Windows 10: SearchUI.exe stop working when move AppData/local

Hello!

Months ago I moved my user folder C:\Users\<my_user_folder> to a new location using a director junction.

• First of all I created a new user
• I copied the user folder with xcopy to E:\C_DRIVE\Users\<my_user_folder>
• I created a directory junction with mklink /J

It worked like a charm for months.

three days ago, after a small update, I don't remember which update was, Start menu stopped working. I noticed, that SearchUI.exe is not present in the task manager.
Seems that all app from SystemApps failed to load (checking Windows Event log, all the apps didn't start with an error code).
The funny thing is that if I create a new user (admin or not) on C:\Users, start button and apps work well. As soon as I move them to the new drive with the just described procedure, they stop working!

I tried also moving only AppData/Local and AppData/Local/Packages and in both case, only moving those folders cause the problem,
does anyone experienced the same problem? has anyone any idea on how to solve it?
Thanks!

:)

 

Can I use "location" to move my user account to the D drive?

Hi Beemer,

You can move the folders inside AppData (Local, LocalLow, and Roaming) with no problem at all using the Location Tab, do not move the actual AppData folder (it will be empty anyway when you move the contained folders) as that can cause issues.

 

When trying to move Appdata - Access is denied

I have a 128 gb ssd and I want to move my appdata local files to my 2tb HD because I need more space to update to the creators update work I want to develop a uwp app for. Also why would you be unable to change the appdata/local location when there is
a location tab in properties that allows you to do it?

 

Hi, this is the recommended way to move user folders:
Users Folder - Move Location in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

(You can move folders such as Documents by using the Location tab in the Properties sheet)

You will create problems for yourself in hacking Win 10- it's not very forgiving.

Note that searching Settings, for example, relies on Windows indexed search being able to search the relevant part of your user folders.

 

thank you! Yes I saw that tutorial, but I prefer to not move all the user folder. I like the idea of moving folder via location tab but I have problem moving folder like AppData/Local.
I will try again.

thanks again