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I am considering moving Windows’ Libraries (Documents, Pictures, etc.) from the System drive (C:) to my Data drive (D:). I am wondering if Upgrades like 1511 and 1607 move them back to the System drive and, if so:
1. are the contents lost in the process or
2. do the containers (Documents, Pictures, etc.) just get duplicated on the System drive?
Is there anyone out there with personal experience regarding this matter?
Thanks in advance.
You seem to be referring to Windows “special folders”, rather than Libraries, special folders have been around a long time and are real locations (with special icons and a Location tab in their Properties) containing actual files and folders, Libraries are much more recent and are just placeholders containing links.
With the early 1607 Release in August last, many (if not all) users who had made use of the ability to move the special folders to a different location had performance/hanging issues, it appeared that the upgrade/update process had not been built correctly and did not take moved special folders fully into account.
There was a subsequent patch that fixed this and the later releases of 1607 all seem to work correctly with special folders. So updating to current releases of 1511/1607 or later should not result in any location changes to your files.
No W10 release has ever moved the special folders back to their default locations as far as I’m aware.
I am considering moving Windows’ Libraries (Documents, Pictures, etc.) from the System drive (C:) to my Data drive (D:). I am wondering if Upgrades like 1511 and 1607 move them back to the System drive and, if so:
1. are the contents lost in the process or
2. do the containers (Documents, Pictures, etc.) just get duplicated on the System drive?Is there anyone out there with personal experience regarding this matter?
Thanks in advance.
I can’t answer that directly since being an Insider on both Fast and Preview Rings it has been a long time since I was on 1511.
However, I also Update/Upgrade allot. No you will not loss your data. The system/Upgrade will always recreate those files on your “C Disk” but for me they are always EMPTY and if I think about I just DELETE them. One can always tell if they are necessary because if you go into Properties there is NO “Location” tab. If you go into properties on your “D Disk” of the comparable file you will find the “Location” tab there. In other words it is all about “Location” literally, figuratively and practically.
Therefore, the worst that I have seen happen is the system/upgrade may change the “Location” back to the DEFAULT. All you need to do then is change it back to where you want it.
Always remember THOUGH, there are NO GUARANTIES in life or computers!!!! BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP, on separate drives, NAS, the Cloud. 3 Backups minimum over your originals with at least one off site of all your Data and I include System Images in that. Even with ones Data separated out, one would still be amazed how much data remains in the System Image that one wants and needs. For example I never try to relocate my “Users>*>AppData”. There is allot of significant and precious date in there especially with some ‘Mail apps’ or other kinds of apps. I personally have not found a way to offsite my Images(I have 100’s of GBs) since they are usually to big for ‘Free’ Cloud but it is a risk…..
Hope this helps some….
Best Regards,
Crysta
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1. Tower Totals: 2xSSD ~512GB, 2xHHD 20 TB, Memory 32GB
SSDs: 6xOS Partitions, 2xW8.1 Main & Test, 2x10.0 Test, Pro, x64
CPU i7 2600 K, SandyBridge/CougarPoint, 4 cores, 8 Threads, 3.4 GHz
Graphics Radeon RX 580, RX 580 ONLY Over Clocked
More perishable
2xMonitors Asus DVI, Sony 55" UHD TV HDMI
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1xOS W8.1 Pro, NAS Dependent, Same Sony above.
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for me, special folders stayed at the new location when upgraded from 1511 to 1607 and that is the way it should be. however, i would always recommend a backup before any feature upgrade as some have lost their partition when upgrading, special folders or not.
If you use the supported method, you will be fine.
Right-click on the folder, Properties, Location, replace C: with D: and move all files with the wizard for each folder. Do not move files manually. If it fails, move back to C: and again move to D: to create all settings correctly.
You should create the folder Users on the D: Drive with exactly the same permissions and ownership like the folder Users on the C: drive. This is critical for reliable functionality.
Do it for all system folders in your profile, EXCEPT AppData and anything underneath. DO NOT move AppData.
The correct permissions will be created in the process of moving the contents of each folder.
I think that trying to move built-in Windows folders is asking for trouble. I keep all of my data on a separate drive D: On it, I create folders for different data categories that mimic the Windows folder names (like “Docs”, “Dwnloads”, “Pix”, and so on) and keep my data in those. You can train the computer to use those folders by default. This accomplishes the purpose of moving the Windows folders to a different drive without the risks inherent in altering Windows features.
FYI
Copy & Paste (drag & drop to a different drive) makes a duplicate.
Cut & Paste (drag & drop on the same drive) moves something.
In this case I think it is safer to RIGHT click on C:\Users\”UserID”\”Foldername” and choose “Properties”
On the Location tab, change the path (or use “Find Target”) and choose “Move.”
Don’t use the shortcuts to the folder under your ID at the top or under Libraries or under Favorites, etc.
I think PKCano says the same thing if I understand it well, although I don’t understand why she says “don’t use the shortcuts…” because their target gets updated too.
If you MOVE something in NTFS, I believe the permissions follow. If you COPY & PASTE I believe the duplicate takes on the permissions of the destination.
Personal preference – I just like to use the C:\Users\UserID location.
EDIT: I’ve run into some STRANGE things Users have done with their file structure when they didn’t understand the “convenient” shortcuts all over the place and wonder why they have “My Documents in four different locations.” I like to know what I’m dealing with.
@PKCano
This is the classic theory about NTFS permissions. There are also differences between moving files/folders on the same disk or from one disk to another.
I noticed modified behaviour from the normal behaviour in the most recent OS versions, at least in some specific situations to which I did not pay enough attention. This may be related to special folders or protected system folders or simply only associated with UAC, but I don’t know exactly.
However the issue of moving special user folders with the built-in wizard and their NTFS permissions is taken care of by the wizard if using the Location tab correctly.
Both ways are correct.
What should be pinpointed though is that there are risks associated with moving user folders and the user has to fully understand the procedure and potential side-effects and you have already stressed the necessity of backing up before attempting any of the procedures.
This is from *memory* …… so take it for what it’s worth ….. I’ll try to find the original documentation if I can.
I was helping a friend who wanted to take advantage of the Win10 free upgrade during the Get Windows 10 campaign.
He had used the method that ch100 mentions here:
If you use the supported method, you will be fine.
But, he had done that on his Win7 system.
Somewhere in the Microsoft *How to prepare for the Upgrade* documentation, I stumbled across a *Warning*, that if you had moved the System folders, such as *My Documents*, *My Pictures*, etc. to another drive letter that was not the drive that Win7 was installed on, then before upgrading, make sure you move them back–otherwise the upgrade *would not* or *might not work*! (Can’t remember the exact problem that may happen!)
I moved them back to their proper location, and the upgrade went without a hitch! I never tested to see what would happen if I did not move those files back to their *default* location.
In the past, I had moved the System files to another drive–Win98se–I specifically had changed the *default* Program Files location. I had several programs that did not properly look for the new Program Files location–and when I tried to update those programs–the update failed. They were hard wired to look for the *default* Program Files on the C: drive only!
So, it depends on the installation, upgrade Program’s programming–if it knows to look for and live with the *moved* system files–then all will be well–if not, then there will be failures in the update, upgrade process.
Windows 7 user profile version is different than the Windows 10 user profile version.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/3056198/roaming-user-profiles-versioning-in-windows-10-and-windows-server-technical-preview
My replies were all in the context of upgrading from Windows 10 to a later version of Windows 10.
Upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10 with redirected folders in place is possible to create unexpected side-effects. For this sort of upgrades, the initial configuration should be as standard as possible and as fully patched as possible, including KB2952664.
It is a complicated subject and I am suggesting that those interested in the user profile subject to read everything and understand everything that was written by Helge Klein about this subject https://helgeklein.com/ and still study even more. 🙂
If you use the supported method, you will be fine.
Right-click on the folder, Properties, Location, replace C: with D: and move all files with the wizard for each folder. ….You should create the folder Users on the D: Drive with exactly the same permissions and ownership like the folder Users on the C: drive. This is critical for reliable functionality.
Do it for all system folders in your profile, EXCEPT AppData and anything underneath. DO NOT move AppData.
The correct permissions will be created in the process of moving the contents of each folder
I did a lot of research on how to move the User Special Folders in Windows 7. This is what I’ve called the “MS approved method”… and have been wondering how much as changed in Windows 10.
In Windows 7, some of the permissions were not properly copied… AND the symbolic links (junctions) for legacy folders were not created (such as, “My Documents”.)
If making sure all permissions are properly set for the moved Special Folders and the proper symbolic links are created is important to you… then you might want to look into doing it by script.
(Basically, it alters the Default User profile so that any new profile is created with moved Special Folders and then creates the proper symbolic links.)
For anyone interested, here’s a brief intro in English HERE
The original thread is in the French lang version of Seven Forums… quite long (57 pages): HERE Last time I was following up (about a year ago) I noticed that the creator of the script had said that it works for Windows 10. He also provides advice and help for those wanting to try this method.
However, it isn’t for those uncomfortable with scripts, editing the registry, and using the command prompt. I believe the “MS approved method” is likely to be good enough for most end users.
@jelson
As far as I know, whole user profile moved to a different location is not supported and upgrades like Windows 7 to Windows 10 would certainly be problematic.
The only supported configuration is for User Special Folders which can be done either from the Location tab, by editing the registry (which does not move the contents or create permissions correctly and needs further work) or Folder Redirection Group Policy extension in an Active Directory environment.
I tested the location change of the whole user profiles, it works if controlled correctly, but there is always a chance that something would get broken when any change happens.
Handling user profiles and folder redirection is not easy and should not be tried on an important machine unless understanding well what is done behind the scenes.
Windows 10 when compared with Windows 7 creates extra registry values in the process of changing location under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders adding GUIDs as values which I don’t know if are required, but are created nevertheless, which flags different behaviour than Windows 7.
@jelson
As far as I know, whole user profile moved to a different location is not supported and upgrades like Windows 7 to Windows 10 would certainly be problematic.
You can move the entire User folders (as well as Programs Files, etc) during the Windows install by using a custom answer file. (Never tried it)
The only supported configuration is for User Special Folders which can be done either from the Location tab, by editing the registry (which does not move the contents or create permissions correctly and needs further work) or ….
Agreed… there are problems with doing a simple registry edit… that’s the reason for the “Modular Script” changing the registry values for the “Default Use” profile. Note that it does Not “move” any of the current users’ Special Folders. BUT any new users will have their Special User Folders (as set by the script) automatically created in the new location, such as, D:\Users\
Handling user profiles and folder redirection is not easy and should not be tried on an important machine unless understanding well what is done behind the scenes.
I couldn’t agree more… +2
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