Windows 8.1 Upgrade Error (SSD+HDD Setup)

ChetzB · 19 Oct 2013 at 19:05

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has been able to get around the upgrade error, when you have your user profile on another drive?

Error:
"Sorry, it looks like this PC can't run Windows 8.1. This might be because the Users or Program Files folder is being redirected to another partition."

ViRuS2k · 19 Oct 2013 at 19:18

move the userprofie back on to primary drive then upgrade then move it back lol

ChetzB · 19 Oct 2013 at 19:21

I was hoping to avoid that

jeffa123 · 21 Oct 2013 at 11:57

You can do a simple thing like restore your Program files and User profile to the Root directory.
Keep a copy on the drive you want and go into Administration and Hide the Drive. Reboot and try to upgrade again. The partition where you have the User profile and other data is now hidden from Windows setup and it will not find it.

a_5mith · 22 Oct 2013 at 00:07

Having an issue with this myself, friend of mine bought a laptop with Windows 8 on an SSD, I then moved the documents/music folders to the 1TB secondary drive. All was fine until he's tried to update to 8.1.

Reading other forums, you can't just put the files back and try again.

Haven't seen any set methods to fix this yet, read one or two about reverting everything back, copying something from the registry, then putting it back after creating a new local admin, updating, then going back to original user, but if they think I'm doing that to keep an OS up to date, not happening. :mad:

Orionaut · 22 Oct 2013 at 08:48

a_5mith said:
Having an issue with this myself, friend of mine bought a laptop with Windows 8 on an SSD, I then moved the documents/music folders to the 1TB secondary drive. All was fine until he's tried to update to 8.1.

Reading other forums, you can't just put the files back and try again.

Haven't seen any set methods to fix this yet, read one or two about reverting everything back, copying something from the registry, then putting it back after creating a new local admin, updating, then going back to original user, but if they think I'm doing that to keep an OS up to date, not happening.

I have a similar set upon my desktop. However I upgraded without difficulty. Just a thought, how did you "Move" the folders originally?

jeffa123 · 22 Oct 2013 at 09:14

Tip: When first installing Windows 8 do not let Windows import your music and Documents until after you have completed the install. Then like any Install you get a default Empty directory. On both Windows 7 and Vista I store my Music on another Drive.
This way you do the things that later become habit. Go into your User directory and right click on your Music folder and give it the path you want. It could even be a whole partition. Much the same goes for Documents and Downloads. Downloads can take up the most space because you are always experimenting and updating Windows. Downloads on an SSD are a waste of space.
Apps like iTunes will always install to your Root directory but their libraries like Purchases and backups can be stored on another drive, so it is important to move these.
Whilst it is important to keep things together an SSD can fill up very quickly and if you are entertainment orientated and Game orientated, Directories like iTunes and Steam can take up an incredible amount of space. And they are always updating with things like photostream and purchase tracking.
The Whilst I did not encounter any of these issue on my update or Upgrade as they call it, because on Windows 8 I left it as is until I began to use it more. I still use Windows 7 and Vista a lot more than 8.
The problem in the past with Windows and just about every uttility that comes with it, when it comes to install you will find them seeking out files and libraries to import. This clogs up disk space and windows itself.