Windows 10 Remapping Users folders?

[Mechanics55]

So on my laptop, I have two separate partitions which were pre-partitioned when I purchased the laptop. It's a 1TB hard drive split into two. I like to keep most of my storage off of the OS drive and keep games and programs (and the OS, of course) on the OS drive only. I know it doesn't make too much of a difference since it's not a SSD but I guess it's just an organization thing. Anyways, I re-mapped all of the Users folders (Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Favorites, Music, Pictures, Videos, etc.) by right clicking "properties" and then mapping them to the D:\ Drive in a new Users folder. I know this is the proper way to do it in Windows 7/8, but I just noticed that Windows 10 has a built-in option for doing that (I'll link a website which explains it in further detail here). Anyways, all of my Users folders are re mapped just fine with no issues. So for example I can create a Word document or record an audio clip and it will save to my D Drive. Perfect. But the built-in option that Windows 10 has to offer (the thing I just linked) still has my save locations all set to "This PC (C". So is there any difference between re-mapping and using the built-in OS tool? Is either method better or more trustworthy?

 

[SuperSoph_WD]

Hey there, Mechanics55!

According to the tutorial that you used, you simply changed the default save locations on your Windows 10 laptop.
However, it's possible that Windows 10 still sees your user folder in its default location (This PC, C: ).
If you want to change that, it might require you to re-install everything and change the default users profile folder. This is a very delicate procedure, though, because you'd need to edit the registry and be familiar with the command prompt line in Windows OS.
Here's a tutorial that might help you with that: http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1964-users-folder-move-location-windows-10-a.html

Since everything is working properly now, I don't think you should go through the hustle, though.

Hope this helps. Best of luck!
SuperSoph_WD

 

[Mechanics55]

Hey there, Mechanics55!

According to the tutorial that you used, you simply changed the default save locations on your Windows 10 laptop.
However, it's possible that Windows 10 still sees your user folder in its default location (This PC, C: ).
If you want to change that, it might require you to re-install everything and change the default users profile folder. This is a very delicate procedure, though, because you'd need to edit the registry and be familiar with the command prompt line in Windows OS.
Here's a tutorial that might help you with that: http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1964-users-folder-move-location-windows-10-a.html

Since everything is working properly now, I don't think you should go through the hustle, though.

Hope this helps. Best of luck!
SuperSoph_WD

Thank you, I will leave as is.

I also have another similar question which I might as well post here too. So in my desktop I am replacing my mobo and cpu so i went ahead and bought a new ssd and windows 10 copy (should be here soon). I have a hard drive which already has an OS (windows 8.1) installed onto it, it's 1TB so I want to reuse it. I already posted a thread about this, and people said I should end up reformatting it (unplug hdd, install OS on ssd, install drivers, games, programs, etc, on ssd, then plug hdd back in). Anyways, I literally only want my SSD to have programs/software, games, and my OS. NOTHING else. I want music, documents, videos, etc, etc all on my hard drive. So I will back up my important data and format it. So I read up this very good tutorial on how to make my HDD my storage drive. However, at the end of the article, it recommended creating junctions in command prompt. Since you are good with storage (I have a WD drive by the way, I noticed you're with them), can you tell me whether creating junctions is necessary? I hate screwing around in CMD. Here's the article. You can scroll to the part talking about junctions. If you have the time to help with this it would be appreciated!

 

[Math Geek]

i also keep my data separate from the os and programs through a separate drive. many reasons to do this but few see the benefits of going through the process.

i have never actually tried to move the actual users folder to the data drive but rather moved the my documents and other such folders under it like you did. then i left the user folder alone since i did not use it for anything. sure all the settings and app data go to this folder but this is something i wanted to keep away from my data anyway in case some new kind of virus sets up shop in this part of the os structure in one way or another.

just my 2 cents but leaving the dynamic user specific program data on the os drive still seems like a good idea to me. moving the rest to the data drive is fine as it is just storage.

 

[Mechanics55]

i also keep my data separate from the os and programs through a separate drive. many reasons to do this but few see the benefits of going through the process.

i have never actually tried to move the actual users folder to the data drive but rather moved the my documents and other such folders under it like you did. then i left the user folder alone since i did not use it for anything. sure all the settings and app data go to this folder but this is something i wanted to keep away from my data anyway in case some new kind of virus sets up shop in this part of the os structure in one way or another.

just my 2 cents but leaving the dynamic user specific program data on the os drive still seems like a good idea to me. moving the rest to the data drive is fine as it is just storage.

Hey thanks

And can you help me with my most recent post if you know anything about "junctions" and remapping folders in Windows 10. I linked an article. This is it here: http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows-8-1/solid-state-drive-and-hard-drive-configuration/

 

[Math Geek]

i can read the article and offer an opinion, but i have never messed with this type of thing myself. never had a reason to really. just for fun though i'll check it out so i can say i learned something new today 😀

 

[Math Geek]

i read through the tutorial and it is rather simple process to follow. a lot of typing but otherwise pretty simple. sounds like the "correct" answer to your question to me. once all the folders are moved and the junctions are in place, then it all goes to the hdd by default and there is no way for anything to sneak onto the ssd no matter how hard it tries to

no i got to go try this out for myself just to see.

 

[Mechanics55]

i read through the tutorial and it is rather simple process to follow. a lot of typing but otherwise pretty simple. sounds like the "correct" answer to your question to me. once all the folders are moved and the junctions are in place, then it all goes to the hdd by default and there is no way for anything to sneak onto the ssd no matter how hard it tries to

no i got to go try this out for myself just to see.

Cool thanks! So all my games (from steam) and software programs will install to my SSD by default even after junctions are in place? And say I wanted to put a video or music file on my SSD for whatever reason, I can just drag and drop it from the location on my HDD to some folder on my SSD?

 

[Math Geek]

everything will install to c: by default which is your ssd. many programs place folders in documents folder for game saves or log files or a hundred other reasons. these will now go to the hdd so long as it sends it to one of the folders you moved. it is always wise, however to be sure you know where something is going. for instance, when you install gpu drivers it will create a folder on c: for the unzipped files. this won't go to the hdd since it is not going to one of the moved folder but rather creating a new folder for itself. other things will do this as well. so keep an eye out for these type things as you go. it may not say where it is going but a quick check in windows explorer will tell you if there is a new folder on c: you did not ask for. you can't really account for these type things since it is determined by whoever created the .exe file as to where it defaults to.

and yes to move something to the ssd for whatever reason, you would simply drag and drop it to the ssd.