User Profiles - Create and Move During Windows 7 Installation

How to Create User Accounts on another Partition or Disk During Windows 7 Installation ​

   Information

There are several methods to move user profiles to another disk or partition after you have installed Windows 7. The easiest way is to use Audit Mode and System Preparation Tool, both built-in Windows 7 features, to permanently move the location of the folder Users.

This tutorial shows how to relocate both Users and ProgramData to another disk or partition when doing a new, fresh and clean install of Windows 7. If you have already installed Seven, and you'd like to move those folders away from their default location in C: drive, please read first post number 22 in this thread. Follow the steps told in that post, and continue then from beginning of the page 4 in this tutorial.

When Windows 7 is installed, 5 or 6 system folders are created depending on chosen bit-version:

• PerfLogs (Performance Logs), where Windows stores performance and reliability logs
• Program Files, where applications and software are installed. Windows x86 (32-bit) stores all applications here, Windows x64 (64-bit) only native 64-bit applications
• Program Files (x86), only in Windows x64. All non-x64 applications are stored here
• Windows, which contains core operating system files and drivers
• ProgramData, where some applications store application and user specific settings and configuration files
• Users. This is the "home" of all user folders. When a new user account is created and this new user logs in first time, Windows creates a set of user specific folders Users\New_User

Moving Windows and Program Files folders is not recommend by Microsoft. However, moving both Users and ProgramData folders is safe and can save a lot of space on system disk. Pictures, mp3’s videos, documents and so on, a user folder with its subfolders can be tens, sometimes hundreds of gigabytes.

For instance, using this laptop of mine as an example, the total size of Users folder and subfolders is at the moment about 240 GB. The size of ProgramData folder is at the moment almost 18 GB. I simply could not have these folders stored in my system C: drive, there’s not enough space.

When installing Windows 7, I recommend using Windows System Preparation Tool (Sysprep) in so called Audit Mode to relocate Users and ProgramData, leaving C: drive only for Windows and applications.

   Warning

An upgraded Windows cannot be sysprepped. As this method is based in sysprepping, this tutorial is valid only for Windows setups which have not been upgraded.

This means that if you have for instance in-place upgraded Vista to Seven, you cannot sysprep. The same applies if you have upgraded from a lesser edition to a better edition, for instance from Windows 7 Home Premium to Professional.

Notice that a repair install is also an upgrade install, so if you have ever done a repair install (= in-place upgrade to same edition), you cannot sysprep.

In other words, when sysprepping an existing Windows setup it only works if the Windows was installed clean and has never been upgraded or repaired using repair install, or if it is the original pre-installed Windows.

Using this method causes Windows 7 to lose activation information, and it needs to be reactivated afterwards. If your Windows 7 is an OEM version, you might not be able to reactivate it, at least not without phone activation option.

   Warning

IE10 Users: Please read this article first: Sysprep Fatal Error With IE 10 (FIX) | System Administration

Complete tutorial as PDF: View attachment Relocate User folders during Windows 7 installation.pdf (1.22 MB)

Kari

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Change the Default Location of a User Profile in Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Change the Default Location of Windows 7 User Folders
• How to Restore the Default Location of Windows 7 User Folders
• How to Free Up and Recover Hard Drive Space in Windows 7
• How to Change the User Folder Name of a User Profile in Windows 7

 

[rtmeek]

Gotcha! As I have plenty of spare HHDs I'll just let Windows do its thing and backup C & D, then use Acronis to just backup C and when the time comes to reinstall (again) I'll see what happens and let you know.

Thanks
Ted

 

[Squashed]

A few issues

I encountered a problem when using sysprep - it failed with an error. I could also not reboot back into oobe mode. I looked in the c:\windows\system32\sysprep\Panther folder and opened the setuperr.txt file. The error message given was:

Failure occurred while executing 'drmv2clt.dll,Sysprep'

Googling this I found this post:

Sysprep - "Failure occurred while executing drmv2clt.dll" - Fix

The advice is to disable Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service, although I simply stopped it. I had to do this when rebooting back to oobe also.

I have Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP1, if that makes any difference.

Also, after completing the process my desktop background was black - simple fix.

Also, I still had a ProgramData folder on the c:\ system drive. It contained a Microsoft folder containing stuff for Security Essentials, Search and Windows\Cache. After uninstalling Security Essentials, I renamed the folder to ProgramData_Orig and created Junctions from c:\ to d:\ for the ProgramData and Users folders in case programs access the c:\ with hard coding. See this post:

Win7: how do I move user folder to a different drive - Microsoft Answers

BrianWilder's post on Oct 6, 2011.

I used Link Shell Extension to create the Junctions.

Also, when rebooting back to oobe, I had to Activate windows again, so I needed the product key.

Hope this helps somebody.

 

[Squashed]

Question on Music file location

@kari Re your post 47

but library default save location is set to J:\Music. All music is there.

Prresumably I can create another folder on the d:\ drive for music? And that would not be included in the system image? Rather than adding another drive or partitioning d:\? So I would have Users, ProgramData and Music on d:\.

 

[Tofraz]

Wont work for me

I followed the steps but when i exited audit mode and finish the installation i get an error saying it can't finish the installation and that i should reboot and try again. I have now revooted 10+ times so it wont work.

What did i do wrong?

 

[Kieran28]

SSD installation - why disconnect HDDs?

Kari, in post #22, you wrote:

If you want to install Seven on an SSD: Install Seven normally to SSD, disconnecting all other disks. After Windows has booted first time normally after installation, shut the computer down and reconnect other disks. Reboot Windows.

Why do you recommend disconnecting other drives before installing W7 on an SSD? I just finished installing W7 on my SSD, and moved the Users and Programdata to my HDD. Everything seems to be working fine. Am I missing something? Will I have better performance if I'd disconnected the HDD first then followed your instructions in post #22?
Thanks...

 

[Kieran28]

I followed the steps but when i exited audit mode and finish the installation i get an error saying it can't finish the installation and that i should reboot and try again. I have now revooted 10+ times so it wont work.

What did i do wrong?

You might want to take a look at this thread:
http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...on-installation-problems-their-solutions.html
and see if your problem is there, if not post it there. Your problem may be unrelated to these instructions... just a thought.

 

[rmcca3q]

Executed with no errors BUT users still on C and E drive

I executed the tutortial with no problems (errors) using the XML script with new user folder drive to be Drive D

Two problems:
1) A user folder for Admin and Public were created on BOTH drive C and Drive E (which wasn't even specified in XML file).

The user folder is still on drive C -and- drive E. Nothing was created on drive D as desired and noted in the XML file.

2) When I create a new user, then logon as that user, the user folders are created only on drive C - not drive E nor drive D....just drive C.

3) The Apps_Data folder isn't anywhere.

Hardware setup:
Physical Drives (old spinners - Western Digital "black" series)
Disk 0 - SYSTEM (100mb)
Disk 0 - Drive C = Boot / primary - 500 GB
Disk 0 - Drive D = data / primary - 1.5 TB

Disk 1 - drive E = data / primary - 950 GB
Disk 1 - drive F = data / primary - 950 GB

I did install this after an initial Win 7 install, after which I learned I could re direct user folders....so I deleted all paritions, etc when I did the 2nd install following Kari's tutorial.

No errors were encountered when running process.

Before I run this again, any ideas why this might occur?

thanks!
REM

 

[Kari]

Hi Rem, welcome to the Seven Forums.

Sounds as if it's an issue with the answer file, the script. If E: is not mentioned then nothing will be created on E:.

Also, if folders were not relocated then one of the following is normally true:
- target partition or drive was not empty containing system files from other installation
- syntax error in answer file
- install.wim not found on install media
- display language has been changed using language pack

Check everything, try again. Come back to tell how it went.

Kari

 

[untel123]

First, that's a wonderfull thread and guide ! Thanks Kari for all the work.

I'm planning a clean install to an Intel 520 - 120G with ProgramData and Users moved to the drive currently having W7 (VelociRaptor 300G). I've looked at every message in this thread but didn't find answers to my questions.

First problem I see is that my W7 HomePremium is an upgrade. This requires current W7 to be in the computer to reinstall it on the SSD. It's mentionned in the thread to previously disconnect every other HDD specially one with Windows. Is this requirement (disconnect HDDs) only for moving ProgramData and Users or is it for installing W7 on a SSD ? If I could keep the current HDD, then I will install W7 on the SSD and then move the ProgramData and USers to the new HDD partition. I hope it's possible ?

Is there an easier way to complet this job with a W7 upgrade ? There may be one.

If I really need to remove HDD, there's a way to complete this but I would like to avoid it : Decrease the current 300G W7 partition to say 115G. Move the current W7 system to the SSD. Do a clean install on the ssd (Raptor can now be disconnected). Reformat the raptor with 2 partitions. Connect the raptor and move the ProgramData and Users to the Raptor. This should work but what a PITA ...

Second question is around language. My W7 is a french one. I saw few posts about language but without any clear indications. I understood I will have to find french names for everything in the xml file to have it working ??? I will try it as it is because sometimes, english does the job in a french system ! If I have to, I Imagine I find much of the right words in the French AIK ? I will be back with the results and the french xml if I have to have one.

Thanks in advance

 

[Kari]

Hi Untel123, welcome to the Seven Forums.

Disconnecting all other drives than SSD is not a requirement, it's just a recommendation, to make things simplier. There's nothing forcing you to disconnect other drives; if install does not work you can always start from the beginning, this time disconnecting other drives.

As far as I know the opinion of this is quite divided. Other geeks disconnect other than SSDs always, others never.

About doing a clean install with upgrade version of Seven, read this tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

Kari

 

[untel123]

Thanks Kari !

For the language, as far as you know, should I download AIK to find french names or could I be correct with the english xml ? I know that english technicians can install a french system without knowing a french word ... so I imagine (or hope) this type of message can work in english.

J guy

 

[Kari]

XML is universal, no probs there.

 

[untel123]

Hello Kari,

I succeeded in doing a clean install and easily move the users and programdata folders according to your guide.

As I had a W7 upgrade, I played sure in moving W7 to the SSD first and then I did the clean install. This way, activation is never a problem. For those who may be interested, I moved W7 to SSD with Acronis True Image WD which is free from Western Digital. It can't be easier, even with different size partitions. Latest version is really idiot proof !

I also took your 2 partition ideas for the Users and ProgramData disk. I placed the Users and ProgramData in the second partition (E: at the end of the disk), keeping the MBR location free from W7 system files. If ever I have problems with SSD, it will be easy to recover my desktop in restoring a system image to D: which is large enough.

So thank you very much for everything ! Glad to have found this thread.

J guy

 

[Kari]

Thanks for the info, nice to read about your success.

Kari

 

[wizenedVet]

Kari,

First, thank you for authoring and maintaining a wonderfully useful thread.

I thought I had a similar problem to rmcca3q's. Since I have not seen a follow up from him indicating whether or not your tips helped, I want to offer another possibility.

First, I have successfully used your approach to move user profiles on my daughters Acer laptop. I did so after her profile was set up. No problem! Once the computer rebooted, I checked the D: drive and there was the users folder containing her profile.

Here is the other possibility: My wife and kids recently got me a new Dell XPS 8300. Nice machine! I made MANY attempts to set it up to move the yet to be created profiles to D: drive. After every attempt I checked that partition for the user folder, each time being disappointed not to find it! I carefully re-read your tutorial, checked my typing, and looked up everything I could find on Google about sysprep. I even went so far as to read the log files in the Panther folder to try to understand what was failing.

Finally, I sat down to write a slightly different version of this post when it occurred to me I had yet to create a profile and so might not have a users folder. I ran over to the new machine, completed the OOBE and, lo and behold, there was the users folder containing my profile on the D: drive. Right now I am very happy but also feeling quite foolish.

I hope, if rmcca3q does not find his answer in the tips you provided, his problem turns out to be a similar non-problem to the one I had.

Again, thank you for all of your efforts.

 

[Kari]

Hi Wizenedvet, welcome to the Seven Forums. Good to hear it worked for you

The most common reason users thinks relocating has not worked is that in most cases, if tutorial is promptly followed, the first boot after sysprepping still boots to Audit Mode. At that point the computer is only prepared for relocating but nothing is done yet.

Only after the following OOBE boot is system prepapred, Users and Programdata folders moved and system fully prepared.

Also when finally in Windows normal mode with initial user profile, creating other users: Do not panic when you create a user but can't see this user's folder on Users: the folder structure for a newly created user is NOT created when you create the user; the folders are only created when the user logs in to his/her new account first time. A bit more about this here.

Kari

 

[wizenedVet]

Kari,

Thank you for your kind welcome to the forum.

May I impose upon you to discuss activation count as it applies to your process? In looking for a solution to my problem-which-was-not-a-problem I came across some Microsoft instructions about keeping the activation count from incrementing while people, presumably OEMs and IT professionals stage images before deploying them, are perfecting those images. Does any of that apply here? Do we have to worry about running afoul of Microsoft if, for example, we scrap an installation we fiddled with too much and start again from a clean install?

Thank you,

wizenedVet

 

[Kari]

Theoretically there's no limit how often you can activate a Windows setup, with one exception: OEM Windows can only be reactivated on the same hardware setup it was first activated. Worst case scenario is you need to do activation by phone but normally there's no problems in reactivating Windows. Main principle, most important thing to remember is that one licence can be at use only in one computer at the time; if you choose to use your Windows product key to activate another PC, the previous installation loses its activation.

I am not sure I understood you correctly, if the above does not answer your question please repost.

Kari

Good to read: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18715-activate-windows-7-phone.html

 

[wizenedVet]

Kari,

Thank you. That was exactly what I was looking for.

wizenedVet

 

[RCWin7 4M]

Error message when editing script

I'm using Notepad++ to edit Kari's script. I keep getting an error message when I check the xml syntax. "XML parsing error at line 11; Extra content at the end of the document"

I checked/recopied the script many times - don't see the error. The program seems to run fine on files downloaded from MS licensing. It does not work on OEM files without SP1.Do I have to provide a slipstreamed version of the OEM file inclueding sp1.? Does anyone know if an OEM product key will work on the file downloaded from MS?

Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

Relocate:

<?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>e:\Users</ProfilesDirectory> 
<ProgramData>e:\ProgramData</ProgramData> 
</FolderLocations> 
</component> 
</settings> 
<cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:R:/sources/install.wim#Windows 7 ULTIMATE" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

Thanks