Relocated ProgramData and Users: Stuck for Windows 10 Upgrade?

[ToniCipriani]

When I first installed Windows 7 several years ago, I moved my ProgramData and Users folders to my standalone drive, kept my Program Files and Windows on my RAID-0/SSD. It's been great to me, separating my RAID-0 SSDs from my data and no issues at all.

But now with Windows 10 coming, it seems that I'm stuck, and this set up can't perform in-place upgrades, which Gabe Aul says it's a requirement to get the free Windows 10. I know for starters Windows 8 and beyond does not play nice with a relocated ProgramData, even with junctions.

So what should I do now? Should I just clean re-install Windows 7 for the upgrade? I've already moved most of my data out of the Users folder and reconfigured my libraries. I also thought of doing an offline robocopy move and edit the entire registry to modify it back to C:, but a quick search in the registry seems the work is going to be tedious.

 

[AddRAM]

I would say don`t upgrade to Windows 10

Why do you want to ruin your perfect setup ?

Why do you think you`re stuck ?

You don`t have to install 10 if you don`t want to.

 

[ToniCipriani]

Well I was using the TPs on my laptop and I do like the Windows 10 changes, far better than that desktop mess of Windows 8. So I do want to upgrade.

 

[AddRAM]

But you have Windows 7, the best OS ever made

You have years to install Windows 10 if you want to.

It`s always best to wait at least 6 months after an OS comes out to install it.

You are not stuck.

 

[gregrocker]

I'd move the User folders back following User Folders - Restore Default Location - Windows 7 Forums.

If you moved the whole named User profiles then reverting that is explained in User Profile - Change Default Location.

I don't know how you moved the Program data because it isn't recommended any more than moving Programs off of C where they should stay until uninstalled. But I'd move it back the same way.

Once these are all restored to default then run an SFC /SCANNOW Command to see if anything is deemed awry.

In the future I would only move the User folders as the rest of it belongs on the OS partition where it is integrated into the registry until uninstalled.

 

[ToniCipriani]

I'd move the User folders back following User Folders - Restore Default Location - Windows 7 Forums.

If you moved the whole named User profiles then reverting that is explained in User Profile - Change Default Location.

I don't know how you moved the Program data because it isn't recommended any more than moving Programs off of C where they should stay until uninstalled. But I'd move it back the same way.

Once these are all restored to default then run an SFC /SCANNOW Command to see if anything is deemed awry.

In the future I would only move the User folders as the rest of it belongs on the OS partition where it is integrated into the registry until uninstalled.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...reate-move-during-windows-7-installation.html

I followed this. And did a little digging, I found that there's a way to use SysPrep to move it, just not sure about the registry of installed programs:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ing-windows-7-installation-3.html#post1159551

 

[gregrocker]

There are a lot of problems with that tutorial which have been reported all over the web and seen here regularly, too. I would query the author in the comments section to see if he can help you restore to defaults.

Otherwise you may need to Clean Reinstall Windows 7 to get ready for Upgrade.

In the future I would not move entire Profile but only the User folders you actually use. This has proven to work fine without problems for those who chose that method from Clean Reinstall Windows 7.

 

[ToniCipriani]

There are a lot of problems with that tutorial which have been reported all over the web and seen here regularly, too. I would query the author in the comments section to see if he can help you restore to defaults.

Otherwise you may need to Clean Reinstall Windows 7 to get ready for Upgrade.

In the future I would not move entire Profile but only the User folders you actually use. This has proven to work fine without problems for those who chose that method from Clean Reinstall Windows 7.

Actually that was an officially supported way of relocating the folder, up until 8. It's only in 8 where it breaks the App Store. In 7 it's rock solid.

I've posted a reply since the author didn't clarify whether it will handle keys created outside of the Windows Setup. Last resort I'll do a full reinstall.

 

[gregrocker]

We've helped thousands of users relocate their User folders using User Folders - Change Default Location
and not seens any real problems.

I've been here 6-8 hours every day since before WIn7 release so see the trends and cases. Most of these workarounds were developed here.

Moving the named User Account has never been the most recommended way of doing it, and lately there are regular reports of problems that have resulted.

 

[AddRAM]

ya you don`t move the folders, you just link them.

Never move the User/User`s folder off C.

 

[ToniCipriani]

ya you don`t move the folders, you just link them.

Never move the User/User`s folder off C.

It's already moved... like several years ago. I'm trying to reverse it.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you try Method Two here? User Profile - Change Default Location - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[ToniCipriani]

OK after some work, looks like it's done. The guides didn't really apply since I moved the entire Users folder, not just the folders in it.

So here's what I did:

- Moved my data from the Documents, Pictures, etc to a new folder on my spinning drive, and relink OneDrive and the Libraries
- Boot into recovery mode
- In Command Prompt:
1. Deleted the Users and ProgramData junctions
2. Used robocopy to copy the folders back to C Drive
3. Renamed the D drive copy of Users and ProgramData to Users.old and ProgramData.old
- Took the drive offline, and used my laptop to load the hives manually and change all the references of D:\Users and D:\ProgramData to C:\Users and C:\ProgramData. It was not just the ProfileImage key, but about 1000+ references. So I used Registrar Lite to do a Search and Replace in the SYSTEM, SOFTWARE and the NTUSER in my user folder.
- Plugged drive back on and booted back into Windows

So far seems okay, only issue I had was I had to reconfigure my wallpaper, and VMWare kept trying to recreate the D:\ProgramData folder. I'll probably try to reinstall VMWare to fix the second problem.

Hopefully now I can do the in-place upgrade. Probably after that I'll do a fresh reinstall of Windows 10 after the license is registered.

 

[gregrocker]

You can also Clean Install Windows 10 Technical Preview in a multi-boot or to its own independent hard drive, because MS has announced they will be giving licenses to previewers too.