Bind harddrive to folder

Hi,

I had a thought lately about the new user profile folders.
Currently in Windows XP you have a profile folder. In it resides the 'My
Documents' and 'Favorites' folder.
As I often try multiple os's on my pc I have a C partition of only 75 gigs.
My second hard-drive is used as data-drive.
Using the Disk-management tools I bound the drive to my 'My Documents'
folder and relocated the favorites folder to reside in the documents folder
on the new drive.
But... with Vista comming around the profile folder is now a host for
multiple document type folders like Music, Videos and offcourse Documents. I
know I could logon as an administrator, move my profile to the new drive and
bind it to the old location, but how to get this for all the users (ie.
C:\Users\)
Is there any possible way to achieve that?

Long story short: Can I relocate the entire '\Users' folder to a new drive
and bind it to that folder.
If possible without editting the registry to say look for profiles on
D:\users ...

Thanks in advance!

Greets,
Martin

I know exactly what you mean - you can change the path of the My Documents
folder to another computer or another partition/hard drive - I've got mine
set to Z: which is a seperate drive.

However... not that I know of are there any ways to do this in Vista... but
still you can do this with "Documents" can't you - change the path... )

--
Zack Whittaker
» ZackNET Enterprises: www.zacknet.co.uk
» MSBlog on ResDev: www.msblog.org
» Vista Knowledge Base: www.vistabase.co.uk
» This mailing is provided "as is" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.
All opinions expressed are those of myself unless stated so, and not of my
employer, best friend, Ghandi, my mother or my cat. Glad we cleared that up!


--- Original message follows ---
"Poolbeer" <poolbeer@oxylogic.net> wrote in message
news:ekjJ5neSGHA.5884@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
> I had a thought lately about the new user profile folders.
> Currently in Windows XP you have a profile folder. In it resides the 'My
> Documents' and 'Favorites' folder.
> As I often try multiple os's on my pc I have a C partition of only 75
> gigs. My second hard-drive is used as data-drive.
> Using the Disk-management tools I bound the drive to my 'My Documents'
> folder and relocated the favorites folder to reside in the documents
> folder on the new drive.
> But... with Vista comming around the profile folder is now a host for
> multiple document type folders like Music, Videos and offcourse Documents.
> I know I could logon as an administrator, move my profile to the new drive
> and bind it to the old location, but how to get this for all the users
> (ie. C:\Users\)
> Is there any possible way to achieve that?
>
> Long story short: Can I relocate the entire '\Users' folder to a new drive
> and bind it to that folder.
> If possible without editting the registry to say look for profiles on
> D:\users ...
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> Greets,
> Martin
>

Yes it's possible to change only the 'Documents' folder, but Vista will have
more folders next to the documents folder
ie.
\Users\<Profile>\Documents
\Users\<Profile>\Music
\Users\<Profile>\Videos
etc.

I can change the profile to another drive using mapping, but that will
change it for only that user.
If I would happen to have more than one user on the computer (actual user,
not virtual like all users) I would
have to move the entire Users folder. That isn't possible today either, I
know but I was hoping that there would be a hack/workaround to this in Vista
(possibly XP too).

If there isn't no problem (as my pc is only used by me), but it would make
life more plesant for me when reinstalling pc's for relatives who actually
have more than one user.

Greets,
Martin



"Zack Whittaker (R2 Mentor)" <admin@zacknet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:u4M$HZgSGHA.5728@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>I know exactly what you mean - you can change the path of the My Documents
>folder to another computer or another partition/hard drive - I've got mine
>set to Z: which is a seperate drive.
>
> However... not that I know of are there any ways to do this in Vista...
> but still you can do this with "Documents" can't you - change the path...
> )
>
> --
> Zack Whittaker
> » ZackNET Enterprises: www.zacknet.co.uk
> » MSBlog on ResDev: www.msblog.org
> » Vista Knowledge Base: www.vistabase.co.uk
> » This mailing is provided "as is" with no warranties, and confers no
> rights.
> All opinions expressed are those of myself unless stated so, and not of my
> employer, best friend, Ghandi, my mother or my cat. Glad we cleared that
> up!
>
>
> --- Original message follows ---
> "Poolbeer" <poolbeer@oxylogic.net> wrote in message
> news:ekjJ5neSGHA.5884@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I had a thought lately about the new user profile folders.
>> Currently in Windows XP you have a profile folder. In it resides the 'My
>> Documents' and 'Favorites' folder.
>> As I often try multiple os's on my pc I have a C partition of only 75
>> gigs. My second hard-drive is used as data-drive.
>> Using the Disk-management tools I bound the drive to my 'My Documents'
>> folder and relocated the favorites folder to reside in the documents
>> folder on the new drive.
>> But... with Vista comming around the profile folder is now a host for
>> multiple document type folders like Music, Videos and offcourse
>> Documents. I know I could logon as an administrator, move my profile to
>> the new drive and bind it to the old location, but how to get this for
>> all the users (ie. C:\Users\)
>> Is there any possible way to achieve that?
>>
>> Long story short: Can I relocate the entire '\Users' folder to a new
>> drive and bind it to that folder.
>> If possible without editting the registry to say look for profiles on
>> D:\users ...
>>
>> Thanks in advance!
>>
>> Greets,
>> Martin
>>
>
>

I'll submit it as a suggestion )

--
Zack Whittaker
» ZackNET Enterprises: www.zacknet.co.uk
» MSBlog on ResDev: www.msblog.org
» Vista Knowledge Base: www.vistabase.co.uk
» This mailing is provided "as is" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.
All opinions expressed are those of myself unless stated so, and not of my
employer, best friend, Ghandi, my mother or my cat. Glad we cleared that up!


--- Original message follows ---
"Poolbeer" <poolbeer@oxylogic.net> wrote in message
news:uPqLYahSGHA.4600@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> Yes it's possible to change only the 'Documents' folder, but Vista will
> have more folders next to the documents folder
> ie.
> \Users\<Profile>\Documents
> \Users\<Profile>\Music
> \Users\<Profile>\Videos
> etc.
>
> I can change the profile to another drive using mapping, but that will
> change it for only that user.
> If I would happen to have more than one user on the computer (actual user,
> not virtual like all users) I would
> have to move the entire Users folder. That isn't possible today either, I
> know but I was hoping that there would be a hack/workaround to this in
> Vista (possibly XP too).
>
> If there isn't no problem (as my pc is only used by me), but it would make
> life more plesant for me when reinstalling pc's for relatives who actually
> have more than one user.
>
> Greets,
> Martin
>
>
>
> "Zack Whittaker (R2 Mentor)" <admin@zacknet.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:u4M$HZgSGHA.5728@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>>I know exactly what you mean - you can change the path of the My Documents
>>folder to another computer or another partition/hard drive - I've got mine
>>set to Z: which is a seperate drive.
>>
>> However... not that I know of are there any ways to do this in Vista...
>> but still you can do this with "Documents" can't you - change the path...
>> )
>>
>> --
>> Zack Whittaker
>> » ZackNET Enterprises: www.zacknet.co.uk
>> » MSBlog on ResDev: www.msblog.org
>> » Vista Knowledge Base: www.vistabase.co.uk
>> » This mailing is provided "as is" with no warranties, and confers no
>> rights.
>> All opinions expressed are those of myself unless stated so, and not of
>> my
>> employer, best friend, Ghandi, my mother or my cat. Glad we cleared that
>> up!
>>
>>
>> --- Original message follows ---
>> "Poolbeer" <poolbeer@oxylogic.net> wrote in message
>> news:ekjJ5neSGHA.5884@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I had a thought lately about the new user profile folders.
>>> Currently in Windows XP you have a profile folder. In it resides the 'My
>>> Documents' and 'Favorites' folder.
>>> As I often try multiple os's on my pc I have a C partition of only 75
>>> gigs. My second hard-drive is used as data-drive.
>>> Using the Disk-management tools I bound the drive to my 'My Documents'
>>> folder and relocated the favorites folder to reside in the documents
>>> folder on the new drive.
>>> But... with Vista comming around the profile folder is now a host for
>>> multiple document type folders like Music, Videos and offcourse
>>> Documents. I know I could logon as an administrator, move my profile to
>>> the new drive and bind it to the old location, but how to get this for
>>> all the users (ie. C:\Users\)
>>> Is there any possible way to achieve that?
>>>
>>> Long story short: Can I relocate the entire '\Users' folder to a new
>>> drive and bind it to that folder.
>>> If possible without editting the registry to say look for profiles on
>>> D:\users ...
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance!
>>>
>>> Greets,
>>> Martin
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Thank you very much! In the mean time, only one user will have the fun
(namely me ^^)

Greets,
Martin

"Zack Whittaker (R2 Mentor)" <admin@zacknet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:%23Bqs2chSGHA.2156@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> I'll submit it as a suggestion )
>
> --
> Zack Whittaker
> » ZackNET Enterprises: www.zacknet.co.uk
> » MSBlog on ResDev: www.msblog.org
> » Vista Knowledge Base: www.vistabase.co.uk
> » This mailing is provided "as is" with no warranties, and confers no
> rights.
> All opinions expressed are those of myself unless stated so, and not of my
> employer, best friend, Ghandi, my mother or my cat. Glad we cleared that
> up!
>
>
> --- Original message follows ---
> "Poolbeer" <poolbeer@oxylogic.net> wrote in message
> news:uPqLYahSGHA.4600@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>> Yes it's possible to change only the 'Documents' folder, but Vista will
>> have more folders next to the documents folder
>> ie.
>> \Users\<Profile>\Documents
>> \Users\<Profile>\Music
>> \Users\<Profile>\Videos
>> etc.
>>
>> I can change the profile to another drive using mapping, but that will
>> change it for only that user.
>> If I would happen to have more than one user on the computer (actual
>> user, not virtual like all users) I would
>> have to move the entire Users folder. That isn't possible today either, I
>> know but I was hoping that there would be a hack/workaround to this in
>> Vista (possibly XP too).
>>
>> If there isn't no problem (as my pc is only used by me), but it would
>> make life more plesant for me when reinstalling pc's for relatives who
>> actually have more than one user.
>>
>> Greets,
>> Martin
>>
>>
>>
>> "Zack Whittaker (R2 Mentor)" <admin@zacknet.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:u4M$HZgSGHA.5728@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>>>I know exactly what you mean - you can change the path of the My
>>>Documents folder to another computer or another partition/hard drive -
>>>I've got mine set to Z: which is a seperate drive.
>>>
>>> However... not that I know of are there any ways to do this in Vista...
>>> but still you can do this with "Documents" can't you - change the
>>> path... )
>>>
>>> --
>>> Zack Whittaker
>>> » ZackNET Enterprises: www.zacknet.co.uk
>>> » MSBlog on ResDev: www.msblog.org
>>> » Vista Knowledge Base: www.vistabase.co.uk
>>> » This mailing is provided "as is" with no warranties, and confers no
>>> rights.
>>> All opinions expressed are those of myself unless stated so, and not of
>>> my
>>> employer, best friend, Ghandi, my mother or my cat. Glad we cleared that
>>> up!
>>>
>>>
>>> --- Original message follows ---
>>> "Poolbeer" <poolbeer@oxylogic.net> wrote in message
>>> news:ekjJ5neSGHA.5884@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> I had a thought lately about the new user profile folders.
>>>> Currently in Windows XP you have a profile folder. In it resides the
>>>> 'My Documents' and 'Favorites' folder.
>>>> As I often try multiple os's on my pc I have a C partition of only 75
>>>> gigs. My second hard-drive is used as data-drive.
>>>> Using the Disk-management tools I bound the drive to my 'My Documents'
>>>> folder and relocated the favorites folder to reside in the documents
>>>> folder on the new drive.
>>>> But... with Vista comming around the profile folder is now a host for
>>>> multiple document type folders like Music, Videos and offcourse
>>>> Documents. I know I could logon as an administrator, move my profile to
>>>> the new drive and bind it to the old location, but how to get this for
>>>> all the users (ie. C:\Users\)
>>>> Is there any possible way to achieve that?
>>>>
>>>> Long story short: Can I relocate the entire '\Users' folder to a new
>>>> drive and bind it to that folder.
>>>> If possible without editting the registry to say look for profiles on
>>>> D:\users ...
>>>>
>>>> Thanks in advance!
>>>>
>>>> Greets,
>>>> Martin
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

It could be done as an option at install time. It must also be able to
re-use an existing "Users" folder in case of a clean reinstall (which also
means the per-user hives need to be re-initialized).
--
Pierre Szwarc
Paris, France
PGP key ID 0x75B5779B
------------------------------------------------
Multitasking: Reading in the bathroom !
------------------------------------------------

"Zack Whittaker (R2 Mentor)" <admin@zacknet.co.uk> a écrit dans le message
de news: %23Bqs2chSGHA.2156@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
| I'll submit it as a suggestion )
|

> Long story short: Can I relocate the entire '\Users' folder to a new drive
> and bind it to that folder.
> If possible without editting the registry to say look for profiles on
> D:\users ...

Download the "Junction" tool from www.sysinternals.com

you'll need to do the shuffling from Recovery Console or the Vista PE, as
messing with a system folder from within Windows will update any references
to it in the Registry - which can become a real ugly mess.

Say, create a new partition/volume U:

COPY everything from C:\Users into U:

Create an empty folder C:\Users.new

Boot into the Recovery Console

Bind U:\ to C:\Users.new

Rename C:\Users to Users.old, and

you get the idea



Been always doing this with the "Program Files" folder since Windows 2000,
but they really ought to make this possible within the UI.

> Long story short: Can I relocate the entire '\Users' folder to a new drive
> and bind it to that folder.
> If possible without editting the registry to say look for profiles on
> D:\users ...

Download the "Junction" tool from www.sysinternals.com

you'll need to do the shuffling from Recovery Console or the Vista PE, as
messing with a system folder from within Windows will update any references
to it in the Registry - which can become a real ugly mess.

Say, create a new partition/volume U:

COPY everything from C:\Users into U:

Create an empty folder C:\Users.new

Boot into the Recovery Console

Bind U:\ to C:\Users.new

Rename C:\Users to Users.old, and

you get the idea



Been always doing this with the "Program Files" folder since Windows 2000,
but they really ought to make this possible within the UI.