User Profiles - Create and Move During Windows 7 Installation

Hi Strus, welcome to the Seven Forums. Good to hear this worked for you.

I have successfully reversed this, "re-relocated" both Users and ProgramData folders back to original locations on C: simply by editing the script between FolderLocations tags, changing ProfilesDirectory and ProgramData values back to original locations, booting to Audit Mode and running the script:

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

Kari

I have done quite a lot testing with sysprep and answer files (scripts). I suspect certain Windows services sometimes prevent answer files to work as intented, a good example being this Windows Media Networking service that you sometimes have to stop for sysprep to run, as told at the end of this tutorial.

I have had succcess running sysprep with this answer file in most of the cases when done on a new installation, but I have already seen a clear trend: the older the Windows setup, older as in more stuff installed and so on, the higher the precentage that fails.

I would not recommend playing with sysprep and answer files. You might have success to relocate - revert - relocate again a few times but eventually it does not work anymore.

Kari

I would like to do this user files moving on a new install to SSD. It is recommended to have only the SSD attached with an install. How would I be able to copy the script in?

1. Install Seven only SSD connected
2. Enter Audit Mode as told in tutorial
3. When Audit Mode starts, you will see SysPrep GUI. Select System Cleanup Action: Enter System Audit Mode and Shutdown Options: Shutdown as shown in screenshot below:



4. Click OK
5. PC shuts now down. Connect secondary HHD and boot PC again
6. PC boots now back to Audit Mode and you can continue sysprepping as described in tutorial

Kari

Thanks Kari! Seems simple enough that I could do it.

Please tell how it went.

Kari

Well....I can't seem to get the required 12 lines in the script. Do lines 4-7 and 14-15 need to be on one line to function? I am ending up with 11 or 13.
I won't try to type it all in, too much chance for errors...and my typing.

Britton, here's the answer file (script) as a txt file, 12 lines as it should be: relocate.txt


Change the .txt extension to .xml before using with sysprep. You can use this answer file as it is if

• You have a 64-bit Windows Ultimate
  
  • If 32-bit, change value processorArchitecture (line 4) to x86
  • If not Ultimate, change line 11 accordingly (HOMEBASIC, HOMEPREMIUM or PROFESSIONAL)
• You are relocating both Users and ProgramData to D:
  
  • If not D: change values ProfilesDirectory (line 6) and ProgramData (line 7) accordingly
  • If not relocating ProgramData, delete line 7
• Your Windows install media is on E: drive
  
  • If DVD install media is not on E:, change line 11 accordingly

Kari