

I'll give it a try. Thanks.

Brink · 25 Dec 2012

You're welcome.

Windows 7: User Folders - Change Default Location

User Folders - Change Default Location problems?