User Profiles - Create and Move During Windows 7 Installation

How to Create User Accounts on another Partition or Disk During Windows 7 Installation ​

   Information

There are several methods to move user profiles to another disk or partition after you have installed Windows 7. The easiest way is to use Audit Mode and System Preparation Tool, both built-in Windows 7 features, to permanently move the location of the folder Users.

This tutorial shows how to relocate both Users and ProgramData to another disk or partition when doing a new, fresh and clean install of Windows 7. If you have already installed Seven, and you'd like to move those folders away from their default location in C: drive, please read first post number 22 in this thread. Follow the steps told in that post, and continue then from beginning of the page 4 in this tutorial.

When Windows 7 is installed, 5 or 6 system folders are created depending on chosen bit-version:

• PerfLogs (Performance Logs), where Windows stores performance and reliability logs
• Program Files, where applications and software are installed. Windows x86 (32-bit) stores all applications here, Windows x64 (64-bit) only native 64-bit applications
• Program Files (x86), only in Windows x64. All non-x64 applications are stored here
• Windows, which contains core operating system files and drivers
• ProgramData, where some applications store application and user specific settings and configuration files
• Users. This is the "home" of all user folders. When a new user account is created and this new user logs in first time, Windows creates a set of user specific folders Users\New_User

Moving Windows and Program Files folders is not recommend by Microsoft. However, moving both Users and ProgramData folders is safe and can save a lot of space on system disk. Pictures, mp3’s videos, documents and so on, a user folder with its subfolders can be tens, sometimes hundreds of gigabytes.

For instance, using this laptop of mine as an example, the total size of Users folder and subfolders is at the moment about 240 GB. The size of ProgramData folder is at the moment almost 18 GB. I simply could not have these folders stored in my system C: drive, there’s not enough space.

When installing Windows 7, I recommend using Windows System Preparation Tool (Sysprep) in so called Audit Mode to relocate Users and ProgramData, leaving C: drive only for Windows and applications.

   Warning

An upgraded Windows cannot be sysprepped. As this method is based in sysprepping, this tutorial is valid only for Windows setups which have not been upgraded.

This means that if you have for instance in-place upgraded Vista to Seven, you cannot sysprep. The same applies if you have upgraded from a lesser edition to a better edition, for instance from Windows 7 Home Premium to Professional.

Notice that a repair install is also an upgrade install, so if you have ever done a repair install (= in-place upgrade to same edition), you cannot sysprep.

In other words, when sysprepping an existing Windows setup it only works if the Windows was installed clean and has never been upgraded or repaired using repair install, or if it is the original pre-installed Windows.

Using this method causes Windows 7 to lose activation information, and it needs to be reactivated afterwards. If your Windows 7 is an OEM version, you might not be able to reactivate it, at least not without phone activation option.

   Warning

IE10 Users: Please read this article first: Sysprep Fatal Error With IE 10 (FIX) | System Administration

Complete tutorial as PDF: View attachment Relocate User folders during Windows 7 installation.pdf (1.22 MB)

Kari

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Change the Default Location of a User Profile in Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Change the Default Location of Windows 7 User Folders
• How to Restore the Default Location of Windows 7 User Folders
• How to Free Up and Recover Hard Drive Space in Windows 7
• How to Change the User Folder Name of a User Profile in Windows 7

 

[jgveill]

Yes it was overwritten as I restored the whole c: disk. The 2012 files when I moved the folders are still there. It's not a big job to try moving folders again, I will and I'll keep these files but just after more reading. I have time as my creative sound Blaster card driver should be ready only in september.

I will try again cause I'd rather do the clean install after W10 upgrades, not before.

Thanks again. J Guy

 

[jgveill]

Kari,

As I'm curious, I looked at the log files and there are errors in the setuperr.log. So, it worked but may be not fully ??? I include these files just in case you could see something wrong in the initial move.

Could my Canadian French system be a factor ? Sometimes, the date mismatch creates problems. I already had to change dates to have something working.

I know I'm asking ... Thanks J Guy

 

[Kari]

Could my Canadian French system be a factor ? Sometimes, the date mismatch creates problems. I already had to change dates to have something working.

The date and time format or any other regional settings have nothing to do with possible sysprep errors, you don't have to think of that. I'm a Finnish expat in Germany, my location and date formats are set to United Kingdom, input language Finnish or German depending on what I am doing, those are all irrelevant factors.

Anyway, the log files reveal nothing. The most important of them, the one with most information is the setupact.log; it's last entry is from April 1st (my birthday ) back in 2012.

 

[jgveill]

Hello Kari,

I tried again to relocate my programData and users. I made my mind ... it's just not possible. I looked at the Panther files and they were not overwritten. Each time I was in a loop where I could not get out of Sysprep. Each time pc booted it was always like the first boot.

Between you and me, not being able to relocate when we want / need, is an important drawback.

Thanks for your support.

J Guy

 

[Kari]

Between you and me, not being able to relocate when we want / need, is an important drawback.

Reading your posts through once again I can find nothing that could cause this, apart the use of the junctions and the removal of them.

 

[Clairvaux]

I was absolutely in no way offended and apologize if my words gave that impression. I like debate, I like to participate in a productive conversation. Your post was good, I enjoyed it and I was pleased to answer it.

Thanks for clarifying this, glad I was wrong. Sometimes meaning gets misperceived in Internet to-and-fros.

Cheers,

Clairvaux

 

[jgveill]

Kari,

I restored my computer and I didn't undo the 2 junctions made after the initial install. Same result. In the next days, I will restore to right after the install was done, nothing else. Then, I should be able to easily undo the relocate. I'll keep you posted.

J Guy

 

[Clairvaux]

ProgramData folder split between C: and D:

Hi Kari,

Picking up from last time : my PC has been installed 5 years ago according to your pdf here.

I just had the curiosity to check : I have my 800 Mb ProgramData main folder which lays, as expected, on my D: drive, with a long list of sub-folders generated by various applications.

But I also have a remaining ProgramData folder on C:, which is 500 Mb. It has a Microsoft subfolder with some search-related files in it (incidentally, my indexing is half-broken), and also an Avira anti-virus subfolder (I have just installed Avira today). But Avira installed most of its folders in the D: ProgramData folder.

Is that split of ProgramData supposed to happen with the method described ? Could it explain some of the erratic behaviour I encounter ?

 

[Kari]

But I also have a remaining ProgramData folder on C:, which is 500 Mb.

Read this post for explanation: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ing-windows-7-installation-4.html#post1161672

More about absolute paths vs. Windows environment variables, the reason behind this behavior can be read at out sister site the Eight Forums in this post: User Profiles - Relocate to another Partition or Disk - Page 68

 

[Clairvaux]

Thanks, Kari.

 

[Clairvaux]

Late thanks

Kari,

I somehow missed your answer to my queries, not having received an email warning from the forum. I just found it rummaging around.

So I wanted to thank you for having taken care to review my concerns and addressing them.

I will tentatively sum up the issue by saying : this method works, but it's easy to make mistakes, therefore it requires a certain level of technical know-how, specific attention, or both.

As a matter of fact, I ran across a different method to move User folders (which you probably are aware of), whose author stated that he had deliberately omitted some of the more obvious steps, in order to scare away lesser-knowledgeable users. You took the opposite approach, which is all the more commendable.

This subject is so important that I would suggest I single entry-point for all your posts related to Sysprep and User Profiles moving. It would also be very useful to have a short introduction explaining the difference in scope between the different tutorials you have published, and the different sets of tools they use.

The one I used five years ago was short enough that I could wrap my head around it, but the longest one I found was a 52-page monument when I transferred it to a word-processor -- and that's not counting the contents of the videos ! Impressive... and somewhat intimidating...

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and trying to help.

 

[Kari]

So I wanted to thank you for having taken care to review my concerns and addressing them.

You are welcome. I am vain enough to enjoy a Thank You, I've had enough those "You broke my PC!" replies even though if you read this whole thread we have found out they have been user errors

As a matter of fact, I ran across a different method to move User folders (which you probably are aware of), whose author stated that he had deliberately omitted some of the more obvious steps, in order to scare away lesser-knowledgeable users. You took the opposite approach, which is all the more commendable.

I have to admit I have also "played" some in my tutorials. Because I am no longer doing it, I recently admitted it on our sister site the Eight Forums as can be read here (my confession after the last quote from EF member Cheech in that post).

...the longest one I found was a 52-page monument when I transferred it to a word-processor -- and that's not counting the contents of the videos ! Impressive... and somewhat intimidating...

... Depends on the font you use... . In my Word 2016 it's only 20 pages with normal margins, text only, screenshots excluded. You have no idea how much whisky writing that tutorial required!

Kari

 

[gonzar]

Hi,

First I wanted to start by saying that this is my first SSD on a new build. So this is my first attempt at trying to put my OS on an SSD and everything else on an HDD, since the SSD is only 128MB. So please forgive my lack of knowledge on this subject.

So I did a full install following the tutorial and everything seemed to work fine per the instructions. I then started to install my drivers, first with the mobo drivers, which appeared to install on the D drive during the installation. But when I looked on the D drive there were no program files on it. They were on the C drive of course, but with all the mobo software...which I'm trying to avoid. I then tried to install AVG manually to the D drive but it said the program files do not exist on the D drive. Do I have to move (or symlink) the program files over to the D drive manually? Am I confused?

I also noticed that my user files on the D drive are symlinked...but to where? How do I use them? Because since some of them are symlinked, they are not accessible from the D drive, and don't exist at all on the C drive.

Is all this normal and I'm just not getting it, or is there something wrong?

Thank you.

EDIT:

Now that I turned off hidden files that makes more sense, with the user files. After doing some research on program files, it looks like they are going in the Appdata file on the D drive?

So I guess at this point, from my meager understanding of how this works, the next question is do I just let programs install automatically? That even though it appears they are on the C drive they are actually on the D drive in Appdata somewhere?

If this is so, I don't think I'll ever fully understand how this mysterious dark magic actually works...but will be perfectly happy using it to my advantage.

 

[Kari]

If this is so, I don't think I'll ever fully understand how this mysterious dark magic actually works...but will be perfectly happy using it to my advantage.

Some basics about Windows system folders regarding the process described in this tutorial, program installation and user data:

Windows works with so called Environment Variables. Assuming you have already relocated your Users folder and further assuming you relocated it to D: drive, you can check some of these variables and see them "in action" by yourself. Just type the name of the following example variables in File Explorer address bar or the Run dialog (Win + R), hit Enter and see where they bring you:

• Type %programfiles% + Enter
  • You will be taken to C:\Program Files. This is where the 64 bit software will be installed by default in 64 bit Windows, all software in 32 bit Windows
• Type %programfiles(x86)% + Enter
  • You will be taken to C:\Program Files (x86). This is where the 32 bit software will be installed by default in 64 bit Windows. This folder does not exist in 32 bit Windows
• Type %windir% + Enter
  • You will be taken to C:\Windows. This is where the core of Windows operating system will be installed
• Type %userprofile% + Enter
  • You will be taken to D:\Users\Your_UserProfile_Folder. This is where by default your documents, pictures, videos, music, favorites and so on are stored
• Type %appdata% + Enter
  • You will be taken to D:\Users\Your_UserProfile_Folder\AppData\Roaming. If an application needs individual settings and configuration files, they will be saved here and in AppData\Local (see next entry)
• Type %localappdata% + Enter
  • You will be taken to D:\Users\Your_UserProfile_Folder\AppData\Local. If an application needs individual settings and configuration files, they will be saved here and in AppData\Roaming (see previous entry)
• Type %temp% + Enter
  • You will be taken to D:\Users\Your_UserProfile_Folder\AppData\Local\Temp. By default Windows saves your temporary files here.
• Type %programdata% + Enter
  • You will be taken to C:\ProgramData, D:\ProgramData if you relocated this folder, too. If an application needs global settings and configuration files for all users, they will be saved here. About the same function than AppData\Local and AppData\Roaming but for all users instead of individual users

If you look at the list you will notice that this Sysprep procedure only changed the path of those environment variables that have something to do with the user profiles. Windows itself remains on C: drive, as well as the folders to store your installed applications. The only folders that can be relocated in Windows are the Users folder (Vista and later) and ProgramData (Vista and Seven).

Relocating the Windows and / or Program Files folders is not supported. Trying to do so is a sure way to a crippled Windows. If and when you have followed the instructions in this tutorial, the personal user data for all existing and future users will from now on be stored on D: drive by default but the software still installs on C: drive. Most software installers have a so called Advanced or Custom installation mode available to allow you to manually change the install location.

Kari

 

[gonzar]

Oh. Guess I should have been more clear. I only have a 128GB ssd, so all my games and program won't fit on that...on top of the OS. I'm a game developer, so I use programs that take up a lot of space.

And I guess I should'nt say relocating...as it's a new install. I just want to be able to have the option of installing programs on either drive. Is it as simple as adding those? My co-workers that have the same setup are saying that windows automatically adds those program files? Again, all I need is the option to install on either drive....

 

[Kari]

The process told in this tutorial relocates (moves) the Users folder, the folder where all user account (profiles) are stored. It does not move the folders where the software is installed.

 

[gonzar]

The process told in this tutorial relocates (moves) the Users folder, the folder where all user account (profiles) are stored. It does not move the folders where the software is installed.

Yeah, I understand that now. I just wasn't sure about the program files. I think I just need to create them on the D drive so I can install programs on that drive as well. I assumed it had to be created in some specific way for them to function properly. But I guess it's just a standard file.

 

[gonzar]

Tried installing AVG on the D drive again and getting a "specified path not found" error message. Tried installing display drivers next, but get get a black screen on boot. I guess they could be separate issues. The only other things I've installed is mobo related, on the C drive.

Day 3, here we go:/ And my boss said it should only take a half day, LOL.

 

[Kari]

How difficult can it be to change the AVG installation folder? Select Custom installation and change the location!



Display drivers causing issues has absolutely nothing to do with Sysprepped system, with or without a relocated Users folder.

 

[gonzar]

Not hard at all? Did exactly that when trying to install manually...several times. I think I specified that in the overclock thread. Anyhoo...I'll figure it out one way or another. Just thought I'd save some time asking the experts if they new what might be going on.