A way to change the location of XP's user folders?

[archcommus]

Right now I have My Documents on D:\, but of course my user folder is within C:\Documents and Settings\. Is there any way to change the location of THAT folder, say to another partition?

 

[OdiN]

If there is, I don't know it and it must be very very involved. I'd say you are stuck with it. I've never heard of this being able to be done.

 

[MSCoder610]

You might try this:
Control Panel> Administrative Tools>Computer Management>System Tools>Local Users and Groups>Users>[find your name on right panel]>Right Click>Properties>Profile Tab>User Profile>Profile Path.

I just tried it on one of my user accounts and it did seem to copy everything over. I still see the folder under Documents and Settings though.

 

[gpgofast]

Tweak.ui

Download it here. You can move your "special" folders to anywhere you want-even a network drive.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: gpgofast
Tweak.ui

Download it here. You can move your "special" folders to anywhere you want-even a network drive.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

I don't think TweakUI can be used to move the Documents and Settings folder completely. It has options to move special folders, but not one for this. I looked and couldn't find it.

 

[dclive]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314843

 

[statik213]

Sheesh! Symlinks would be nice here huh?
You could try mounting an ntfs volume inside c:\dcoument & settings to go with a user account through the Disk management console, haven't tried it though.

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: dclive
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314843

Wow, I don't even know what they're talking about there. Running something at a prompt before installing Windows?

Originally posted by: statik213
Sheesh! Symlinks would be nice here huh?
You could try mounting an ntfs volume inside c:\dcoument & settings to go with a user account through the Disk management console, haven't tried it though.

Could you explain that a bit more? That sounds interesting.

Originally posted by: MSCoder610
You might try this:
Control Panel> Administrative Tools>Computer Management>System Tools>Local Users and Groups>Users>[find your name on right panel]>Right Click>Properties>Profile Tab>User Profile>Profile Path.

I just tried it on one of my user accounts and it did seem to copy everything over. I still see the folder under Documents and Settings though.

This I will try.

It seems it can be done easily in the registry, but I was hoping for a less "raw" method.

 

[archcommus]

Another thing is, isn't this something that a LOT of people on these boards would benefit from doing? I bet there are many people here who store their documents on partitions or drives other than the drive where programs are installed, correct? Well, instead of having just your documents there, but your Windows user folder still in its original location, wouldn't it be nice to have that whole folder moved to another partition or drive?

 

[statik213]

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: dclive
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314843

Wow, I don't even know what they're talking about there. Running something at a prompt before installing Windows?

Originally posted by: statik213
Sheesh! Symlinks would be nice here huh?
You could try mounting an ntfs volume inside c:\dcoument & settings to go with a user account through the Disk management console, haven't tried it though.

Could you explain that a bit more? That sounds interesting.

Originally posted by: MSCoder610
You might try this:
Control Panel> Administrative Tools>Computer Management>System Tools>Local Users and Groups>Users>[find your name on right panel]>Right Click>Properties>Profile Tab>User Profile>Profile Path.

I just tried it on one of my user accounts and it did seem to copy everything over. I still see the folder under Documents and Settings though.

This I will try.

It seems it can be done easily in the registry, but I was hoping for a less "raw" method.

Let's say you have an account called johndoe, so you will have your profile under c:\doc&settings\johndoe. You'll need to have a (preferably empty) dedicated partition/volume (i.e. D: as you mentioned in your OP).

0. If you are logged in as johndoe log out (competely -- no switch user) and log back in wiht a different account that has admin rights.
1. !!!!important. rename the folder johndoe to johndoe.bak
2. Now get to the disk management console, rightclick my comp. -> manage, look under storage under the tree on the left pane.
3. Right click on the partition you want to mount under c:\doc&Settings. and click on 'Change Drive Letters and paths ...' it should show a mapping to the volume's current drive letter (D: etc.).
4. Now click add and `choose mount in the following empty ntfs folder`, browse to c:\documents & setings and create a new folder called johndoe. select folder, click ok.
5. Copy all the files and folders from johndoe.bak into johndoe (i.e. D: ) -- make sure show hidden & system files is turned on in explorer before u copy.
6. cross your fingers. logout, login as johndoe

DISCLAIMER:
I haven't tried this, it just popped in to my head when I read your post -- try it at your own risk....

 

[Brazen]

right-click My Documents, choose Properties. See where it says "Target: "? Change that.

 

[Varun]

Originally posted by: Brazen
right-click My Documents, choose Properties. See where it says "Target: "? Change that.

that's not what he asked. He wants to move the "Documents and Settings" folders.

 

[Brazen]

Originally posted by: Varun

Originally posted by: Brazen
right-click My Documents, choose Properties. See where it says "Target: "? Change that.

that's not what he asked. He wants to move the "Documents and Settings" folders.

Oops, my bad.

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: archcommus
Another thing is, isn't this something that a LOT of people on these boards would benefit from doing? I bet there are many people here who store their documents on partitions or drives other than the drive where programs are installed, correct? Well, instead of having just your documents there, but your Windows user folder still in its original location, wouldn't it be nice to have that whole folder moved to another partition or drive?

Definately...moving My Docs to my data drive is one of the first things I do when setting up the system. Yet, Documents and Settings still remains on C:\.....I just never have gotten around to doing it.

 

[13Gigatons]

Junction Link Magic and Windows Installed on a seperate partition is how I did it. There are files that are active in the DAS folder so it can't be moved/copied under windows itself.

http://www.rekenwonder.com/linkmagic.htm

1. Boot to second partition
2. Move the DAS folder to the DATA partition
3. Create a new DAS folder that is empty of course { Make sure you spell it correctly "Documents and Settings" }
4. Launch Junction Link Magic and create a junction from the empty DAS folder to the DAS folder on the DATA partition
5. Done.....reboot to the main partition and all you documents and settings are on the DATA partition.

 

[13Gigatons]

Originally posted by: MSCoder610
You might try this:
Control Panel> Administrative Tools>Computer Management>System Tools>Local Users and Groups>Users>[find your name on right panel]>Right Click>Properties>Profile Tab>User Profile>Profile Path.

I just tried it on one of my user accounts and it did seem to copy everything over. I still see the folder under Documents and Settings though.

or do this:

1. Logout from the user you want to move
2. Login as Admin or with Admin power
3. Open the partition you want to move the folder to have it waiting in the taskbar.
4. Open a second folder and get to C:\DAS and "right click" the user you want to move, drag the folder to the taskbar were the other partition is waiting, unclick and choose move to.
5. Done......now log back in as yourself agian.