Moving default data folders to another partition

  • Thread starter Thread starter ellarjee
  • Start date Start date
E

ellarjee

I have re-installed Vista on my machine and created two partitions, one for
the Operating System & Programs and the other for Data.
My problem is that Windows has installed the default data folders in the
first of these partitions. The folder tree goes like this: Desktop/My
Computer Name/Contacts, Documents, Downloads, Favorites Music, Pictures,
Saved Games, Searches, Videos.
I don’t want these under Desktop in Drive C:, I want them under Data in my
second partition. But I can’t find how to move them. The simple move
command doesn’t work.
Where do I go to find the commands to move these data folders?
 
ellarjee said:
I have re-installed Vista on my machine and created two partitions, one for
the Operating System & Programs and the other for Data.
My problem is that Windows has installed the default data folders in the
first of these partitions. The folder tree goes like this: Desktop/My
Computer Name/Contacts, Documents, Downloads, Favorites Music, Pictures,
Saved Games, Searches, Videos.
I don’t want these under Desktop in Drive C:, I want them under Data in my
second partition. But I can’t find how to move them. The simple move
command doesn’t work.
Where do I go to find the commands to move these data folders?
Click to expand...

Right-click each folder individually, choose Properties, then
Location, then Move

Richie Hardwick
 
Thanks, Richie and Rick -
I’ve tried your suggestion but I get problems.
After a completely clean re-installation of Vista with nothing else on the
computer I first moved Contacts in the way you said.
The first problem is that in the left-hand column of the Windows Explorer
window under the Data Drive there is nothing shown, whereas I would have
expected “Contacts†as moved from the C drive.
Then, in my Data Drive in the right-hand side of the Explorer window the
folder shown is ellarjee (my user name) and the Type for that folder is
“Contact fileâ€, but when I click on this to open it (though I know it has
nothing in it) all I get is “An error occurred while attempting to open the
Windows Address Book fileâ€.
Finally, when I try moving the Videos folder from the C drive I get the
message: “Do you want to redirect folder “Videos†into another system folder
“Contacts†located at F:\? If you proceed with redirection you will not be
able to separate them or restore default location. Do you still want to
proceed with redirection?â€
 
ellarjee said:
Thanks, Richie and Rick -
I’ve tried your suggestion but I get problems.
After a completely clean re-installation of Vista with nothing else on the
computer I first moved Contacts in the way you said.
The first problem is that in the left-hand column of the Windows Explorer
window under the Data Drive there is nothing shown, whereas I would have
expected “Contacts†as moved from the C drive.
Click to expand...

I have no such "left-hand column". Maybe you have the navigation
panel on the left in your setup, I don't.
Then, in my Data Drive in the right-hand side of the Explorer window the
folder shown is ellarjee (my user name) and the Type for that folder is
“Contact fileâ€, but when I click on this to open it (though I know it has
nothing in it) all I get is “An error occurred while attempting to open the
Windows Address Book fileâ€.
Click to expand...

Who said anything about OPENING?? You wanted to MOVE some of your
files to another location. Why are you playing around trying to open
files?
Finally, when I try moving the Videos folder from the C drive I get the
message: “Do you want to redirect folder “Videos†into another system folder
“Contacts†located at F:\? If you proceed with redirection you will not be
able to separate them or restore default location. Do you still want to
proceed with redirection?â€
Click to expand...

The operation is a simple one. You somehow have made it a complicated
one. I just tried to move my own "Videos" file to another disk... NO
PROBLEM. You are screwing something up - royally.

I can't see what you are doing and I obviously can't hold your hand.
You're on your own.


Richie Hardwick
 
Thanks for trying, Richie. I don't mind your straightforward comments.

A couple of answers to your comments:

I only tried opening the funny Contacts-like folder AFTER I'd moved it.
It's reasonable to try and open a folder to see what happens.
As to my last point, I should have made it clearer that when I tried to move
Videos I specified the Data Drive F: and that was the drive confirmed back to
me in the Move To New Location window. But when I clicked to proceed I got
the strange message that the Video folder would be redirected into the
Contacts folder.
I know this sounds as though I'm screwing it up, but all I am doing is
following your original instructions to the letter and on a new Vista
installation without anything else to complicate things.
Yes, I agree that it's difficult for anyone to help me further. I've
appreciated your trying to do so.
 
ellarjee said:
Thanks for trying, Richie. I don't mind your straightforward comments.

A couple of answers to your comments:

I only tried opening the funny Contacts-like folder AFTER I'd moved it.
It's reasonable to try and open a folder to see what happens.
As to my last point, I should have made it clearer that when I tried to move
Videos I specified the Data Drive F: and that was the drive confirmed back to
me in the Move To New Location window. But when I clicked to proceed I got
the strange message that the Video folder would be redirected into the
Contacts folder.
Click to expand...

I suspect that "Contacts" is also on "F".

HINT: you somehow selected the Contacts folder, rather than "F". Look
at the bottom of the window where it says "Folder" when moving. It
will tell you where you have chosen to move to. If you have
accidentally chosen a different folder, change it.

NOW I'm outta here (for real).
I know this sounds as though I'm screwing it up, but all I am doing is
following your original instructions to the letter and on a new Vista
installation without anything else to complicate things.
Yes, I agree that it's difficult for anyone to help me further. I've
appreciated your trying to do so.
Click to expand...

Richie Hardwick
 
Thanks a lot Richie

Richie Hardwick said:
I suspect that "Contacts" is also on "F".

HINT: you somehow selected the Contacts folder, rather than "F". Look
at the bottom of the window where it says "Folder" when moving. It
will tell you where you have chosen to move to. If you have
accidentally chosen a different folder, change it.

NOW I'm outta here (for real).


Richie Hardwick
Click to expand...
 
You don't move the folders to a drive, you move the folders to a location
(on the drive.)

That is do not select F: as the destination to move to.
Select some place like f:\ellarjee\Contacts for contacts, f:\ellarjee\Video
for video etc.
If you simply select f: as the destination for all of them they will pile up
on each other and create a major mess.

Michael
 
Back
Top