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

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• 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

 

[Radeon962]

I used the guide last year when I built one of my systems and used a X25-M 80 GB SSD and a WD Blue 640 GB HDD as my Data drive. Worked fine and user data was moved to the HDD during install.

Fast forward to now and I would like to move to a larger SSD (Samsung 830 256GB). Issue is when I looked at making an image of my current SSD, both the SSD and HDD are marked as Active in Disk Management. Apparently, when I had both plugged in during the original install both the SSD and HDD become part of the Win 7 boot sequence as part of the MBR is on the HDD (and you can't boot up to Win 7 without both being plugged in)? I have been trying to figure this out, but it appears that it may have been better to only have had the SSD plugged in when I installed Win 7 and then move the user files after to the HDD.

I believe I need to run a Repair install now to remove the MBR from the HDD, but still trying to figure that out. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

In short, I want to just backup my current SSD and restore to a new SSD and not have to worry about having the HDD in the system should I want to remove it.

 

[Britton30]

I think if you run a Repair Install it will put App data and Users all on one drive. Try using free Macrium and either make an image of the SSD or clone it to the new SSD.
If you have a separate data drive you can't remove it and have Windows boot. The HDD should not be marked active though. Hopefully someone will address that.

 

[AlainCh]

H E L P !!!

Yesterday ....I did what was in need for a NEW installation for the family PC everything went as expected..

On my laptop I did the "already installed" procedures: OOOPS !!!

Now I have TWO Users Directory: one in Data disk and the other in Sys disk.

I've lost some configuration:
The Link quickbar (I set it as quickstart having W7 not the original one)...
I lost my Tunderbird setups..( I moved all the mail and the mail setting into the DATA disk two years ago) and that's important.. so now I cannot acces as per usual my mail...
questions :
0) no system restore available so I cannot rollback. I found only one: this morning.
1) how it happens to have TWO users directory .. May I merge them? How to ?
2) I can manually reapply the proc to recover my mail accounts and so on... I would prefer to avoid it.
3) I was carefull... what may have gone wrong ??

Thanks for any help !!

 

[Kari]

Alain, welcome to the Seven Forums.

To have two Users folders and two ProgramData folders is totally normal; the system needs the ones in C: even it is no longer using them. I recommend you reverse the procedure using the method told in tutorial by "relocating" both Users and ProgramData back to C:, this should repair your issues.

Simply change the Folder Locations back to C: in script (answer file) and run sysprep as told in tutorial:

<FolderLocations>
<ProfilesDirectory>C:\Users</ProfilesDirectory>
<ProgramData>C:\ProgramData</ProgramData>
</FolderLocations>

Notice: Change C: to whatever drive letter you have for your system disk.

Please always do a backup before changing system setting and variables. Your case is a good example when everything could have been repaired by restoring a full backup or system image.

Kari

 

[AlainCh]

Oh OK thanks for the quick answer...

Yes I did the backup ... finished with "error: some cluster are missing " ???????

In the other PC after the procedure I dont have anymore a Users directory under the Sys disk.
In my Laptop the Sys users directory exist and it is still full ( 3,5G of files)

Supposedly something went wrong. I tought about reversing it ... but I can multiply the errors If I dont understand why it did it wrong ?

PS: Data disk is D: Sys2 W7 disk is O:

 

[Kari]

The sysprep has not for some reason worked if the user files are still on system disk. If sysprep has not worked it can't also be the reason for Thunderbird losing mails.

Kari

 

[AlainCh]

OK,
strange as it can be I did a test create a new file on the desktop: It appeared on the DATA Users but not on the Sys one.
Now Should I do the reverse or redo the same thing ??

Thanks for your patience !!
8 years out of IT .. I'm loosing my edge !

 

[Kari]

In your case I would revert the relocation.

 

[AlainCh]

OK thanks Kari.

I reverted.

Situation:
Only ONE users directory >> is now in the Sys disk
Lost some setting like desktop background, I really didnt check everythings.
Tunderbird still dont recognize anymore my account's setting location.

The only strange thing that happened both time I rebooted in OOB is :
"setup is checking your video performance" staying up for 35 minutes at least.

If you agree, I will now try to MOVE again all on the DATA disk.. and only when everything is as it should be, I'll try to set again my Tunderbird.

Alain Charles

 

[Kari]

Be careful.

I do not know Thunderbird so I have no idea how to get your mails back. You could try to find an "Import" function in Thunderbird and then search through your whole PC to find the mail file.

Kari

 

[AlainCh]

NP Kari;
It's a different procedure from this one but singularly similar.
Tb create under the users all the info about where to store its own information.
The info should be safe and all I have to do is to reconnect them to my profile.

I will redo your procedure to do the move a little later and post the result.

Alain Charles

 

[AlainCh]

Hello Kari.
Re-did it and it went as expected. Now I have everything under the DATA disk.

Please Note and update your tutorial if you think it worth it:

On the "Existing users tutorial"
1) User with "Scotty / Win Patrol " active have to deactivate it. It can ask (previous to reboot) if sysprep is allowed to make a change into the registry, just few seconds before it reboot; if you miss it, sysprep can go awry.

2)
"Type this to command prompt:C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\Sysprep.exe /audit /reboot"

Tell the user to check the letter of the SYS disk into the DOS prompt.
That I missed first. My Sys disk is "O:"


Users that have Tunderbird have to make this small preparation:

a) Create on the DATA disk a directory called \tunderbird\profilebackup\
b) locate a directory "SYS:\Users\SuperUser\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\fu7smt9l.default" where "fu7smt9l" is a random name that can be different.
c) Copy all the content of the "fu7smt9l" (or whatever is called) directory and paste it in the previously prepared backup directory.
d) Start and end your move tutorial
e) when they are again logged in as themself, they have to start TunderBird. It will find nothing and start afresh. Do say no whatever it ask to configure itself. When the questions finish just exit TB.
f) go to the backup directory copy all the content
e) re-locate the \appdata\roaming\tunderbird\profiles\xzxc4546.default directory.. ( yes it's a different random name)
g) delete all the content .. and paste the Backup dir content to replace it.

END) Restart TunderBird, everything should be as it was.

________________________

I'm trying now to locate where the W7 has located the setting of the "Links quick bar" to restore al my links .. I POST HERE THE RESULTS.

Many Tanks
Alain Charles

 

[Radeon962]

Kari, using your method on your system, do you have the SSD and at least one other HDD marked as Active? Do you have to have both drives in the computer for it to boot?

I love the ease of use of the guide, but I'm getting ready to rebuild one of my systems and wanted to upgrade my SSD and HDD but currently I would need to make exact duplicates of each to boot.

Is there a way around this?

Thanks, Bill

 

[AlainCh]

Windows Links or quick bar or whatever you use under the taskbar to keep your *.lnk

Searched internet and many solution but none apply to this case.
I used some of my brain and LO !!! I had a unique programm and only ONE *.lnk pointing at it ... searched and I can give you a solution.

The links taskbar or whatever is located under:
"sys:\Users\SuperUser\Favorites\Links"
But your explorer will show you something like :
"sys:\Users\SuperUser\Favorites\Favorites Bar"

( No reason given )


Preparation:
a) Create under you data disk a directory called "links quick bar"
b) copy all the content of the previously named "Links/favorite bar"
c) paste it inside the new directory

d) Start and end your move tutorial


e) When you are again under your account, RightClick on the taskbar
f) >Toolbars>New Toolbars
g) Point to the "Links Quick Bar" you create in step a) hit enter
h) RightClick on the new taskbar : >notext, >No title, >View>Small Icon

That's all ... Have FUN !!!


AlainCh

 

[Kari]

Kari, using your method on your system, do you have the SSD and at least one other HDD marked as Active? Do you have to have both drives in the computer for it to boot?

I love the ease of use of the guide, but I'm getting ready to rebuild one of my systems and wanted to upgrade my SSD and HDD but currently I would need to make exact duplicates of each to boot.

Is there a way around this?

Thanks, Bill

I am not sure I understand you? I have never had more than one active disk.

Following this tutorial to relocate Users and ProgramData folders, you need to have the target drive connected and formatted.

 

[Radeon962]

When I followed the tutorial (on 2 separate systems/installs), I had both the SSD and HDD plugged in as I wanted to do a fresh install and move the Users and Program Data over to the HDD during the install. It worked for both systems without an issue. The SSD and HDD are both marked as active and I believe it is due to having both SSD and HDD plugged in during Windows install as the HDD appears to have MBR files written to it. I dont' see how you would not have MBR files written to the HDD if it is plugged in when you are doing a fresh install unless there is a way to tell Win 7 not to include it?

Bill

 

[Britton30]

I installed w7 with SSD only attached, I recommend that way, when you Enter Audit Mode the 1st time, do Shut Down instead of reboot and then attach the HDD.
I had previously placed the answer file on the HDD to reference it. Restart and continue with the tutorial from this point and only the SSD should be active.

 

[Radeon962]

I realize now that I should have done that as well as myGoogling does lead me to believe that having multiple hard drives marked as active is the result of installing Win 7 with the SSD & HDD plugged in. If I can get the HDD marked as not active and the MBR files off of it then I should be OK. Next time I will have to try plugging the HDD in after I start like you recommend.

Thanks, Bill

 

[Radeon962]

Well, was able to mark the other HDD as inactive and still boots.

Bill

 

[Radeon962]

Upon further review...

I must have system files on a HDD as when I try and make a Win 7 image I get both C: and D: included as part of the System Image.

Attached are screen shots of the Win 7 System Image showing this as well as my SSD/HDD setup from Disk Mgmt.

Do I need to unplug the HDD and run System Repair 3 times? Once I do that and plug the HDD back in do I then need to delete anything from the HDD or just plug it in and go.