Windows 10: setting up User to store on HDD with Windows on SSD

It appears you are spot on Kari. I changed the drive to H and tried changing paths to H from A. Seemed to work, but kept confusing Windows here and there. Windows 10 (on SSD) has been really slow loading, also. So, I am going to go with your plan and start over. A couple of questions or advice requests from you though.

Do I need to do a complete wipe of my HDD? If so, the last time I did that secure wipe, it took hours. Which wipe method do you recommend?

I have some PST files stored on it, can I copy those to my SSD temporarily or should i backup the entire system? I have a back up HDD that I can restore files from after the wipe.

Thanks again for your help!

 

If it was me, and especially because this is just a home computer (?), I would simply format it with Quick Format. That's it. I would do it like this:

• Backup my stuff from the drive
• Format the drive
• Give it a new drive ID letter
• Restore my stuff to it
• Change the paths according to the new drive letter

 

I followed your instructions, however, when I hit Restore my files, it want to go the old drive A and not the drive H which I just formatted. Any thoughts?

 

My backup method in cases like yours is to manually copy my data to an external drive, then restore it by manually copying it from the external drive to wherever I want to.

Not knowing which method you used, maybe some backup software, I am not able to tell you how to select the restore location.

 

okay, I will try to figure this out. Currently, I restored my backed up files (the ones from the formerly named A: drive) and they won't restore to the new H: drive. so, i chose not to include subfolders, but now they are all listed under the main user folders of Pictures, Documents, etc. It also added an A folder within the User folder on drive H. I am still trying to get through the Start and Search bar not working issue now. I am a bit overwelmed as you can see. thanks for your patience. I used the Windows 7 back up.

 

I did the second method of your Sysprep using the windows 10 ISO file on my dvd drive D, doing the notepad with drive H as the destination drive that was quick formatted with nothing on it, and changing the "Windows Pro" to Windows. I got a pop up box that said basically it didn't work and to see a log of some sorts. Not sure what I did wrong. Any suggestions? I did have to create two new Users and they work fine with regards to the Windows start and menu box working again.

 

I have no ideas, I am sorry but your post does not give any information to start working with. I have written several tutorials involving Sysprep, which has a multitude of different error messages depending on what went wrong.

Post in the the tutorial thread, the tutorial you used. Explain your procedure as detailed as you can:

• Your goal / purpose to follow the instructions in the tutorial
• Are you doing it on a clean install or an existing system
• Commnad(s) you used
• Exact error messages

 

I have attached the error. I am trying to have my two user profiles, Carl and Laura, on my H: drive (an hdd) and my windows 10 and Office programs on my SSD (C: drive). I have created a media tool in the ISO format and have it in my D: drive. I use Windows 10 Home 64 bit.

If you cant read the Word doc, here is what I have entered on the Notepad:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
<settings pass="oobeSystem">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<FolderLocations>
<ProfilesDirectory>H:\Users</ProfilesDirectory>
</FolderLocations>
</component>
</settings>
<cpi*RedfacefflineImage cpi:source="wim*Biggrin:\sources\install.wim#Windows 10" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

On command prompt... after System32>%windir%\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe /oobe /reboot /unattend:H:\relocate.xml

Error is:

System Preparation Tool 3.14, Sysprep was not able to validate your Windows installation. Review the log file at %WINDIR%\System32\Sysprep\Panther\setupact.log for details. After resolving the issue, use Sysprep to validate your installation again.


Sorry, but I just read how to include a screenshot properly. I will do it next time, sorry!