Partitioning C drive...

[Verean]

How can i partition about 400gb. I want to separate windows from my programs and personal documents. So in other words keep about 40gb for windows and the rest(400gb) fo programs and files.

Max I can partition is about 200gb, using disk management.

 

[SIW2]

Use a 3rd party app.

FREE Partition Wizard supports all 32-bit & 64 bit Windows No-server OS.

Is pretty good.

 

[whs]

Once you established your new partition (with partition Wizard as SIW2 suggests), you have 2 options:

1. You can move your user folders with MOVE in Properties > Location tab to a folder in the new partition (important - don't move to the partition but to a predefined folder, else it's going to be a mess).
2. You can define new folders in the new partition and move your data (or some of it) to those new folders. Then you right click on those folders and INCLUDE into library. That method has certain advantages because you cannot muck up the original folders.

When you click on e.g. Documents in the start menu, you get to the library (not the folder as e.g. in Vista). Then you can select the folder you want.

 

[Verean]

With the use of partition wizard when i select the c drive the option to create is greyed out so i cant use that option. What do i do?

 

[whs]

With the use of partition wizard when i select the c drive the option to create is greyed out so i cant use that option. What do i do?

I think you have to Resize your C first. Then you can create a partition in the free space.

 

[Verean]

Umm.... ok i got it partitioned and ready to move everything could you give me a little more detail in how to do this.

 

[whs]

Umm.... ok i got it partitioned and ready to move everything could you give me a little more detail in how to do this.

See my post #3 above. If you need more details on option #1, let me know. I think option #2 is pretty clear as you can include any folder into a library. Just right create a folder in your new partition and right click on it. You'll see.
I have also made a little video tutorial on how to deal with a data partition. You might want to have a look at it.

 

[n0th1n9]

Hi Verean.

You can move the entire user, program files and program data folders to another partition. With this you can actually get away with C: being 16 GB in size.


Note: I have a bunch of programs installed including iTunes and my free space on C: is 7.86 GB. My computer is however running without a pagefile and a hibernation file, System protection is also turned off.

Tip: Copy the command lines into a notepad file onto a USB thumb drive for easy access.

What you will need to do First:

After a clean install of Windows but before creating a user profile you will need to press sift F10, this will open the command prompt. From within the command prompt type 'notepad' to open up notepad; with in notepad go to file then open. In the navigation pane right mouse click on computer and select from the menu 'manage'. From here you can setup your partitions, assigning drive letters and formatting them.

Now for the commands:

Where I have E: - this is my partition where I move the folders to, you can use any drive letter you want so long as the partition has the same drive letter. Execute one command at a time. When you get to this command rmdir "C:\Program Files" /S /Q - it will delete program files from C: but before you do you will need to close out of notepad in order to fully delete program files form C:. You can re-open notepad when the command has finished.

you cannot fully delete program data yet but don't let that stop you from running all the commands.

robocopy "C:\Users" "E:\Users" /E /COPYALL /XJ
robocopy "C:\Program Files" "E:\Program Files" /E /COPYALL /XJ
robocopy "C:\Program Files (x86)" "E:\Program Files (x86)" /E /COPYALL /XJ
robocopy "C:\ProgramData" "E:\ProgramData" /E /COPYALL /XJ
rmdir "C:\Program Files" /S /Q
mklink /J "C:\Program Files" "E:\Program Files"
rmdir "C:\Program Files (x86)" /S /Q
mklink /J "C:\Program Files (x86)" "E:\Program Files (x86)"
rmdir "C:\users" /S /Q
mklink /J "C:\users" "E:\users"
rmdir "C:\ProgramData" /S /Q
mklink /J "C:\ProgramData "E:\ProgramData"

Once you have finished executing all the commands you will need to perform some registry edits. From the command prompt type 'regedit' and press enter.

First: within the registry editor you need to navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows then high light CurrentVersion. From there make it look like this but replace E: with whatever drive letter you chose earlier.



Then go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion and high light ProfileList , then replace C: with whatever drive letter you chose earlier.



When the registry edits are done proceed with creating your user profile. Once you're at your desktop restart your computer, you will then be able to fully delete program data from C:.


Some program installations will still place things like .dlls into the C: drive but it wont be nearly as drastic has having them place all of their bloat into the C: drive. When installing programs some will still show C: as the location to install to but they will not be truly installed on the C: drive.

 

[n0th1n9]

I noticed that you are using Ultimate, in which case I should tell you that if you plan on using BitLocker make sure that the partition that contains the user profiles will automatically unlock with the C: drive. Otherwise you will be unable to get to your destop and will be forced to re-install windows.

 

[Verean]

So i was suppose to do what you said during a clean install?

 

[n0th1n9]

Yeah, if you really want to keep things clean and organized. I dont think it can be done after the user profiles have been created.

 

[whs]

May I again suggest that you create new folders in your new partition and move you data there. Then include those folders into the corresponding library. That approach has no risks, is easy and can easily be reverted. The procedure that the previous poster elaborated may be very geeky, but it is a lot more complicated and risky and does not buy you a lot of additional function.

 

[tw33k]

May I again suggest that you create new folders in your new partition and move you data there. Then include those folders into the corresponding library. That approach has no risks, is easy and can easily be reverted. The procedure that the previous poster elaborated may be very geeky, but it is a lot more complicated and risky and does not buy you a lot of additional function.

I agree. WHS has given the best advice

 

[Verean]

Say if i were to install a program onto the seperate partition woul dit operate fine?

 

[whs]

corrected - info was wrong.

 

[antharr]

Say if i were to install a program onto the seperate partition woul dit operate fine?

It would work but I fail to see the benefit of this.

 

[Verean]

Ok... right now i tried to install skype to the seperate partition but it automatically installs it drive c is there anyway to change thta?

 

[hubris]

Ok... right now i tried to install skype to the seperate partition but it automatically installs it drive c is there anyway to change thta?

If that's where it wants to be, let it be. ( system drive)
Some apps. will offer to you to choose.
Less hassles.

 

[Verean]

i could simply do this so instead of it installing on c it will on install on whatever partition i want.
Changing the value ProgramFilesDir

Click the "+" to open the various trees, until:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion]

Double click on the value ProgramFilesDir to change its value:

(drive letter): \ Program Files