How can I choose 'docs & settings' and 'prog files' folders before/during setup

When installing OS's I prefer to have user data (Documents and Settings) and
applications (Program Files) on separate partitions/drives from the system
(Windows/WinNT). Each time I've installed XP and tried to set these folders
to be on anything but the same drive as the system, I end up having to
manually force, via the registry, the path for many different folders. This
is mainly the case for the subfolders of profiles. Is there not an easier
and more importantly, cleaner way of doing this? I've heard of the
deployment tool but do not know how to use it. Also, although I have more
than one computer at home, and could network them to serve up setup files,
this would be inconvenient. If possible, floppy disks would be a preferable
solution.

Regards,
Nik

There is no real reason changing Program Files location.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=236621
Cannot Move or Rename the Documents and Settings Folder

Program files can be change by the following settings in unattend.exe

[Unattended]
ProgramFilesDir="D:\Program Files"
CommonProgramFilesDir=""D:\Program Files\Common Files"


regards
Johan Arwidmark

Windows User Group - Nordic
http://www.wug-nordic.net



On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 14:56:40 +0100, "Nik Blackwell"
<nik_blackwell@hotmail.com> wrote:

>When installing OS's I prefer to have user data (Documents and Settings) and
>applications (Program Files) on separate partitions/drives from the system
>(Windows/WinNT). Each time I've installed XP and tried to set these folders
>to be on anything but the same drive as the system, I end up having to
>manually force, via the registry, the path for many different folders. This
>is mainly the case for the subfolders of profiles. Is there not an easier
>and more importantly, cleaner way of doing this? I've heard of the
>deployment tool but do not know how to use it. Also, although I have more
>than one computer at home, and could network them to serve up setup files,
>this would be inconvenient. If possible, floppy disks would be a preferable
>solution.
>
>Regards,
> Nik
>

Its to cut down on fragmentation, and leave the system drive/partition as
'static' as possible.

"Jetro" <ik9480@spam.rogers.com> wrote in message
news:uSVa5briEHA.3988@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> There is no real reason changing Program Files location.
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=236621
> Cannot Move or Rename the Documents and Settings Folder
>
>

I've heard of unattend.exe before, and am aware of that setting. My question
was more about how to go about the whole process. Also my main problem is
with 'Documents and Settings', and then additional profiles defaulting to
the system drive.

"Johan Arwidmark" <johan.please_respond_to_forum.arwidmark@lutteman.se>
wrote in message news:6eepi0tkr6dt08uiv28at23ec9t3235nqe@4ax.com...
> Program files can be change by the following settings in unattend.exe
>
> [Unattended]
> ProgramFilesDir="D:\Program Files"
> CommonProgramFilesDir=""D:\Program Files\Common Files"
>
>
> regards
> Johan Arwidmark
>
> Windows User Group - Nordic
> http://www.wug-nordic.net
>
>
>
> On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 14:56:40 +0100, "Nik Blackwell"
> <nik_blackwell@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>When installing OS's I prefer to have user data (Documents and Settings)
>>and
>>applications (Program Files) on separate partitions/drives from the system
>>(Windows/WinNT). Each time I've installed XP and tried to set these
>>folders
>>to be on anything but the same drive as the system, I end up having to
>>manually force, via the registry, the path for many different folders.
>>This
>>is mainly the case for the subfolders of profiles. Is there not an easier
>>and more importantly, cleaner way of doing this? I've heard of the
>>deployment tool but do not know how to use it. Also, although I have more
>>than one computer at home, and could network them to serve up setup files,
>>this would be inconvenient. If possible, floppy disks would be a
>>preferable
>>solution.
>>
>>Regards,
>> Nik
>>
>

Ok, in order to change location for documents and settings you can use
the ProfilesDir value in the [GuiUnattended] section...

This entry is valid only on clean installations of Windows XP or
Windows Server 2003

and I of course ment unattend.txt (not .exe...a typo...)

regards
Johan Arwidmark

Windows User Group - Nordic
http://www.wug-nordic.net


On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 17:57:08 +0100, "Nik Blackwell"
<nik_blackwell@hotmail.com> wrote:

>I've heard of unattend.exe before, and am aware of that setting. My question
>was more about how to go about the whole process. Also my main problem is
>with 'Documents and Settings', and then additional profiles defaulting to
>the system drive.
>
>"Johan Arwidmark" <johan.please_respond_to_forum.arwidmark@lutteman.se>
>wrote in message news:6eepi0tkr6dt08uiv28at23ec9t3235nqe@4ax.com...
>> Program files can be change by the following settings in unattend.exe
>>
>> [Unattended]
>> ProgramFilesDir="D:\Program Files"
>> CommonProgramFilesDir=""D:\Program Files\Common Files"
>>
>>
>> regards
>> Johan Arwidmark
>>
>> Windows User Group - Nordic
>> http://www.wug-nordic.net
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 14:56:40 +0100, "Nik Blackwell"
>> <nik_blackwell@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>When installing OS's I prefer to have user data (Documents and Settings)
>>>and
>>>applications (Program Files) on separate partitions/drives from the system
>>>(Windows/WinNT). Each time I've installed XP and tried to set these
>>>folders
>>>to be on anything but the same drive as the system, I end up having to
>>>manually force, via the registry, the path for many different folders.
>>>This
>>>is mainly the case for the subfolders of profiles. Is there not an easier
>>>and more importantly, cleaner way of doing this? I've heard of the
>>>deployment tool but do not know how to use it. Also, although I have more
>>>than one computer at home, and could network them to serve up setup files,
>>>this would be inconvenient. If possible, floppy disks would be a
>>>preferable
>>>solution.
>>>
>>>Regards,
>>> Nik
>>>
>>
>