yes,but which kind of difference there is if I have these folders on another disk,instead of having them on the c:\ drive ? Is not possible to change some values inside the registry to allow windows to use new paths ?
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How to move some Windows folders on another disk without altering the working of Windows.
Hello,
I'm using Windows 7. I want to move the folders ProgramData, Program Files and Users on another disk on my computer without altering the working of Windows. I've already tried to move them on another disk and I created the right links,but it did not work.
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Answers
You can only move your programs by first uninstalling them, then using the option to install in a different location during the re-installation.
You would find it easier to free up space by moving your data files: Documants, Music, Pictures, etc., to another drive:
http://hubpages.com/
You could do that for all users, probably need to set up permissions afterward if there are security issues.
Probably easier to reinstall Windows 7!
:)
I forgot to say that I have a fresh installation of windows 7 !, sorry my mistake ! There are no users and no programs installed. So,I can change the registry values. Exploring the registry I found these interesting keys :
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWA
"Common Start Menu"="C:\\ProgramData\\Mi
"CommonVideo"="C:\\Users\\
"CommonPictures"="C:\\User
"Common Programs"="C:\\ProgramData
"CommonMusic"="C:\\Users\\
"Common Administrative Tools"="C:\\ProgramData\\M
"Common Startup"="C:\\ProgramData\
"Common Desktop"="C:\\Users\\Publi
"Common Documents"="C:\\Users\\Pub
"OEM Links"="C:\\ProgramData\\O
"Common Templates"="C:\\ProgramDat
"Common AppData"="C:\\ProgramData"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWA
"Common Desktop"=hex(2):25,00,50,0
44,00,65,00,73,00,6b,00,74
"Common Documents"=hex(2):25,00,50
00,44,00,6f,00,63,00,75,00
"CommonPictures"=hex(2):25
50,00,69,00,63,00,74,00,75
"CommonMusic"=hex(2):25,00
00,75,00,73,00,69,00,63,00
"CommonVideo"=hex(2):25,00
00,69,00,64,00,65,00,6f,00
"{3D644C9B-1FB8-4f30-9B45-
49,00,43,00,25,00,5c,00,44
00,00,00
"Common Start Menu"=hex(2):25,00,50,00,7
00,61,00,74,00,61,00,25,00
66,00,74,00,5c,00,57,00,69
00,61,00,72,00,74,00,20,00
"Common Programs"=hex(2):25,00,50,
61,00,74,00,61,00,25,00,5c
00,74,00,5c,00,57,00,69,00
61,00,72,00,74,00,20,00,4d
00,72,00,61,00,6d,00,73,00
"Common Startup"=hex(2):25,00,50,0
61,00,74,00,61,00,25,00,5c
00,74,00,5c,00,57,00,69,00
61,00,72,00,74,00,20,00,4d
00,72,00,61,00,6d,00,73,00
00,00
"Common AppData"=hex(2):25,00,50,0
61,00,74,00,61,00,25,00,00
"Common Templates"=hex(2):25,00,50
00,61,00,74,00,61,00,25,00
66,00,74,00,5c,00,57,00,69
00,6d,00,70,00,6c,00,61,00
something else ?
There are tons of keys in classes as well. Using the registry to do what you are trying to do is fraught with danger. You will be back here saying your machine won't start.
If there are no programs installed, then I don't really understand what you are trying to move and why. Users want to be on the C: Drive. And although you can install programs on other drives, long experience has taught me not to do this. Too many vendors can't use their alphabet past the lettter C and will screw up your best intentions.
You can easily use a folder other than My Documents (Documents in Vista) to hold your data and that can easily be on another drive. You can redirect My Documents (check Microsoft support articles). But none of these methods involve the registry.
... Thinkpads_User
I changed these keys,but allow windows to save informations on drive F,but it didn't work,please help me. thanks.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWA
"Common Start Menu"="F:\\ProgramData\\Mi
"CommonVideo"="F:\\Users\\
"CommonPictures"="F:\\User
"Common Programs"="F:\\ProgramData
"CommonMusic"="F:\\Users\\
"Common Administrative Tools"="F:\\ProgramData\\M
"Common Startup"="F:\\ProgramData\
"Common Desktop"="F:\\Users\\Publi
"Common Documents"="F:\\Users\\Pub
"OEM Links"="C:\\ProgramData\\O
"Common Templates"="F:\\ProgramDat
"Common AppData"="F:\\ProgramData"
I have said on more than one occassion above that you should not be using a registry to move folders. Of course the above does not work and I said before it would not. There are many more keys floating around in Classes. This is not a useable method to do anything. Use Windows to place folders and use Windows to install software where you wish. .... Thinkpads_User
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by: thinkpads_userPosted on 2009-10-25 at 18:31:47ID: 25659304
Program Files contain your actual programs. You generally cannot just move them. If they are programs (and they normally are), the programs involved must be reinstalled. So I am not surprised what you did failed to work. That is a normal outcome. ... Thinkpads_User