Windows 10: Moving user folders to HDD - what is the best and simplest method

I need to reinstall Win10 as I keep getting BSOD since the recent update, but want to replicate my current document library heirarchy which is saved on the HDD. SSD contains OS, plus c:\users\UserABC > (Folder: Documents)HDD d:\users\UserABC > (Folders: Desktop; Downloads; Music; Pictures; Videos) I dont want to format the D: drive, but simply reinstall Win on C: and then have the user folders (Desktop; Downloads; Music; Pictures; Videos) point to the existing ones on D: I.e. When I look at Libraries, I want to see all the folders and when copying files to them, the files will save to the appropriate drive. What is the best way to do this? I think when I initially set this up, there was a complex process done in audit mode / create an unattended answer file while Windows was being installed. (which I think was a tutorial on this site) I found this link will this achieve a similar outcome or is there a better approach? Move your Windows 10 libraries to a separate drive or partition | PCWorld Thanks (Win ver 21H1)

:)

 

Move Users Folder Location in Windows 10  

If not the best way to do that but at least the way I recommend:

• "Empty" your user profile folders as much as you can, copying documents, pics, videos, music and all other personal data from all user profiles to external HDD. As following steps require you to relocate Users folder two times, the less data is left in user profile folders, the faster the relocation process. Important: Leave system folder AppData for each profile intact, do not empty / move its content!
• Reverse the relocating, doing exactly as told in tutorial Method Two but this time relocating Users folder back to C: drive
• Shut down the PC, replace the disk where you had Users relocated
• Mount the new disk, boot to Windows, assign new disk the same drive ID letter than the old one had
• Again, do as told in Method Two, now relocating Users to new disk
• Restore the backed up personal user data from external drive to respective folders under each user profile

 

Moving User folder from SSD to HDD

Hi,

I'm trying to move my User folder from the SSD to the HDD but when I open the folder properties to do it, the "location" tab isn't present.

Is there an easy fix for this?

TIA

 

Move Users Folder Location in Windows 10  

I'm quite familiar with your semantics that you have suggested at above. I am sorry for not being able to clarify it for you. I am one of those who cannot move the User folders by Utilizing your Method One and Two. I know how to USE CMD and its syntax requirements quite well. This is my last attempt and I won't try this again!

SUMMARY:
1) Method I or Method II did not work for me. Due to Lenovo hard coded + pre-installed customizations.
2) I did not make any ERRORs using your methods, I Debugged it several times!
3) I was able to move Only local system activated Administrator folder - AND not as a WHOLE.
4) Since some of the folks here could not make this work due to same or similar problems, I wanted to explain the steps I have taken to make it work. Perhaps, someone could benefit from it.
5) Since my steps did not relocate for All Users\ADMINISTRATOR files/folders, I had to use the Location properties to manually move most of the folders under LOCAL. Some system folders did not move under the LOCATION folder, However, Manual relocation process worked for All of the LocalLow and Roaming Folders
6) I wanted to get your opinion about these steps. Perhaps some Pros/Cons, or perhaps you may come up with some suggestions, as my steps are more of a patch work rather then a solid integrated solution! such as your Methods.

Below are these steps:

1- Install Windows 10 from Macrium Image.
2- Delete all non-System created user profiles and activate the System Local Admin.
3- Run sysprep.exe with XML file.
4- Let Windows go through a boot-loop crash.
5- Re-Install Image from Macrium.
6- Now User Folder with System Local Administrator is created.
7- However, Only an empty APPDATA folder and Net User data description file (NTUSER.DAT) reside Inside the Users\Administrator folder,
8- Manually relocate folders from C:\Users\Administrator\Pictures, Downloads, Contacts,...etc also \Local, LocalLow, Roaming to D:\Users\Administrator\...
9- Prior to relocating these folders from C:\Users\Administrator\*.* , you will need to manually create empty Folders with the same names in D:\Users\Administrator\....

10- Change ENVIRONMENT variables in CMD for the Local ADMINISTRATOR user profile if needed or as needed. Or run systemPropertiesAdvanced.exe from CMD.

11- Do not move the Windows System sub-folders UNLESS if you can move the ENTIRE Main folder as a whole.
EXAMPLE: Do NOT move the C:\Users\Administrator\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu folder itself. You need to move to ENTIRE MICROSOFT folder as a whole.
HOWEVER, it is better to not mess with these folders. I did not move System Windows and Microsoft folders.

12 - You will need to update Group Policy Settings for the System Administrator. Download and Run Administrative Template (.admx) from Microsoft Windows. This makes it more convenient while modifying the file/folder security settings when needed. For example, in my trials, APPDATA folder Application files/folders did not include the System Administrator Access under the security Settings. You need SYSTEM Administrator access to run the Applications such as Chocolatey, Power Shell scripts, etc. Instead of going into ADVANCED settings under SECURITY and ADDing System Administrator access for each of the folder/file one by one, this will enable the access to all files/folders by default.

13- All of the .EXE files for the downloaded Applications need to be set to Run As Administrator from its properties.

{I did not describe 10-11-12 in my initial posting, as I should have}

All System Applications such as Norton,MalwareBytes, etc. or IntelliJ must be installed to C:\ drive, not to D:\ drive. However, GRADLE, NODES, Chocolatey, Nuget,..etc. types can be downloaded to D:\Users\Administrator\APPDATA\Local

This method is not very convenient as it requires manipulation, however, it works 100% for me.

MY Main Purpose for Relocating these folders/files is the following ;
I am an Android Application Developer. AND ALL of my Repositories, GRADLE, SDKs, JDKs, NodeJS., GIT, BASH..etc reside under the APPDATA folder. This folder SIZE has exceeded 400 GB. AND the reason I mentioned the above is that; for someone who does not use the APPDATA folder the way I do, these steps might not be worth taking. AND if someone who has the same or similar needs for the capacity for utilizing the APPDATA folder as I do and knows what they are doing, It works 100%. Lastly, this a Risky Method and don't attempt to try it Unless you have Macrium or similar Software. DO not rely on Windows System RESTORE!!!

That's All