Moving Default User Doc Location?

[BigAdam]

Good Evening.

So, with no prior testing I decided to move to Window 7 and I'm having two main issues.

1 - I have for the past few years always put My Documents on another drive. So it would go C for Windows, D for Progs and E for My Docs. I cannot for the life of me figure it out in Windows 7 (Home Prem. 64bit). I found a guide on here to move all the things inside the default user folder (the one you get from that desktop) but any file made inside that file is on the C:\ drive. Which I don't want. I've yet to install anything yet and I read a rather complex guide to moving it via an unassisted installer but I'm paranoid about these things so would rather do it myself. Either via a command or regedit (does 7 even have that I wonder).

2 - How do I get Media Player to play via all my speakers at once? I know the surround sound works but I'm very used to sound coming out from all 5 when I play any audio / video file.

Anyway, any infor would be loverly. I'm sorry for any bad spelling. Yet to install firefox and it's dictornay (see what I mean).

 

[garysgold]

Welcome to the Seven Forums.

This is for Vista, but works the same. Personal User Shell Folders - Move Location - Vista Forums

Gary

 

[BigAdam]

Hey Gary,

Yeah that works for moving the folder inside the user directory, but I want to move the whole directory to another drive and have any new files created there.

I found guide (I'll post it later) which uses a reg tweak but that gave me trouble.

So, I want to move thew whole thing so it would items aren't in C:\users\<username> directory.

 

[garysgold]

I found this, but haven't tried it yet. caskater4's random ideas: Moving your data where you want in Windows Vista Like he says 'At your own risk'.

Gary

 

[BigAdam]

Ah, I got it working how I wanted in the end via trail and error. Basically I figured out the deafult directory of C:\Users is just a pointer from the library system. So I changed the point and now all my docs on my other drive are picked up. Didn't have to make anything or move anything. So that's good. Now, if I can just get 7 to pick up my CD drive line in I'll be happy.

 

[garysgold]

Glad you got it working. If you haven't checked them out, Shawn has done several tutorials on libraries.

 

[BigAdam]

Heres the thing, in case anyone else comes upon this.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Big_Adam/Example.jpg

 

[ffcloud2000]

i found some registry changes to completely relocate where windows stores its files.. might be worth a shot

How to Change User Profile Default Location in Windows 7 | Windows 7 hacker

along with this registry change before you finish installing windows
Windows 7 Move the Users and Program Files Directories To A Different Partition | Tuts4Tech

 

[BigAdam]

Tried that, turns out it just sort of borks any new accounts.

 

[heismark]

Well, I just opened the file manager (the folder icon on the taskbar to the left) pressed some Location or Library link and selected Add Library (why did they change folders to libraries? To claim extra payment?)

At some point I could state where to save documents by default to the external drive. tested and worked.

Then I could delete the default library sources, C - My Documents and Public Documents, so only the external data drive is left.

It's what I would call intuitive and straight forward operated from the file manager.

By the way, my sister who started out as a secretary 30 years ago, the other day asked what I meant with 'file manager'. So sometimes we all assume too much knowledge and experience but it was straight forward.

 

[heismark]

Tried that, turns out it just sort of borks any new accounts.

Well, raise the new accounts you need and then make the folder changes.

You can raise a number of extra accounts and probably rename them later?

 

[garysgold]

Heres the thing, in case anyone else comes upon this.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/Big_Adam/Example.jpg

You can add any folder to a library or create a new library, but this does not move any files. The library only gathers links. In other words, if a program you installed wanted to create a folder in 'Documents' the folder would still be on the C: drive as you have not moved the original Document folder.

The first link I gave you will show you how to actually move that documents/music/pictures folder to the E: drive. If you make the E: drive your documents folder using this method, then when something of that nature happens, the folder will be created on the E: drive.

Maybe you already know all that, but I just want to be sure.

Gary

 

[ffcloud2000]

I just reinstalled windows and tested out the registry edit to change where the user folder is located and it worked perfectly just run cmd when your about to enter in the user profile info during install and voila

Windows 7 Move the Users and Program Files Directories To A Different Partition | Tuts4Tech