Moving the Users Folder in Windows 7

You know I don't like, or care about multidisk or multipartition systems. But I know some do. There was once the discussion raised about moving the user folder from c:\ to d:\ or similar. Now there's an example on lifehacker on how to do this. So I guess it's in the general interest to share it here.

They, too, have Information about System Restore in Windows 7. Both good reads. Hope for the ones that might consider it, the link is some help:

http://lifehacker.com/5467758/move-the-users-directory-in-windows-7

 

Why?         

 

why should I? single partition, fast ssd on it, big storage networked == most versatile, most easy to set up and handle solution. but we've discussed that very often. all i wanted is to share info for those who do want to do that stuff. so they at least do it right the first time without possible messing around and having to reinstall all the time.

 

So you choose to have ultra-fast SSD to speed up everything only to have everything else on network storage which is snail-slow? What kind of logic is that?

 

Well, this method is almost correct (the confusion about "hard junction symbolic links ermm, or what?", aside ).

First of all, you really, absolutely, want to add the /COPYALL flag to the robocopy command, though. For the task described in your link, the /mir flag is more or less useless, and the method as described in your link will result in a compromised system. In addition, after the steps described by the author, you need to perform additional operations due to the fact that some OS functions will treat reparse points differently, so that, even though, in Windows Explorer, things may look just fine, your OS will be half broken. For example, Windows Search will not follow junctions, which means that your search functionality is gone, unless you reconfigure your system accordingly.

So, to make a long story short: Do not do this if you don't know what you are doing. It is possible to move the C:\Users folder after installation, but it is not at all easy. If you really want to have that folder on a different drive or partition, the proper approach really is to learn how to use WAIK, and perform an installation with a moved Users folder from scratch.

P.S.: As a point of reference, I have used configurations such as the one described above for almost ten years, with quite a bit success. After my experiences with making this kind of thing work in Vista and above, I have decided to abandon this approach. It all depends on your needs, of course, but on this point I tend to agree with Dave, that most of the time, this effort is really not worth whatever benefit you may get out of it.

 

hmm, interesting reading. i am an avid fan of keeping all user data possible on another partition. i use acronis to image my several operating systems and i know at any time i can simply restore the image and all my user data is safe in another place. it also allows me to share the data across os's. this is still relevant with only 1 os.
i have some sort of half attempt at moving the win 7 links and setting libraries but i do not really use them.
i tend to only use explorer. if i click on P: (my personal files partition), then open 'Our Documents', then 'Gary' i will find everything that belongs to me. to back it up i simply copy that folder to somewhere else. how simple is that? user folders, libraries, symbolic links, bah, humbug ;-)

 

well, the dog slow network delivers my files at 100MB/s. all active at work files are locally on my machines. and media files don't need sub-millisecond latency to watch a movie.

the logic in this? my whole home environment is blazzing fast, has a huge amount of storage, needs no manual synching over different machines, and has everything stored in a redundant way.



but this is offtopic. open a new thread about this if you want.

i go to my library of choice (music, pictures, videos, software & downloads, documents) and have my files all there, no matter where they're stored.

how simple's that?

 

since vista release ive just been moving all user folders to D:\Files\ instead.. Including desktop folder and everything..

Your setup seems awesome though Dave, .. I just doubt it would ever be arsed to set something up like that.

 

wait for updated pics

but the setup is easy.

install home server.

install each pc. install home server connector.


done


oh, and set media center to autorun on the media center pc.


the rest are some personal changes on the stuff (like adding emulators to the mediacenter, and such).


it's reeeeeeeeally a very simple and very solid solution. simple to set up, very simple to use. right now, i buy a track in itunes on my laptop, it autosyncs to the home server, and shows up in the auto-updating mediacenter to playback. quite fun

 

Emulators? Can you elaborate?

 

youtube search my name for more information. i can just say xbox 360 wireless controller on the media center, full hd 1080p projector on 2m x 1.1m wall, and n64, super nintendo, gameboy is a new experience


and in case anyone questions, in switzerland it's legal (i own those devices and games)