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Moving Documents and Settings

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by Batookee, 2004/06/07.

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  1. 2004/06/07
    Batookee

    Batookee Inactive Thread Starter

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    I've been trying to do this so that I can have my Documents and Settings folder on a seprate drive and format my computer with a Ghost Image whenever I want without haveing to back them up. I have a program that changes the registry values to change the path Documents and Settings but how can you move the folder without Windows knowing about it? Because it wont let you do it, even in a recovery console. Is there software out there to do this. My next step is to download a Linux Distro that I can boot on CD and move them from within Linux where the files are not protected but I'm trying to avoid that. Can some one help me out...
     
    Batookee,
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  2. 2004/06/07
    Newt

    Newt Inactive

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    This is how you would do it with Win2000 and I don't see any reason the same process shouldn't work with XP.
     
    Newt,
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  4. 2004/06/08
    Batookee

    Batookee Inactive Thread Starter

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    I had seen that page before but wasnt sure if it applyed to XP.

    So I've managed to move the Documents and Settings folder but when I comes to the registry, I change the location of every "c:\documents and settings" entry to point to the d: drive. However, when I change the values for the Windows Shell Folders, they go back to the default everytime I reboot.
    I've done in in Normal and Safe Mode with no success.
     
    Batookee,
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  5. 2004/06/08
    Newt

    Newt Inactive

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    Well, I do know they beefed up the 'system file protection' scheme quite a bit in XP when compared to 2K and that may be the reason for the lack of articles on doing the move you want as well as the reason the settings snap back when you reboot.

    I found an article on how to turn off SFP in XP but I knew after reading it that it was nothing I wanted to ever try.
     
    Newt,
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  6. 2004/06/08
    BillyBob Lifetime Subscription

    BillyBob Inactive

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    I have had the same problem with XP Pro. I move it or change it and XP changes it back. Forget renaming. ( at least that is what I have found )

    BillyBob
     
    BillyBob,
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  7. 2004/06/09
    Batookee

    Batookee Inactive Thread Starter

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    Well I guess if i cant move my Documents and Settings folder, my question is, who knows of software that would be like a one-click backup tool for selected folders?
     
    Batookee,
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  8. 2004/06/09
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    "Relocate My Documents and other *special* folders "


    In order to keep your system partition lean and safeguard your documents, it's a good idea to relocate the folder. You can also relocate Favorites and others for safe-keeping - even use a removable drive.

    First, download Tweak UI for Win9x/ME/2000 or Tweak UI for WinXP. For this application, the older version 1.33 will work in Windows 2000.

    Create your new folder in the location that you desire. You can name it whatever you like. Now open Tweak UI and find the "Special Folders" section. Select the My Documents folder and then "Change location ". Click Yes on the warning and browse to your new folder.

    Now copy all of the contents of the old My Documents folder to the new folder. Restart the PC. Test the folder. If it's OK, you can safely delete the old one.
     
    Steve R Jones,
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  9. 2004/06/09
    Newt

    Newt Inactive

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    Steve's idea is probably the best one. Just relocate the larger and more active pieces of your account away from Documents & Settings to the other drive.
     
    Newt,
    #8
  10. 2004/06/10
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    This can be accomplished without TweakUI or anything else:

    I quote from Radified Guide to Norton Ghost :


    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  11. 2004/06/10
    Johanna

    Johanna Inactive Alumni

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    Thank you for that, Christer. I have always just used the "move" function in XP, and not used TweakUI. This topic came up in another recent thread.

    Johanna
     
    Johanna,
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  12. 2004/06/10
    martinr121 Lifetime Subscription

    martinr121 Inactive

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    And it answers most of the questions I asked in the other thread, except for the duplicate "programs" folder problem. Thanks Christer. :D

    Martin
     
    martinr121,
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  13. 2004/06/10
    Johanna

    Johanna Inactive Alumni

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    Martin, I have a Programs folder on C and D, and they are not duplicates because they are two separate entities. One starts with "C ", the other, "D ", and each have different contents. You can highlight, right click and move programs from C to D and most will be just fine (Except it makes Norton WinDr mad about "invalid shortcuts!) You cannot "overwrite" a file unless the name and path are the same, and then you'll get that prompt. So unless something is installed in both programs files currently, you should not get any error messages. If there is a match, just say no, when prompted, and do not move those files (no to all).

    Christer Thanks for the reg edit for the WAB. That is a lot simpler than what I've been doing! :eek:

    Johanna
     
    Johanna,
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