Changing Windows Special and Profile Folders

Jacal · 01-09-2008, 07:09 PM

I've just reinstalled Windows XP and right now I'm in the process of reinstalling my programs. I've partitioned 20GB of my primary drive for the OS and the remain 210GB for user data. I have Tweak UI but it won't allow me to move my entire profile folder to a new location, only specific folders such as the Desktop. What processes will allow me to move the Documents and Settings and Program Files folders to the bigger partition?

eureka1 · 01-10-2008, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excel-2008

I've just reinstalled Windows XP and right now I'm in the process of reinstalling my programs. I've partitioned 20GB of my primary drive for the OS and the remain 210GB for user data. I have Tweak UI but it won't allow me to move my entire profile folder to a new location, only specific folders such as the Desktop. What processes will allow me to move the Documents and Settings and Program Files folders to the bigger partition?

Linux?

I know you can move Documents and Settings to another drive with a registry change though. Hiren's boot CD should let you move Programs Files to the other partition too.

*ranatalus* · 01-10-2008, 12:16 PM

survey says, WRONG AGAIN EUREKA (well, sort of)

you can change this stuff in the environment variables, which is much easier than messing with the registry. right click my computer, properties, advanced tab, environment variables. if you want to just set the entire documents and settings folder over to say, D:\Users, you'll create this:

the D:\Users directory (which is now a system folder so you can't fuck with it) is now what was previously the C:\Documents and Settings folder. anything that referenced C:\docume~1 should now reference D:\Users as well (haven't tried it)

same with program files; the variable name this time though is PROGRAMFILES. same process as before

you shouldn't have to restart the entire computer, just any processes that are currently running.

Jacal · 01-10-2008, 12:33 PM

Doing it ranatalus' way because he never lies. I almost woulda done it eureka1's way had he posted the exact keys I needed to edit.

When I make my image restore, will I still have to reinstall my programs (seeing as some programs require registry entries that won't be there after I restore)?

*ranatalus* · 01-10-2008, 04:46 PM

to be honest i'm not 100% sure; i haven't done this myself

i think that you may just be able to move the current contents of the program folders directory over; things that are referenced in there should be in relative paths instead of absolutes, although i'm sure that even if that is the case there will be a few programs you'll have to reinstall.