Move Docs & Settings to different partition?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Peter Wilkins
  • Start date Start date
P

Peter Wilkins

I'm using XP Pro with a master HDD NTFS with 3 partitions (C Boot, D
Data, E CD burning) and a slave HDD FAT32 (F Backups) for backups and
archives.

I would like to move the whole Docs & Settings folder for all users
off C: and onto my Data partition D:. Does anyone know if there is an
easy way to do this? I have full administrator access. I know I can
move my own My Docs folder using TweakUI for XP or even TweakXP Pro,
but I want to move the whole Docs & Settings folder and don't know how
to do this without risking a stuffup.

Reason is that I like to use Ghost 2003 to do my backup images, and
I'd like to be able to just do a daily backup image of D: to get all
my data for all users, without having to do daily images of both C:
and D:. I could then do a backup image of C: less frequently, only
when I add/delete programs or make config changes.

I backup the images first to a second HDD so it doesn't take too long,
and I can restore individual files or folders using Ghost Explorer
without having to restore the whole image. I'm also paranoid and
backup weekly to CD too.

TIA
 
Peter said:
I would like to move the whole Docs & Settings folder for all users
off C: and onto my Data partition D:.
Click to expand...

That's one folder that Windows is extremely picky about having moved. You
can move some of its subfolders, but not the D&S folder and its primary
contents.
 
David said:
It can be done.
Click to expand...

You learn smething new everyday. :)
1. Use a custom setup file to specify the location during
instalation. This is the only way that will work for sure.
Click to expand...

Pretty extreme! But yeah, that *would* do it. Thanks, David.
 
That's one folder that Windows is extremely picky about having moved. You
can move some of its subfolders, but not the D&S folder and its primary
contents.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I thought it was difficult!
 
It can be done.
1. Use a custom setup file to specify the location during instalation. This is the only way that will work for sure.

2. You can attempt to move by hand. This may not work or may cause minorissues.
Click to expand...
snip

Thanks David,

for your very comprehensive and informative reply.

I will read your post thoroughly and cogitate carefully before doing
anything drastic - in the meantime I will just stick with my My Docs
and Favourites on D: - everyone else can stay on C:. After all, it's
only MY backups I really need to worry about!

Don't think I want to reinstall with a custom setup file just yet-
it's taken me ages to get my system running perfectly with XP exactly
the way I like it, and I don't want to risk it just yet!

Thanks again, the expertise of people on the internet and their
willingness to help less gifted bodies never ceases to amaze me.
 
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