Changing Drive for "Documents and Settings" folder

  1. #1
    kdealba is offline Newbie

    Exclamation Changing Drive for "Documents and Settings" folder

    Good day everyone,

    My computer has a 40GB disk (drive C: ). I recently installed a 160GB hard disk in my computer (now drive D: ). I have reinstalled WinXP pro too. I would like that the "Documents and Settings" folder could be located in drive D:, so every possible saved file would be located in drive D: which is bigger, leaving drive C: to store "Program Files" folder.

    I supose it is not as easy as "cutting and pasting" .... or is it? Have you got any idea? Has someone ever tried to do such a thing?.

    I would really appreciate your helping me.

    Karim


  2. #2
    imported_jazzman is offline Elite Member
    Quote Originally Posted by kdealba
    Good day everyone,

    My computer has a 40GB disk (drive C: ). I recently installed a 160GB hard disk in my computer (now drive D: ). I have reinstalled WinXP pro too. I would like that the "Documents and Settings" folder could be located in drive D:, so every possible saved file would be located in drive D: which is bigger, leaving drive C: to store "Program Files" folder.

    I supose it is not as easy as "cutting and pasting" .... or is it? Have you got any idea? Has someone ever tried to do such a thing?.

    I would really appreciate your helping me.

    Karim
    If you right-click the folder, do you get a "Move to" context menu? If so choose that and simply choose the drive...if you dont get it, use this:

    http://hacks.oreilly.com/pub/h/3017
    I just moved my "My documents to drive E and back with no problems

  3. #3
    thedon57 is offline Newbie
    Hi just to confirm what jazz as said i do this all the time move everything i want to keep to my bigger drive then if you have a crash all your work and folders are safe.

  4. #4
    kdealba is offline Newbie
    Move it, you said?... Useless, All I get is a message like this: "Documents and Settings is a Windows folder, it is needed to execute Windows. It can not be moved or renamed" (well, My best translation from Spanish... )... I think I'll try the link.

  5. #5
    kdealba is offline Newbie
    Hello again, I found this at Microsoft site (Now, I'll have to figure it out!! )
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    SYMPTOMS

    If you try to move or rename the Documents and Settings folder in Windows XP, you may receive the following error message: Documents and Settings is a Windows system folder and is required for Windows to run properly. It cannot be moved or renamed.
    Back to the top

    RESOLUTION

    To specify a different folder for the Documents and Settings folder during installation, follow these steps: 1.Run Winnt.exe or Winnt32.exe by using the /unattend option, and then insert the following entry into the Unattend.txt file, where z:\foldername is the path and folder name you want: [GuiUNattended]
    ProfilesDir = z:\foldername
    2.Install Windows. The path that you included in the Unattend.txt file is used instead of the default Documents and Settings folder.
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  6. #6
    kdealba is offline Newbie
    Hello again... and finally, I found this: (pretty much what I was thinking of )
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Moving the entire folder

    NOTE: This method does relocate key Windows components. Use this method only if you require the Documents and Settings folder to be moved or renamed and you cannot use the Unattend.txt file to change the name during installation.

    To specify a different folder for the entire Documents and Settings folder, including key system components, follow these steps: 1.Log on to the computer as an administrator, and then create a new folder.2.In the current Documents and Settings folder, on the Tools menu, click Folder Options, and then click the View tab.3.Under Advanced settings, click Show hidden files and folders, and then click to clear the Hide extensions for known file types and Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) check boxes.4.Click OK.5.Click and drag all the folders in the Documents and Settings folder to copy them to the new folder, except for the folder for the currently logged-on administrator.6.Log off and then log back on, using a different administrator account from the one that you just logged off from.7.Open the Documents and Settings folder again, and then copy the profile of the administrator that you just logged off from to the new folder. This extra step is needed because you cannot copy the profile of the account that is currently logged on.8.Log off the computer, and then again log on to the computer as an administrator.9.Start Registry Editor, and then click Find on the Edit menu.10.Type documents and settings, and then click Find Next.11.For every registry key or value that contains the original path, replace the value data or rename the value or registry key to the new path.IMPORTANT: You must complete this change in the registry for every instance of the original path, or your computer may not start. It is imperative that you update all registry keys and values with the new path.

    12.Restart the computer. You can now safely remove the original Documents and Settings folder.

  7. #7
    imported_jazzman is offline Elite Member
    Quote Originally Posted by kdealba
    Move it, you said?... Useless, All I get is a message like this: "Documents and Settings is a Windows folder, it is needed to execute Windows. It can not be moved or renamed" (well, My best translation from Spanish... )... I think I'll try the link.
    Not "documents and Settings"folder you CANT move that, but you can Move the Default "My Documents" folder, or others WITHIN Documents and settings to another drive...guess i misunderstood what you said, or read just "My Documents" sorry.

  8. #8
    Orphelia is offline Elite Member
    Easiest way is to right click the "My Documents" folder, properties, and read the "target", eg C:\Documents and Settings\drwatson\My Documents and change that "Target" to, example F:\Documents and Settings\drwatson\My Documents

    It will move all docs and if you crash, your docs are safe.

    Orphelia

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