IE favorites on a different partition

In the past I relocated my user folders to a different partition for two reasons: separating my data and easy backup. Now that I'm starting to use windows 7, I was planning on doing the same until I read the comments on the User Folders - Change Default Location tutorial.

It seems to me that including my data folders in the corresponding libraries is indeed a better solution. But what about the IE favorites folder? As I understand it, relocating it is asking for trouble. Can I create a favorites library, then change its icon, then include my own favorites folder and then set this one as save folder?

That way new favorites would wind up in my own favorites folder on the different partition. I would like to try this out, but I'm afraid to mess up my installation. Can anybody tell me if my solution is going to work or if there is a better solution?

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

Most Windows 7 users fall into two camps: those that use libraries and those that don't.

Personally, I don't. All my important data is kept on a separate data partition, which is backed up to an external drive.

However, whichever method is used, the end result is the same.

Working with libraries

Try this for size.

Create a folder on your data drive and call it Favorites.

Open Internet Explorer and click the View Favorites icon at the top-right of your screen.

Click Add to Favorites followed by Import and Export.

Select Export to a File and click Next.

Check Favorites and click Next.

Highlight the Favorites folder and click Next.

Browse to your Favorites backup folder and click Export.

Click Finish.

Once your backup folder has been created, your favorites can be imported and exported whenever you wish.

Thank you for your reply.

This would mean that every time I make a backup of my data, I have to export my favorites.
I'd rather use the library option I suggested before, but I just don't know if it will work.

When migrating my father to windows 7 two years ago, I just copied his old xp favorites into the windows 7 favorites folder.
Now that I have to move my vista favorites to windows 7, I'm wondering if exporting/importing them is better than just copying them.

Why not just export and back up? I don't quite understand.

Roachman said:

Thank you for your reply.

This would mean that every time I make a backup of my data, I have to export my favorites.
I'd rather use the library option I suggested before, but I just don't know if it will work.

When migrating my father to windows 7 two years ago, I just copied his old xp favorites into the windows 7 favorites folder.
Now that I have to move my vista favorites to windows 7, I'm wondering if exporting/importing them is better than just copying them.

If you feel happier using Libraries, then by all means use them.

There's no reason why you can't use the same strategy that you did when your father migrated from XP to 7.

If you want to change the default location of your user files, this tutorial explains how to do it.

User Folders - Change Default Location

Unfortunately, my plan didn't work. I can't get IE to look for the favorites in any other folder than the default one. Seems that my only option is to move the folder. Thank you all for your help.