User Profiles - Create and Move During Windows 7 Installation

Camera · 02 Nov 2015

A couple more questions, if I may, before I do this.
I have an OEM windows 7 disk for which I have the license key. When I built the PC, for convenience I installed from a USB stick. My intention is to copy that stick onto my D: partition along with the relocate XML as you describe on the win10 forums.

1. Backup my User directory and delete contents of the original
2. Run Sysprep - do I still need to go into "audit mode" first, as I did when I first moved the user/program data?
Sysprep will reboot windows when finished
3. I will need to give a new user name?
4. Once up and running I can switch users - will my old user name still be the admin account?
5. I should now have Programme and user files back at C: and I can copy across the user data from backup

My programs should still be installed - will all the windows updates since the original installation in 2013 still be installed? (I only ask as I may leave a period before upgrading to windows10 to ensure all is still stable.

Finally I can accept the Windows 10 upgrade

Thanks
Dave

tjg79 · 02 Nov 2015

Kari said:

Camera said:

Some time ago I followed the advice here and successfully moved ProgramData and Users files to a separate drive. I am now about to upgrade from Windows 7 64-bit Pro to Windows 10.
You suggest above that the upgrade process can now cope with these folders on a separate drive. However on the Windows 10 forum your advice on splitting the folders seems to suggest moving the Users data only and leaving the ProgramData on C:
Do I need to move ProgramData back before upgrading?

Thanks
Dave

Relocating ProgramData is only possible in Windows Vista and 7. In 8 and later it totally screws your system and should not be done.

When upgrading a system where both of the folders (Users and ProgramData) have been relocated, I recommend moving both back to C: drive before the upgrade. See the upgrade section of this tutorial at our sister site the Ten Forums: Users Folder - Move Location in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

Kari

I screwed up then, because I didn't read your instructions carefully. I moved both the Users and Program Data folders on a clean install of Win 7, then upgraded to Win 10. It upgraded, but I've noticed that the new upgrade install is buggy. I generally don't like upgrade installs, so I will do a clean install of Win 10 to give it another chance. Then, I'll just move the Users folder. Can this be accomplished with an answer file created with AIK for Win 7 on the Win 10 install?

Regards

Kari · 02 Nov 2015

Camera said:

1. Backup my User directory and delete contents of the original

Yes. Only backup your own data (docs, pics, videos and so on), not system folders (AppData, Temp)

Camera said:

2. Run Sysprep - do I still need to go into "audit mode" first, as I did when I first moved the user/program data? Sysprep will reboot windows when finished

You can do it from normal mode, no need to boot to Audit Mode. Sysprep will reboot automatically when done if the command includes the /reboot switch.

Camera said:

3. I will need to give a new user name?

Yes, every time you sysprep.

Camera said:

4. Once up and running I can switch users - will my old user name still be the admin account?

Yes, it will be the same as before, and you can remove the new account you had to create because of the sysprep.

Camera said:

5. I should now have Programme and user files back at C: and I can copy across the user data from backup

Yes.

Camera said:

My programs should still be installed - will all the windows updates since the original installation in 2013 still be installed? (I only ask as I may leave a period before upgrading to windows10 to ensure all is still stable.

Yes.

Camera said:

Finally I can accept the Windows 10 upgrade

Yes.

Camera · 02 Nov 2015

Kari - thank you. You have been very helpful.

Dave

Camera · 04 Nov 2015

Unfortunately after following the instructions to move the User and ProgramData files back I ended up with a bit of a mess. The Sysprep ran OK and Windows did restart but I still had a few files on the D drive under ProgramData and Users - Application Data. Also on the C: drive the new Users folder contained several folders at the top level, belonging to applications, that were previously in the AppData folder.
Opening applications resulted in "files not found" messages from several applications (including Cubase 8; Adobe Bridge).

Fortunately I had taken a system image before trying this and have restored to that image so I have not gone backwards.

I do not want to go into a Windows 10 upgrade with a file structure in a jumble, so it looks like I will have to wait and do a clean install to Windows 10 at some point in the future. My understanding is that precludes me from the free upgrade.

Dave

Kari · 04 Nov 2015

Camera said:

I do not want to go into a Windows 10 upgrade with a file structure in a jumble, so it looks like I will have to wait and do a clean install to Windows 10 at some point in the future. My understanding is that precludes me from the free upgrade.

Sorry to hear about that.

The ProgramData is here the culprit; you can upgrade to 10 even when it's relocated, but the result would be a non-functioning Windows so there's no point.

In your case it seems to be the best option to, when you decide to upgrade, to start from scratch. Backup your user data, clean install Windows 10, relocate the Users folder in Audit mode, and finally restore your user data.

Windows 10 relocating tutorial at our sister site the Ten Forums: Users Folder - Move Location in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

Camera · 04 Nov 2015

Just a thought. Would an upgrade be likely to function just enough to be activated (thereby getting the free upgrade) prior to a clean install?

Dave

Kari · 04 Nov 2015

Camera said:

Just a thought. Would an upgrade be likely to function just enough to be activated (thereby getting the free upgrade) prior to a clean install?

Dave

You have a system image, nothing serious can happen. I would at least try.

Anyway, an alternative: I have no idea if you have an OEM or Retail Windows 7 license. Whatever license and product key you have, did you know that starting from Windows 10 Build 10565 you can clean install and activate Windows 10 with a qualifying (valid) Windows 7 or 8.1 product key?

Just create the install media, boot from it and when asked enter your valid Windows 7 procuct key. You can download Windows 10 Build 10565 ISO image here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...iderpreviewiso

Warning

Please notice that activation with Windows 7 or 8.1 product key does not work with the official RTM release Build 10240 or any other later build before the Build 10565. Using the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool for instance creates a RTM Build 10240 ISO image which cannot be activated with your Windows 7 key.

Read about my tests with this new activation system on our sister site the Ten Forums: Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 10565 - Page 18 - Windows 10 Forums

Kari

Camera · 04 Nov 2015

Thanks Kari.
Those are useful options. My current product key is Win 7 Pro 64Bit OEM system builder which I bought when I built the PC.

I am a little concerned at putting a Beta on my main PC so may wait a bit longer and see if this appears on the next public release.

Dave

Kari · 04 Nov 2015

Camera said:

Thanks Kari.
Those are useful options. My current product key is Win 7 Pro 64Bit OEM system builder which I bought when I built the PC.

I am a little concerned at putting a Beta on my main PC so may wait a bit longer and see if this appears on the next public release.

Dave

It's not beta. As Microsoft has told, Ten is the last Windows. This is how it will be the foreseen future. Windows will be developed all the time and released as new builds, new features added, new apps and so on.

It's of course up to you, your decision; I can just tell that I have upgraded to each successive build since 10240 now running 10576 on all of my computers without a single issue, each new build resolving small minor issues in previous build.