Moving C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\ folder to another drive in XP Pro?

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Forums › Microsoft Windows › Moving C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\ folder to another drive in XP Pro?

RickD

280 posts

Ultimate Geek

#28197 22-Nov-2008 13:14

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Hi,
I've read as much as I can online about shifting the C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\ folder off C: to another drive and I still can't figure out if it's possible or not.

Anyone know? It seems moving "Documents and Settings" folder is possible but some people are saying even after it is moved the "Local Settings" folder remains in C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\ and is used.

davidcole

6011 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#179420 22-Nov-2008 14:45

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it is possible.

It's easier to do as part of an unattended install since it's an option there.

But after install it's still possible.

What I used to do was:
Create all user accounts, but don't sign in
Create a temporary admin account and sign in to that account
In regedit there's a ProfilesDir key - it by default will be set to C:\Documents and settings you should be able to change this.
Then once you sign in it should create the profiles in the new location.
Then if you have any user data you copy that into the new location (other wise all the permissions get screwed up

If however the machine is older, and all the accounts have been used, then it gets a bit harder.
Still create the temp account, and sign in as that.
Copy everything to the new location, not everything will be possible (like the network service and the temp account)
Then you have to go through and reg hack each profile changing C:\ to D:\ and make sure you change the profilesDir as well

before trying this BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP!!!!!!
It's been a while since I've done it, but I'm sure it was something like this.

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RickD

280 posts

Ultimate Geek

#180503 26-Nov-2008 18:47

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Thanks got it working pretty much following that.

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