Moving Users and Program Files Directories

rezurrection · 14 Oct 2010

Hi,

I am new here and would like some advice with moving the Users and Program Files directories on a clean installation of Windows 7 Ultimate.

My computer has a 60Gb SATA2 Solid State Drive which I am installing the OS and I have 2 640Gb SATA3 hard drives, one of which I want to use for both users, program files and program files (x86).

I have read and tried many different approaches and I would prefer using a 'symlink' to achieve this rather than any registry hacks, as I have read that a symlink has fewer side effects.

I would appreciate if anyone could provide me with any help on this.

If it is any help my OS drive letter is 'C' and the location I want to move the folders to is 'Z'. In system recovery mode the drive letters are 'F' and 'C' respectively.

Thank you all for you time.
I look forward to hearing fro you.

Regards,
Andy

Bare Foot Kid · 14 Oct 2010

Hello rezurrection, welcome to Seven Forums!

Once programs/apps are installed they cannot be moved, if you want to install the prog/apps to another location then create another folder on the target HDD to install them to; you cannot move the Program Files / Program Files (x86) folders as it will cause instability.

You can move your user files, have a look at this tutorial at the link below.

User Folders - Change Default Location

whs · 14 Oct 2010

It is very easy to move your user folders to Z:
1. Create one empty folder on Z for every user folder you want to move. E.g. Folder1, Folder2, etc. (any name will do)
2. Go to the first folder you want to move (e.g. Documents), right click on it, go to Properties > Location tab, click on "Move" and navigate to Folder1 on Z and "Select Folder", Apply, OK.
3. Now you tackle the next (e.g. Music) and follow the same procedure except that you select Folder2 on Z.
4. etc.

rezurrection · 15 Oct 2010

Thank you both for your posts. However, they both seem to be a very manual process when a new user account is added.

I managed to stumble upon this post from windows7hacker.com which puts all new user accounts on my none system drive.

Thank you both for your time.

Kind regards,
Andy

Bare Foot Kid · 15 Oct 2010

And you don't consider editing the Windows registry a "very manual process" oh well; we'll be here to try and help when you need to sort the registry FUBAR later.