Location of Documents And Settings

[Don]

Hello,

Is there a way to change the default location of the Documents And
Settings folder? I installed WinXP Pro on Drive "C" and of course
that's where the Documents And Settings folder is. I'd like to move it
to a different partition (if possible). I'd like to keep all of the
user specific files there; documents, photos, my work related files,
etc. and then back up that partition on daily basis. If it can be done,
then how do I do it?

Thanks,

Don

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

This can only be done during the initial install, using an "unattended" setup.

 

[Lawrence J. Gardner]

If you don't plan on adding more users to the system, you can simply modify
the correct ProfileList key for the user(s):

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\{USERNAMES CLSID}

and modify the ProfileImagePath value.

Or if you want to permanently change everyone, including new users:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

and modify the ProfileDirectory value.

I would make the same tree on another drive, change one user, reboot in
SafeMode (not as that user), copy the C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME to
new location, rename old location (e.g., USERNAME-OLD), reboot as USERNAME,
and see if everything still works.

I, however, would leave Administrator, All Users, Default User, LocalService
and NetworkService alone (but give it a shot ... as long as you don't remove
anything until you know everything works).

If you changed the ProfileDirectory value, use Control Panel | User Accounts
and create a new user and see where it creates it. It should create it
under your new location.

Good Luck. I've done this with myself, other users, Administrator, Default
User and All Users. And really have not had any problem.

 

[Zed]

First create folder on your different partition (eg. D:\My Documents).Right
click on My Documents (on Desktop) -> Properties -> enter desiered target
(D:\My Documents) -> then click Move and confirm. Works perfectly.
Everything in your documents folder will be moved to target folder.
Good Luck
www.cdt.kickme.to

 

[Lawrence J. Gardner]

That's fine for My Documents, but what about the rest of the User's tree.
The post was to move the entire C:\Documents and Settings tree from C: to
another Drive.

 

[Zed]

Try to use tweakUI.
http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/c/a/fca6767b-9ed9-45a6-b352-839afb2
a2679/TweakUiPowertoySetup.exe You can customize most of special folder with
this nice and simple microsoft tool. If You want customize more, try x-setup
pro. http://www.x-setup.net/ X-setup pro is a so colled tweaker software. It
allows you to change nearly 1800 settings that are normally hidden deeply in
configuration-files. I preffered tweakUI because it's free and easy to use.
Good luck, and sory on my rusty english.I am from Croatia.

www.cdt.kickme.to

 

[Zed]

Sorry Lawrence. Reply above was ment for Don. I think, Your way is better
for entire documents and settingse tree, but I also think that moving only
My Documents folder is probably inaugh to backup documents, pictures etc. to
different partition. (and easyer of course)

www.cdt.kickme.to