Relocating Documents and Settings to be use on another drive

[Guest]

Hi,

I have noticed a few people who want to relocate their
Documents and Settings. There was a net site that listed
how to do it, but I forgot to save that link. But here is
a step by step process for those that are interested.
1. on the D drive create "Documents and Settings" (without
the quotes"
2. make sure you choose to see hidden files and folders,
also uncheck hide protected operating system files.
3. create a dummy account with admin privilege.
4. log onto that dummy account.
5. copy all files and folders in the C:\Documents and
Settings to the D:\Documents and Settings (note: you
cannot copy the LocalService, NetworkService,
and "dummyaccount" folders because they are in use, if you
happen to copy these by mistake, just delete them)
6. open regedit (start>Run>regedit) this is where it gets
tricky, you may want to back up your registry first
7. change all instances of C:\Documents and Settings to
D:\Documents and Settings (use the find function for this,
F3 key)
8. in few sections you may have to rename the homepath to
D:\Documents and Settings. I notice it varies on some pre-
installed systems, like Dell
9. Change any entry which points to Documents and Settings
to D:\Documents and Settings\...... including, but not
limited to, "\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Documents and
Settings\...", "%SystemRoot%\documents and settings\...",
and "%SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\..." to
D:\Documents and Settings\.... (which means change the %
SystemRoot% and %SystemDrive% to D:\ ) For
the "\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Documents and Settings\..."
change the 1 to 2 if its on the d-drive or 3 if it is at 2
already.
10. Change also all instances of C:\Docume~1 to D:\Docume~
(is the 8.3 representation of "Documents and Settings")
11. Double check the changes before closing regedit
12. do a cold boot, meaning shut it down, wait a few
seconds then restart it.
13. use the dummy account again and do steps 6 to 11.
14. reboot the comp and log in with your original account
15. your D&S setting should already be in Drive D. Try
renaming the "Documents and Settings" folder in C Drive
to, lets say OldD&S. it it renames succesfully, you have
succeeded. Make sure you have show hidden files and un-
hide protected operating system files, when you rename or
delete the C drive D&S folder. Also change those settings
back to their original settings when done.

I have done this on over 10 systems and have no problems.
I will have to do this on additional 60 systems in the
months to come. Some may ask why, because, backing up
user data and folders they created is easy, since they are
on the D drive.
..

 

[Star Fleet Admiral Q]

Dude, there's an easier way to do this. When you build your installation
media, in the "unattend.txt" file under the heading of [GuiUnattended], use
the ProfilesDir command to move "Documents and Settings" to where or
whatever folder name you wish:

[GuiUnattended]
ProfilesDir = "D:\Documents and Settings"

or

ProfilesDir = "%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Profiles"

 

[Star Fleet Admiral Q]

Dude, there's an easier way to do this. When you build your installation
media, in the "unattend.txt" file under the heading of [GuiUnattended], use
the ProfilesDir command to move "Documents and Settings" to where or
whatever folder name you wish:

[GuiUnattended]
ProfilesDir = "D:\Documents and Settings"

or

ProfilesDir = "%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Profiles"

 

[Nik Blackwell]

Okay, I was the guy who asked the original question. Although I already knew
how to do what Jeff mentioned, his method with the reboots sounds more
thorough. But what I really wanted to know is about the unattend.txt. How do
I use it, especially given that I've not got the computers at home
networked? Though I could at a push do this, I'd prefer to use a floppy or
rebuild a bootable installation CD if necessary. Do I just pop a simple text
file with these settings into the i386 folder or could I use a script on a
floppy disc?

Nik

Dude, there's an easier way to do this. When you build your installation
media, in the "unattend.txt" file under the heading of [GuiUnattended],
use the ProfilesDir command to move "Documents and Settings" to where or
whatever folder name you wish:

[GuiUnattended]
ProfilesDir = "D:\Documents and Settings"

or

ProfilesDir = "%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Profiles"

--

Star Fleet Admiral Q @ your service

*************************************************

Hi,

I have noticed a few people who want to relocate their
Documents and Settings. There was a net site that listed
how to do it, but I forgot to save that link. But here is
a step by step process for those that are interested.
1. on the D drive create "Documents and Settings" (without
the quotes"
2. make sure you choose to see hidden files and folders,
also uncheck hide protected operating system files.
3. create a dummy account with admin privilege.
4. log onto that dummy account.
5. copy all files and folders in the C:\Documents and
Settings to the D:\Documents and Settings (note: you
cannot copy the LocalService, NetworkService,
and "dummyaccount" folders because they are in use, if you
happen to copy these by mistake, just delete them)
6. open regedit (start>Run>regedit) this is where it gets
tricky, you may want to back up your registry first
7. change all instances of C:\Documents and Settings to
D:\Documents and Settings (use the find function for this,
F3 key)
8. in few sections you may have to rename the homepath to
D:\Documents and Settings. I notice it varies on some pre-
installed systems, like Dell
9. Change any entry which points to Documents and Settings
to D:\Documents and Settings\...... including, but not
limited to, "\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Documents and
Settings\...", "%SystemRoot%\documents and settings\...",
and "%SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\..." to
D:\Documents and Settings\.... (which means change the %
SystemRoot% and %SystemDrive% to D:\ ) For
the "\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Documents and Settings\..."
change the 1 to 2 if its on the d-drive or 3 if it is at 2
already.
10. Change also all instances of C:\Docume~1 to D:\Docume~
(is the 8.3 representation of "Documents and Settings")
11. Double check the changes before closing regedit
12. do a cold boot, meaning shut it down, wait a few
seconds then restart it.
13. use the dummy account again and do steps 6 to 11.
14. reboot the comp and log in with your original account
15. your D&S setting should already be in Drive D. Try
renaming the "Documents and Settings" folder in C Drive
to, lets say OldD&S. it it renames succesfully, you have
succeeded. Make sure you have show hidden files and un-
hide protected operating system files, when you rename or
delete the C drive D&S folder. Also change those settings
back to their original settings when done.

I have done this on over 10 systems and have no problems.
I will have to do this on additional 60 systems in the
months to come. Some may ask why, because, backing up
user data and folders they created is easy, since they are
on the D drive.
.