Users Directory on Seperate Drive

[jay_m]

I been using this method (from lifehacker) to move my users directory from my c: drive to a separate hard drive.

I am curious if anyone else has used this method and what issues could come from using it. I have not had any, and have done this on some customers computers without issue. What do you guys think.

I especially like it for my SSD drives, I can use My Documents without any extra steps and don't have to worry about my drive filling up.

P.S. This also works with W8

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I just do right click...properties...location tab..."Move".

Or if adding...within the Libraries explorer...right click...properties....do what you want there.

I'm struggling to see the advantage of doing it the way described in that article you linked.

 

[PC Ops]

In fresh installs I always put the data on a seperate partition (or drive if available), unless the customer specifically tells me not to. Been doing this for a long time.
Edit: I mean docs, pics, vids & download. Nót the entire user's folder.

I just do right click...properties...location tab..."Move".

I do it this way too. The method mentioned in the article seems sluggish (to say the least) indeed

 

[jay_m]

There are two reasons to move the users directory to a separate drive. One, in the case of a smaller SSD, to keep large amounts of data off of the C: drive. Two, for backup/restore purposes. If the Users data is on a different drive from Windows, it makes it easier to restore the data in the event of having to reinstall.

The advantage (IMO) of doing this way is threefold:

1. Any new User created before or after the change will automatically be on the separate drive.

2. It moves the entire C:\Users directory, not just My Documents. This means the AppData and Local Settings folder as well as the other primary directories (Downloads, Pictures, etc) will be on the separate drive. This is good for programs (ie Dropbox) that want to put data in C:\Users\JoeBlow\ without any extra configuration.

3. Windows programs will not know that the users folder is on a separate drive. There is no need for the user to specially configure software that expects C:\Users\JoeBlow\My Documents to be valid.

Note: On the second drive that actually stores new Users directory, I will make the directory hidden so that curious users poking in My Computer will not see another "Users" directory on drive "D:" (it is also not necessary to name it Users as the directions state).

Any thought are appreciated.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I'm well versed with the primary reasons for moving My Docs...backup/restore (format C), possible better performance (depends on types of files in there, and differences of the two drives), etc.

I would dread moving these to SSD units....still wicked high rates of failure (see many many many threads around here on these forums).


Advantages you list...
1- Any new user gets this set for them...that's a good reason for those taking care of home users. I do SMB only, so I control my docs via group policies for redirects to the server. But for some situations where there isn't a server controlled workstation and it has lots of different local users, and nobody really "manages it"...I'll give this reason a valid nod and book mark it.

2- Moving entire Users folder....I'm not comfortable with that. I have seen some software freak out when that has been molested. Granted....rare...but I have seen it. I'd only want literally the storage folders...Docs, Pics, Music, Downloads. Not more registry related stuff and appdata.

3- Apps knowing where My Docs is....that already happens with old methods of relocating..it's not unique to this approach.

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

I'm well versed with the primary reasons for moving My Docs...backup/restore (format C), possible better performance (depends on types of files in there, and differences of the two drives), etc.

I would dread moving these to SSD units....still wicked high rates of failure (see many many many threads around here on these forums).


Advantages you list...
1- Any new user gets this set for them...that's a good reason for those taking care of home users. I do SMB only, so I control my docs via group policies for redirects to the server. But for some situations where there isn't a server controlled workstation and it has lots of different local users, and nobody really "manages it"...I'll give this reason a valid nod and book mark it.

2- Moving entire Users folder....I'm not comfortable with that. I have seen some software freak out when that has been molested. Granted....rare...but I have seen it. I'd only want literally the storage folders...Docs, Pics, Music, Downloads. Not more registry related stuff and appdata.

3- Apps knowing where My Docs is....that already happens with old methods of relocating..it's not unique to this approach.

I agree with this, though I am primarily residential. I do the manual move of My docs, music, videos, etc. I also create a Program Files folder on the data drive as well. Of course this depends on the users and size of SSD and software space needed as it obviously wouldn't work for all users, but I leave the original Program Files, Program Files X86 in place.

 

[jay_m]

1- Any new user gets this set for them...that's a good reason for those taking care of home users. I do SMB only, so I control my docs via group policies for redirects to the server. But for some situations where there isn't a server controlled workstation and it has lots of different local users, and nobody really "manages it"...I'll give this reason a valid nod and book mark it.

I would agree that this is mainly for the home user.

2- Moving entire Users folder....I'm not comfortable with that. I have seen some software freak out when that has been molested. Granted....rare...but I have seen it. I'd only want literally the storage folders...Docs, Pics, Music, Downloads. Not more registry related stuff and appdata.

This is what I am asking. I have not ran into any issues and wondered what they would be if any (which I am certain some do) exist.

3- Apps knowing where My Docs is....that already happens with old methods of relocating..it's not unique to this approach.

Yes there are Windows programming standards that specify the users Documents directory where ever it may exist. However not all programs use these techniques. Some will assume that a users directory exists at c:\Users\JoeBlow\Documents. If that directory happens to be on H:\ then that application will have issues.

The method mentioned in the article seems sluggish (to say the least) indeed

Agreed, a nice script to do this would be helpful.

It is just another method that I ran across to move a users directory to a separate drive. One that to me is rather seamless. I use it on my own machines and never have to think about which drive My Documents is stored on and using symlinks seems a "safer" way of doing this. Of course I would not be asking if I was certain.