Change location for documents and settings files

B

Broooz

I have just got a new pc with windows 7 on it and would like to separate
system and programme files from documents etc to assist with backups and
also restoring windows if required. I would like to keep my documents files
in another partition from the C drive. I have read that this can be done by
changing the file location in my documents. Does this have to be done for
each user in isolation or can it be done in bulk.

Also, how do I do the same thing for all the other personal files like
windows live mail folders and internet explorer files etc. Can this be done
by changing the location at the higher level (eg of C:\users) perhaps when
in safe mode?

Or, is there a better way of getting personal information onto another
drive?

Thanks

Broooz

--
 
B

Broooz

Broooz said:
I have just got a new pc with windows 7 on it and would like to separate
system and programme files from documents etc to assist with backups and
also restoring windows if required. I would like to keep my documents
files in another partition from the C drive. I have read that this can be
done by changing the file location in my documents. Does this have to be
done for each user in isolation or can it be done in bulk.

Also, how do I do the same thing for all the other personal files like
windows live mail folders and internet explorer files etc. Can this be
done by changing the location at the higher level (eg of C:\users) perhaps
when in safe mode?

Or, is there a better way of getting personal information onto another
drive?
I have tried, it appears that you cannot change the location of the users
file at least I cant see how to do it. Any ideas how to change the location
of files like internet explorer or windows live mail please?
 
P

PeeCee

Broooz said:
I have just got a new pc with windows 7 on it and would like to separate
system and programme files from documents etc to assist with backups and
also restoring windows if required. I would like to keep my documents
files in another partition from the C drive. I have read that this can be
done by changing the file location in my documents. Does this have to be
done for each user in isolation or can it be done in bulk.

Also, how do I do the same thing for all the other personal files like
windows live mail folders and internet explorer files etc. Can this be
done by changing the location at the higher level (eg of C:\users) perhaps
when in safe mode?

Or, is there a better way of getting personal information onto another
drive?

Thanks

Broooz



Broooz

From what I've discovered.

\\Users\Desktop, Downloads, Favourites, Links, My Documents, My Music, My
Pictures, My Videos, Saved Games and Searches can all be relocated to
another drive / partition by right clicking on the folder, left clicking
properties and selecting the Location Tab.
This is likely to be true for any other folders you add to \\Users\Username\

Other folders under \\Users\ however don't have the Location tab so can't
be moved without registry hacks.

Windows Live Mail store folder can be changed by:
Tools, Options, Advanced, Maintenance, Store Folder button, & change to the
new Location.

Contacts on the other hand can't be moved by right clicking the folder, nor
is there any way within the Contacts program to change it.
(not that I can find anyway)
Note this is not the place Windows Live Mail stores it's contacts, they are
buried in \\Users\AppData which you can't move either.

So once again Microsoft screws it's customers.
'DUH' users get catered for with bright big buttons and dumbed down
interfaces.
Competent users OTOH get stuffed around by hiding the stuff in obscure
locations.

If you want to get your hands dirty, you can (apparently) change the
location of the 'Users' folder with registry hacks.

This website
http://tuts4tech.net/2009/08/05/win...m-files-directories-to-a-different-partition/
says:
"For the user profiles you'll need to go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
and again edit the paths as needed"

I HAVE NOT TRIED THIS SO DO IT AT YOUR PERIL, though I'd like to know if it
works for you as it seems logical enough.
I would think it may pay to copy the C:\Users\Username\ folder to the new
location first.

Best
Paul.
 

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