Moving profile folders (docs, pics, etc.) via command line?

Donny Bahama · 04 Apr 2016

For a variety of reasons, I like moving profile folders to a separate drive. Currently, I do this using the procedure found here but that's GUI-based and I'd like to be able to automate it. Does anyone know if there's a shell command that can accomplish this task? I don't want to just robocopy it or move it - the beauty of the linked procedure is that the OS knows that the folders have been moved (and their new locations) so all the favorites links and shortcuts in an Explorer window, the desktop, etc. are all automatically and transparently updated.

whs · 04 Apr 2016

Move files and directories to another location

Donny Bahama · 04 Apr 2016

Thanks for the response whs but you obviously didn't read my entire question...

Donny Bahama said:

I don't want to just robocopy it or move it - the beauty of the linked procedure is that the OS knows that the folders have been moved (and their new locations) so all the favorites links and shortcuts in an Explorer window, the desktop, etc. are all automatically and transparently updated.

I'm not a shell newb and am well aware of the move command, but it does not do the same thing as the procedure I linked.

whs · 04 Apr 2016

I see, fair enough.

mjf · 04 Apr 2016

Not sure if this is what you are wanting?
User Folders - Change Default Location
It may be what you are doing already.

Alejandro85 · 05 Apr 2016

An option could be replace the original folder with a junction that takes its place. That could be done entirely under command line, but must be done under a separate, administrator account. Good thing is that after the procedure is done, nothing else needs to be changed, since, every program will still use the old path, and the junction will do the redirection to the new path.

It would be something along the lines of:
Logoff the affected account.
Using a second, administrator account, move the whole profile folder to the new location.
Create a junction in the users folder, with the exact same name as the original profile had
Login in the affected account. Everything should work as before.