Any way to create special user profile like folders?

Tephnos · 14 Sep 2011 at 00:26

Hey guys,

Was wondering if it was possible to create a folder that had special properties like the User folders default in Windows 7. Reason I'm asking is because to save on writes to my SSD, I changed the default location for all my User folders from C:\Users to D:\Users (only way to do it without screwing something up down the line). Problem is if I go to Start Menu -> User I get only the folders I've changed the location of. Folders I create in the new D:\Users directory obviously won't show, as the start menu shortcut takes me to C:\Users, where it'll still show all my personal folders that I've changed the location of, but none of the new folders I create, which is a inconvenience.

Either that, or is there a way to point the Start Menu -> User to D:\Users instead of C:\Users?

Cheers.

If I confused anyone and need to detail anything, feel free to say.

Edit: K, screw the first option. Sounds like the second would be much easier to do with less conflicts.

Pho · 14 Sep 2011 at 11:18

Personally I'd move my entire users folder, using this process it should be fine.

I used this method and it works fine for me, but please backup first.

Tephnos · 14 Sep 2011 at 13:17

Pho said:
Personally I'd move my entire users folder, using this process it should be fine.

I used this method and it works fine for me, but please backup first.

That was the very first method I tried (without the /copyall though I just noticed). Every single time it ended up screwing up for some reason and I could no longer log into the profile. Because of that, system restore didn't work either.

Personally, I'd prefer a way like I listed as the second option. AppData is a windows system folder, and so you're negating the benefits of an SSD if you move everything including that to the HDD. The extra life you're getting out of the SSD is imo obsolete, as we're all power users here, and are going to replace those SSDs before they die in like 4/5 years. I did a lot of reading on it, and it seems imo that AppData should definitely be kept on the SSD, otherwise it's paranoia about those nasty 'writes'. I've got the M4 anyway, so the drive will preserve itself.

The way I've got mine setup, is OS and Users/AppData is kept on the SSD. Programs that execute on startup I install into the SSD. Programs that I need to manually start are kept on the HDD, as with my Users/Pictures/Videos, ect. folders. This gives the best compromise between writes and the benefits of an SSD.

Besides, the whole writes stigma is blown way out of proportion. SSDs could outlive your next 5 builds when treating it like a normal HDD.

Tephnos · 16 Sep 2011 at 00:14

Nobody?

anything I don't mind · 16 Sep 2011 at 12:12

I would not move the users folder to another drive that would reduce performance of the OS and you would be reducing the purpose of having an SSD as your primary drive.

Just move your documents folder and your picture folder by right clicking on them and going to the location tab. Easy.

marc2003 · 16 Sep 2011 at 12:52

groen said:
Just move your documents folder and your picture folder by right clicking on them and going to the location tab. Easy.

that's far too cumbersome. simply highlight as many special folders as you like at once, cut and then paste to the new location. all the underlying location stuff is updated automagically.

Tephnos · 16 Sep 2011 at 13:56

Guys, I've already done all that. What I mean is when I click on start, and then click on my 'User' folder, I'm taken to the C drive. Meaning, whilst I can see all the special folders I moved (Pictures, Documents) I can't see any of the folders I created in the D:\Users directory.

All I want is for that link to point me to D:\Users instead of the default C:\Users. Can it be done?

marc2003 · 16 Sep 2011 at 14:53

remove the shortcut using the start menu options. then simply pin your own shortcut to the folder on the start menu. ok, this appears on the left and isn't special but it'll do.

i think you can change the location of "users" on new installs by creating a modified windows 7 iso or maybe some kind of answer file. not much use now though.

ubern00b · 16 Sep 2011 at 20:23

AFAIK the only way to do this properly is via an unattend.txt during installation.

Have a read of this.

Tephnos · 16 Sep 2011 at 23:13

Damn. Didn't want to do those because I want my appdata folder on the SSD. Otherwise, just negating the benefits of having one in the first place. Ho hum.

panyan · 16 Sep 2011 at 23:27

open a new window in explorer and right click on one of the special folders (docs,music,pics,videos) and then to properties, add the new location and remove the other one