How do I install Programs with appdata on seperate drives?

I have a SSD for my OS and major programs (i.e. antivirus, programming tools, or any program i feel has little writing usage). I would like to install any other write intensive programs (games and what not) on my HDD. With that being said, I do not want to move my entire user profile to the HDD, as i would also like to install utilities to my SSD. The issue I run into is when installing programs to my storage drive, they will still create files/folders in my user folder on my OS drive. So the question i really need answered is can i install programs to separate drives, while also having their data write to the install location? If so, how?

Welcome to Seven Forums JoshuaJackson85.
You can use the steps in this tutorial to move only ProgramData to another drive by modifying the unattended answer file.
User Profiles - Create and Move During Windows 7 Installation

The line below highlighted in red would be left out so as to not move your User Profile.

Code:

 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
<settings pass="oobeSystem">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" 
publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" 
xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" 
xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<FolderLocations>
<ProfilesDirectory>d:\Users</ProfilesDirectory>
<ProgramData>d:\ProgramData</ProgramData>
</FolderLocations>
</component>
</settings>
<cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:E:/sources/install.wim#Windows 7 ULTIMATE" 
xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

You can still install utilities to the SSD even if you move the user profile too though. Most installers give an option to change the installed location. I hope this helps.

Moving ProgramData (kind of AppData for all users) can be done as Britton told above. However, to use sysprep as told in tutorial you cannot move the Appdata or a single user alone, you have to relocate the whole main profile folder Users.

Having user profiles (including AppData folders) on another drive than C: does in no way prevent installing software on any drive you'd like to.

Kari

They are wrong. I have two systems installed as told in the tutorial and have had no issues at all. :)

JoshuaJackson85 said:

I have considered moving the entire user profile, but everywhere i read about it says this method will cause update issues later on.

That's, to put it very simple, totally BS.

I have used sysprep to relocate the Users folder on all Vista, Seven and Eight systems, starting with Vista long before Seven was published. Never had any update issues.

No other method in relocating the complete main user profile folder inclusive Temp folders, AppData, and so on is so easy and idiotproof as the sysprep method. No changing folder properties manually for each folder you want to move, no registry editing, no links and junctions. Run sysprep and it's done, all existing and future user profiles are completely relocated to another drive, saving incredible amounts of space on your C: drive.

All updates will work, without an issue (read: without an issue caused by relocated Users folder).

The one and only "no-go" is a possible future in-place upgrade installation. If you want to in-place upgrade for instance from Seven to Eight instead of doing a clean install, you need first to sysprep the Users back to C:. Again, it's an easy and idiotproof procedure.

Kari

Look at the PDF, you do have to change some values marked in red to match your system, i.e. drive letters, w7 type, etc. Change before saving as XML.

As Britton said above, you edit the answer file (xml script) as you wish (new location for Users and ProgramData, location of Windows install media needed to sysprep etc.).