User Profiles - Create and Move During Windows 7 Installation

gonzar said:

Not hard at all? Did exactly that when trying to install manually...several times. I think I specified that in the overclock thread. Anyhoo...I'll figure it out one way or another. Just thought I'd save some time asking the experts if they new what might be going on.

I am naturally not aware of any of your posts in threads I do not participate and subscribe.

I have never used AVG, in fact I installed it today first time in my life to get the screenshot in my previous post. I repeated the install process on another computer and a virtual machine, it does not fail and I cannot make it fail. I simply cannot get it to fail. I select Custom installation, click Change location, select an existing folder on any drive or click the Make a new folder button to create a new one, click OK and install.

If you are getting "specified path not found" error as you told it means you are most definitely doing something wrong, for instance trying to manually add a a non existing path in the dialog where you should not enter anything but instead just click the Change location link. You should only enter the location manually if the whole path already exists, for instance if you want to install AVG in X:\Programs\Security\AVG, you should be sure that the folders X:\Programs and X:\Programs\Security already exist; AVG installer can then create the AVG folder there by itself but it needs the folders above it to exist.

In my previous post I assumed that the error you get might be because of an "unintelligent" installer. But no, that was a wrong assumption; I can't get the AVG installation to fail even when done "wrong" by entering a long installation path manually. AVG installer is clever enough to create the full path, all folder levels.

gonzar said:

I think I specified that in the overclock thread.

Strange. I decided to check what you had posted in overclocking thread. Found nothing. According to your user profile you have posted 5 posts at the Seven Forums, all of them in this thread:

gonzar said:

It clearly seems to be a an AVG specific issue? Or maybe it can only be installed to the C drive?

No, it most certainly is not an AVG issue. Yes, it can be installed on any drive.

Recap of my previous posts: I have no issues in installing AVG on any drive. I've never used it before, downloaded it first time ever today, have now tried various installing scenarios (drive C:, drive E:, manually entering installation path, system with relocated Users folder and so on). I cannot get the AVG installer to fail, it installs without any issues every time.

I have told that I have now installed AVG several times on various machines, real and virtual, with various setups. Works every time. You have told you have always before been able to install AVG but now, this one time it's not working. From that you draw a conclusion "It clearly seems to be an AVG specific issue".

It clearly seems that we have different definition for logical reasoning...

Kari said:

OK, I have tested a new, different scenario now on three PC's, and it works. Here's what you should do if installing Seven on SSD and relocating User folders using this method, or if for any reason wanting to move ProgramData and / or Users after Windows is already installed. This method can be used whenever you want to relocate Users to another disk on an existing installation of Seven.

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.

Relocating Users and ProgramData folders when Windows Seven is already installed:

Run Command Prompt as administrator by clicking Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories, then right clicking Command Prompt and selecting Run as Administrator:

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Type this to command prompt: C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\Sysprep.exe /audit /reboot, hit Enter.

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Windows reboots now to Audit Mode, "thinking" it's been started first time as the message on screen shows:

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Now continue from beginning of page 4 in tutorial, and follow the steps described. Running the script causes Windows to move ProgramData and Users folders from C: to another disk or partition, also moving all content of said folders. The later you do this, the longer it takes because Windows has more to move.

Notice that this really makes Windows think it's first boot, so you have to select country and keyboard layout and again create a user account when first time booted in OOBE (normal) mode after running the script. Because the Users folder already contains your user account folders, you get an error message if trying to input the same name:

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Use a temporary name, for instance Test to continue first boot routine. When Windows stops for login, choose your old account to login, for instance in my case I chose here Kari and not the account Test which I just created:

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When finally in Windows desktop, go to User Accounts and remove the unnecessary Test account. That account has yet no folders to remove because Windows does not create user folders when user account is created; the user folders are only created when user logs in first time.

That's it. Works without any problems whatsoever.

Kari

When I attempted to try this method, I get a momentary pop-up that appears to be processing the command, but then I get an indication of a "fatal error" and nothing happens.

Do you have a solution?

EDIT:

Solution Found: For me, it was to run the command from SAFE Mode Command Prompt