Should I keep My Documents on C and Videos, Music etc on D ?

adri123 · 20 Jan 2015

What I get from this whole thread:

In order to neatly separate programs and data, the theoretically functionning design should be moving the special user folders to D, since these are the specially designed folders for the user to store his files. It's not by chance they're called My Music, My Documents and so on.
They are not called My Music Settings, My Documents Settings and so on.

For me it's crazy that anyone who wants to separate progs and data for backup purposes cannot save anything in the user folders specially designed by Windows for this purpose.

It wasn't overthinking or going into too much details for me. Quite the opposite, I wanted to have a Windows that functions as it's designed for. And not having to create duplicate user folders, and having to include them in the library, and having to make them the default save location and so on.
For me this is too many details.

I asked about details because it felt to me it was a heresy to move the user folders. No it's not. That should be the case. It felt to me you were saying it's normal to not save anything in the special user folders. No it's not normal. Windows is designed for putting them there.

NOW.
the only reason why it may cause problems, is because some programs store (or may store) their settings there, while they shouldn't. So it takes a single badly designed software, to force me using Windows differently than how it was designed (= saving my files in MY user folders).
Therefore I totally understand your strategy of keeping the special user folders on C. It's based on real life

I was going into details, but is that wrong when someone wants to understand the real reasons behind a strategy?
Otherwise I would be blindly following advices without understanding the real reasons, and therefore I could misuse the strategy.

I just don't like having to have two music folders, two documents folders, two pictures folders and so on, and one having to be empty of actual music, documents and so on.

adri123 · 20 Jan 2015

Moreover, I mysef could handle that. Having duplicate folders for music, images etc. But i'm setting up a computer for an average user and i'm sure that if i keep the special user folders on C: and create other folders on D:, there will be some of his files ending up in the C folders nonetheless. It's strange to give a fresh computer to an average user and tell him NOT TO store files in the folders made for that.

adri123 · 20 Jan 2015

Slartybart said:

I'll step out of the discussion so I don't muddy the waters.

That's a pity Bill, I really liked that you stepped in. I didn't ask help from a specific person here. On the contrary I was seeking a large spectrum of advices and views so i could form my own. Indeed you managed to put some fresh air and made the thing breath a bit more.
Moreover you seemed to understand exactly what was my question with the settings and so on. And tried to respond on that exactly by takng into accound everything i expressed.

Thanks,

Adrien

Victor S · 20 Jan 2015

I don't image my data. It is backed up on multiple drives using the Power Desk synchronize function. Similar to SyncToy.
I have created folders on my data drive under a master folder named D-Backups, which I synchronize.
There are music, document, video, photo folders, etc., there, named as I like them.
As I said, I ignore Win 7 folders. For downloads, eg, I always point them to the folder of my choice.
When I mistakenly don't, I just move them where they belong.
It's all really second nature, since I have an IT background.

adri123 · 20 Jan 2015

Victor S said:

I don't image my data. It is backed up on multiple drives using the Power Desk synchronize function. Similar to SyncToy.
I have created folders on my data drive under a master folder named D-Backups, which I synchronize.
There are music, document, video, photo folders, etc., there, named as I like them.
As I said, I ignore Win 7 folders. For downloads, eg, I always point them to the folder of my choice.
When I mistakenly don't, I just move them where they belong.
It's all really second nature, since I have an IT background.

Ok thanks, I didn't see you say that you don't use Win 7 folders. I saw you saying that you don't use the libraries.

Thanks for the input man.

adri123 · 20 Jan 2015

Slartybart said:

I think I saw you answer the question
Keep the special Documents on C:\ and create a new folder on D: that is the default save location for the general type.

That makes sense.

Adrien asks some good questions. Using Macrium as the example:

Special User folder Documents: C:\User\Adrien\Documents
Documents Library default save location: D:\UserFiles\Documents

Which folder takes precedence ? for the Macrium XML files?

I think that's what Adrien wants to know.
C:\Documents because it's the special folder
-- or --
D:\Documents because it's the default save location for the general type.

So this is the question that arised. Could anybody please give me the/an answer ?

Slartybart · 20 Jan 2015

After I read your PM, a thought occurred to me.

There are reasons to setup your user one way or another and there caveats with each.

Since your still in the design stage, here's what you can try.

Setup a few new accounts, each configured differently and see how they meet your needs.

I changed the Test user names so that it is easier to distinguish which ID is setup to test a particular Profile setup.
Tu# - Test user
_description of the test user

You can choose any names, but this naming scheme quickly identifies how the user is setup. User-A, User-B, User-C might get confusing if you didn't keep notes on the differences.

1) Tu1_ProfileOnD: Move the entire profile to drive D: for one account
User Profile - Change Default Location

2) Tu2_SpcFoldersOnD: Relocate the special user files to drive D:
User Folders - Change Default Location OPTION TWO

3) Tu3_LibsOnD: Leave special folders on C: and create data folders on D: - add to corresponding Library type as the default save location for that file type
Library - Include a Folder

Setup the new accounts and run some test backup scenarios.
Windows System image / backup
Macrium Reflect imaging
Acronis imaging

Install your favorite software, pay attention during the install for any reference to your profile location. If any of your programs stores settings in there, you'll have to see if the setting location can be changed in the program.

Read through the tutorials - there's lots of information in each. Pay attention to the Info, Warn, and tip boxes - they have the gotchas in them. Also look at the related tutorials section at the bottom of post#1 of the tutorial - there might be information that helps you decide the best User configuration for your needs.

It's possible that some combination will be best - I thought I had it, but the settings under Documents through me off... still does.

I've tried many combinations, even a few not documented. Right now, my entire profile is on D: - but that means I cannot do a Repair install (all profiles must be on C: - go figure). That's ok though, I have an image of my OS drive and can restore that if needed. Then I create my first account (kept on C:) and then my main user account. I usually move it again to D: and then move my data into that profile, but (and I haven't tested this) you might just be able to change the profilelist Registry entry to point at the existing profile on D: (I'll have to try that some day - it won't be soon though)..

With my profile on D:, it is not included in a system image, so I periodically copy the profile folder to a backup location.

It's a bit of work, but that meets my needs. When you know your system, it's not much time really. If I were truly smart, I'd automate the process (another thing I've been thinking about - 8 or 9 years

)

Bill
.

mjf · 21 Jan 2015

You should simply be able to store most of your data and games in simple folders on another drive. Some data may be stored on your OS drive but this is likely to be minimal. You don't really need to do anything fancy with libraries as far as I can see. The simple approach works even for someone else in the family who is a "game" person. I use Photoshop, compilers and other application software and I have no need to bother mucking around with libraries or user folders.