Relocating User profile

[prroots]

I've been researching how to relocate the User profile to a different partition. I've actually tried 3 different methods I discovered online. So far, none of them has worked despite repeated attempts. I would like to hear from anyone who has actually done it under Windows 7.

I start by restoring from an Acronis True Image backup that was made just after OS installation without applications. That gives me a very clean starting point which is totally reproducible. Thanks
Pete

 

[logicearth]

I right-click on one of the folders (Documents, Music...) one by one change the location in the "Location" tab. Then I log out after I enabled the hidden administrator account. I then copy "AppData" to the other partition after that opening Command Prompt I create a junction point in the old location: "mklink /J C:\Users\[username]\AppData D:\User\AppData" Done deal. Oh I leave the ntuser stuff where it is at. No point in messing with the Registry portions.

 

[Tiffer]

If you're talking about moving the User folders (Documents, Pictures, etc) to another partition all I've ever done with Windows 7 and past versions is select all the folders I wish to move in one drive and then using the right mouse key drag and drop them to the desired drive or partition.

For example in my screenshots: if I wanted to move the 9 selected folders in Drive E: onto Drive D: I would select them, drag them across with the right mouse button and upon releasing the button I get a context menu from which I select "Move here".





The only thing I stick to is that I've found that the actual User folder itself (Windows/Users/yourname) must remain on the C: or Boot Drive.

 

[caban]

I did the same as "Tiffer"
Does anyone knows a better way?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello and welcome to Seven Forums!



There is the tutorial at the link below.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629-user-folders-change-default-location.html?ltr=U

 

[WindowsStar]

Check this link out: Moving "Users" folder location to another drive/partition

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello and welcome to Seven Forums!



There is the tutorial at the link below.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629-user-folders-change-default-location.html?ltr=U

We have our onw tutorial here at Seven Forums; thanks.

This from said tutorial.

   Tip

Moving a user folder and it's contents to be stored at another location can be handy if you wanted or needed to save hard drive space on the C: drive.

 

[prroots]

I succeeded in creating a new User profile on my E:\ partition. I was guided by this article:
Change User Profile Folder Location in Vista Joshua Mouch

My job was considerably simpler than the author's since I was starting with a new Windows 7 install and had no applications to deal with.

Here are the steps I used:
1. Copy the original Default Profile directory to the new location (ie C:\Users\Default to E:\Users\Default)
2. Copy the original Public Profile directory to the new location (ie, C:\Users\Public to E:\Users\Public)
3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
4. Change the value of the Default key to the new user profile location (ie, E:\Users\Default)
5. Change the value of the Public key to the new user profile location (ie, E:\Users\Public)
6. Change the value of the ProfilesDirectory to the new user profile location (ie, E:\Users)
7. Enable the administrator account:

• a. Activate 'administrative tools' in Start Menu
• b. Start Computer Management
• c. Click on Local Users & Groups / Users
• d. Right click on Administrator and select properties
• e. Uncheck the box labeled 'Account is disabled'

8. Reboot and log into Administrator account
9. Profile should now be located in E:\
10. Reboot and then delete Orig_Account account created during Windows install (Control Panel/User Accounts)
11. Delete folder C:\Users\Orig_Account
12. Configure password and picture for Administrator account

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello prroots, did you not see my post above for Windows 7 instructions?

 

[prroots]

Hello prroots, did you not see my post above for Windows 7 instructions?

If I understood your link, that is for moving individual folders and does not cover the entire User profile. I noticed that some folders do not offer the Location tab. I wanted to give a try at moving the entire User profile. I have actually followed the instructions from at least 4 other articles which didn't work for me before hitting on the referenced one. In my case, it was simple since it was a new installation without apps. This allowed me to create a new User profile on the E:\ partition and delete the original account created with the Windows install. Very simple. Time will tell if this proves to be worthwhile. Thanks for your help
Pete

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello prroots, you're very welcome; we're glad you found a solution that worked for you.

 

[WindowsStar]

I succeeded in creating a new User profile on my E:\ partition. I was guided by this article:
Change User Profile Folder Location in Vista Joshua Mouch

My job was considerably simpler than the author's since I was starting with a new Windows 7 install and had no applications to deal with.

Here are the steps I used:
1. Copy the original Default Profile directory to the new location (ie C:\Users\Default to E:\Users\Default)
2. Copy the original Public Profile directory to the new location (ie, C:\Users\Public to E:\Users\Public)
3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
4. Change the value of the Default key to the new user profile location (ie, E:\Users\Default)
5. Change the value of the Public key to the new user profile location (ie, E:\Users\Public)
6. Change the value of the ProfilesDirectory to the new user profile location (ie, E:\Users)
7. Enable the administrator account:

• a. Activate 'administrative tools' in Start Menu
• b. Start Computer Management
• c. Click on Local Users & Groups / Users
• d. Right click on Administrator and select properties
• e. Uncheck the box labeled 'Account is disabled'

8. Reboot and log into Administrator account
9. Profile should now be located in E:\
10. Reboot and then delete Orig_Account account created during Windows install (Control Panel/User Accounts)
11. Delete folder C:\Users\Orig_Account
12. Configure password and picture for Administrator account

Glad you got it worked out...don't forget to give some REP.

 

[prroots]

I have now taken the next step which is to create a Standard user account called Visitor without a password, but with Parental controls on which programs can be run. Unfortunately, when I try to log onto this new account I get the following error message:

The User Profile Service failed the logon.
User Profile cannot be loaded.

Any idea how to correct? Thanks
Pete

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello prroots.



Have a look at the tutorial at the link below even though it was written for Windows Vista, it'll be the same principle for Windows 7.


Be sure to keep us informed as to how it sorts out.

The User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded. - Vista Forums

 

[prroots]

Hello prroots.



Have a look at the tutorial at the link below even though it was written for Windows Vista, it'll be the same principle for Windows 7.


Be sure to keep us informed as to how it sorts out.

The User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded. - Vista Forums

Thanks. I studied the link and tried a suggested procedure located at:
Rob Brooks-Bilson's Blog: Fix for Vista's: The User Profile Service service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded

A reply by By Dawn Walker | 1/24/09 12:13 PM seemed to almost work since it eliminated the error message, but it created a new error. It seems this error has many possible causes and the correct fix may depend on what's causing it. I'm afraid that I'm in over my head; I've started to wonder whether I should revert back to the non-relocated User profile.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Well if you do that have a look at the tutorial at the link below, it may help.


http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...t-using-system-restore-windows-7-a.html?ltr=P

 

[prroots]

Well if you do that have a look at the tutorial at the link below, it may help.


http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...t-using-system-restore-windows-7-a.html?ltr=P

Thanks for the feedback. I have no problems in that regard since I make complete image backups of C:\ using Acronis True Image. When I wish to test relocate user profile ideas I simply restore from a backup made just after Windows 7 was installed and before any apps or updates were installed. I do not use restore points since I have no need of them. I keep my data on E:\ and use SyncBackSE to make daily backups. My only problem with this scheme is that SyncBackSE insists on placing logs and profiles in the user profile folder which can't be relocated without moving the entire user profile. In the overall scheme of things this has been more of an annoyance than a serious problem since SyncBackSE has an option to copy all profiles to a folder of my choosing on exit. Basically, I just lose the log files when restoring my C:\ drive.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

At least you have a fallback strategy, unlike the majority of users that visit Seven Forums!

 

[prroots]

At least you have a fallback strategy, unlike the majority of users that visit Seven Forums!

Yes, I swear by Acronis True Image! It's been a life saver and as mentioned, allows me to bravely try new things without risk of getting into trouble