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moving default folders/data to another partition

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by rebecca, 2005/09/29.

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  1. 2005/09/29
    rebecca Contributing Member

    rebecca Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I am in the process of getting a new computer (Dell 5100) up and running, and having followed a whole bunch of different threads here at windowsbbs, I decided I wanted to try something new.
    My aim is to have my OS (Windows XP Home) on a separate partition from my data. So far, after mucho help from Christer and Charlesvar, I've managed to get XP set up on a partition called "C:"
    My other partition is labeled "D: "
    What I need help with now is how to move to "D:" things like My Documents, Favorites/bookmarks, and other such things that normally default to "C: "
    Complicating the matter further (at least for me!) is that there will be two users on the computer, so I suppose I may have to create two of everything that is moved.
    Firefox & Thunderbird are my browser and email program of choice, but on occasion I still have to resort to IE and Outlook Express. There is absolutely no data on the new computer thus far - all I've done is create the partitions and install WinXP. I have yet to install FF and TB, and I haven't so much as clicked on IE or OE yet.

    I don't know if this relates to my original question, but I'm also planning to install Zone Alarm free, AVG free, SpywareBlaster, SpywareGuard, Spybot Search and Destroy and Ad-Aware. I'd like the "active" programs (ZA, SpywareBlaster, SpywareGuard, AVG update) to run whenever either user is online, but I'll be the only one running Spybot and Ad-Aware (if that makes any difference). My issue here is that I don't know whether this multiple user scheme allows for any common programs/data.

    I'm a total newbie at all this, so patience from you all will be much appreciated - but I'm willing to go through whatever trial and error it takes to try to do this right, so when anyone's ready to fire away, I'll get started!
    Thanks!

    Incidentally, as far as changing the registry manually, I'll need specific instrucions on how to do this!
     
    Last edited: 2005/09/29
    rebecca,
    #1
  2. 2005/09/29
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Rebecca,
    I'll start moving over the information posted in the previous thread. It's good thinking to separate and start a new thread!

    If You have two user accounts, You will have to move the folders twice, logged in on each account. While You do that, make both accounts "administrator" but if You wish, change the other (not Yours) to "limited" when done.

    All anti virus and firewall software are running in the background, whichever user is logged on. Automatic Update are also working but only an administrator can do manual updates.

    I'm not familiar with ZA, SpywareBlaster, SpywareGuard, AVG but others will chime in.

    I think that Spybot and Ad-Aware are installed and available only to the user/administrator who installed the programs.

    That will be necessary on one occasion only and it's not complicated.

    Christer
     
    Last edited: 2005/09/29
    Christer,
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  4. 2005/09/29
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    I remembered having outlined moving user folders in RADIFIED Guide to Norton Ghost

    Go to page nine and scroll down a bit to "Effects of Image Restoration ":

    The only scary part is editing the registry for the Address book but I will give You directions if needed.

    If You are using Microsoft Outlook, Firefox or Thunderbird, there are ways to move those storage locations too.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  5. 2005/09/29
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    If You have created a new address book folder, e.g. D:\Rebecca\Address book, then You need to write down that path on a piece of paper (unless Your memory is better than mine).

    Click Start > Run > type: regedit > OK

    Click Edit > Find > type: wab file name > Find next

    The screen should look like the attached "wab file name ".

    Right-click the key in the right-hand panel and choose change.

    The screen should look like the attached "right-click - change ".

    Type the new path in the editor and click OK.

    Exit regedit (click red cross) and restart the computer.

    Open Outlook Express and the Address book. Close both again. To verify that the change of location is permanent, go to the original location and there should still be nothing there.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #4
  6. 2005/09/29
    rebecca Contributing Member

    rebecca Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hi again, Christer!
    Moved "My Documents" for each user - no problem, for a change! :) I'm curious, though - when I click on My Computer now, under "Files Stored on This Computer ", there are 3 folders: Shared Documents, Gary's Documents, and Rebecca's Documents.
    Shared Documents is still on C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
    I can't figure out how to move that one to D:

    Just successfully moved Favorites too - this is going WAY better than yesterday (so far!). :D

    Another question for you:
    When I click on the C: / Documents and Settings / Gary
    I now see 3 folders: cookies, desktop, and start menu
    Am I also going to move them to D: ?
     
    rebecca,
    #5
  7. 2005/09/29
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    I have checked out my previous findings regarding Firefox and Thunderbird. Denying FF and TB their respective default folders is not worth the trouble. The wasted space on C: is only ~3 MB in total. That small size requires that FF and TB are not allowed to import anything at all at the first program start.

    Install Firefox and when the installation has finished, let the program start. When prompted, don't let it import anything at all. Exit Firefox.

    Create the desired storage location on D:, e.g. D:\Rebecca\Mozilla\Firefox

    Go to Start > Run > type: firefox.exe -profilemanager > OK

    Now, a window appears with a single profile, "default ".

    Click "Create" > follow the prompts > give the profile a name > click "Choose folder" > navigate to D:\Rebecca\Mozilla\Firefox > OK > "Finish ".

    You're back in the first window but now with two profiles. Mark the new one, check the box for "Don't ask ..." and click "Start ... ".

    Firefox should now start, defaulting to the new profile on D:. Exit Firefox.

    Install Thunderbird and when the installation has finished, let the program start. When prompted, don't let it import anything at all. Exit Thunderbird.

    Create the desired storage location on D:, e.g. D:\Rebecca\Mozilla\Thunderbird

    Go to Start > Run > type: thunderbird.exe -profilemanager > OK

    Now, a window appears with a single profile, "default ".

    Click "Create" > follow the prompts > give the profile a name > click "Choose folder" > navigate to D:\Rebecca\Mozilla\Thunderbird > OK > "Finish ".

    You're back in the first window but now with two profiles. Mark the new one, check the box for "Don't ask ..." and click "Start ... ".

    Thunderbird should now start, defaulting to the new profile on D:. I don't remember at which point You will be prompted for Your account details (email address, username, password and such) but I think it is when receiving emails and sending emails for the first time. Have the details to hand. Exit Thunderbird.

    (You can choose any folder name to that suites Your and the second users needs. I only gave examples of possible names.)

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #6
  8. 2005/09/29
    rebecca Contributing Member

    rebecca Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    When I go to switch user, it says both Gary and Rebecca are logged on. It would seem to me that that should not be possible...
    I'll reboot, but I'm wondering how to switch user if when I click on that option, it doesn't log off the original user...
     
    rebecca,
    #7
  9. 2005/09/29
    rebecca Contributing Member

    rebecca Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I guess you're supposed to click on Log Off before you click on Switch User.

    Anyway, when I was logged on under Gary, I moved the Favorites icon from C: to D: Now when I click on C: / Documents and Settings / Gary, there is no more Favorites icon -- when I click on D:, the Favorites icon shows up there, along with four folders: "Copy of My Music ", "My Music ", "My Pictures ", and "New Folder ".

    When I subsequently logged on as myself, I clicked on C: / Documents and Settings / Rebecca, the Favorites icon is still there (along with Cookies, desktop and start menu folders). But when I click on D:, there's already a Favorites icon there... Does this mean that Gary and I will share Favorites? This would not be a problem, once again: I'm just curious.

    [in case you missed it, would you please check out post #5 above? Tack!]
     
    rebecca,
    #8
  10. 2005/09/29
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Don't even bother trying! It's one of the most stubborn folders in WinXP!! I gave up and recommend not using it!!!

    If You and Gary trust eachother, don't make Your folders private and You can access eachothers folders. If You need privacy, create Your own "Shared folder" on D: and copy the files You want to share into it!

    No, I don't recommend that. They are folders more connected to the system than the user. The folders that I have recommended moving are those containing personal data of interest for backups.

    Hmm ...... :confused: ...... shouldn't be possible. Did You create two user accounts during the installation? Rebecca and Gary? Do You get to choose which user to log in at the welcome screen?

    One Hmm ...... :confused: ...... later, do You have "Fast user switching" enabled? Then it's possible!

    You gave me butterflies in my gut now!

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #9
  11. 2005/09/29
    rebecca Contributing Member

    rebecca Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Yes, I created two user accounts during installation, Rebecca and Gary, and when I boot up the computer, I get a screen asking me which one of us is logging on.

    If "fast user switching" is enabled, it's not something I did. The only thing I've changed on the computer thus far is to have it show the contents of my C: drive (the default has the contents hidden)...

    By the way, even after rebooting, I'm still having to click on log off before I switch users, otherwise both users remain logged on simultaneously.
     
    rebecca,
    #10
  12. 2005/09/29
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    To be honest, my own computer has a single user and I have only set up a few with multiple users. It is very important to be logged in to the correct account when moving the correct folders!

    I'm not very familiar with log off/on but "fast user switching" shouldn't need log off before someone else logs on.

    Anyway, when setting up the computer, make sure that only one of You is logged in. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO EDITING THE REGISTRY!

    On D:, is there one D:\Rebecca and one D:\Gary?

    You need to have two separate folders to move Your respective subfolders into. Otherwise it will become a mess since You can not have e.g. two Favorites folders in the root of D:.

    Run that by me again ...... ;) ...... You're typing so fast that I can't keep up!

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  13. 2005/09/29
    rebecca Contributing Member

    rebecca Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Regarding the Shared Documents folder, I'll let that one be. Neither Gary nor I sees any reason to keep our folders private.

    On D:, is there one D:\Rebecca and one D:\Gary?

    Oops, no there isn't. Guess I jumped the gun a bit thinking things were going smoothly! How do I go about creating D:\Rebecca and D:\Gary? Can I just drag the Favorites icon back to where it originally came from in C: when I was logged on as Gary?

    I'll try to be more patient in between postings here - I realize I'm making it difficult for you! Sorry!
     
    Last edited: 2005/09/29
    rebecca,
    #12
  14. 2005/09/29
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Well,
    I could have told You that each account needed a separate folder on D: but I didn't think of it.

    In Windows Explorer, start by creating D:\Rebecca and D:\Gary (right-click in the right-hand panel and choose "New folder" > type the name).

    Now, we have to find out which folders have been successfully moved. (It seems to be a bit of a mess!)

    Log out both users and log in Rebecca.

    Right-click the My computer icon on the desktop and choose properties. In the target area, click restore default. When asked if files and folders should be moved, the answer is YES to all. Now, click "Move" and navigate to D:\Rebecca > OK > OK.

    Double click the My documents icon and take notes on which subfolders are there.

    Log out Rebecca and log in Gary. Repeat the procedure for his account.

    When this is done, check what is left on D: outside Rebecca and Gary!

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #13
  15. 2005/09/29
    rebecca Contributing Member

    rebecca Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I moved the Favorites icon back to C: \ Documents and Settings \ Gary

    When I go to My Computer and click on D:, do I then go to File, and create a new folder for Gary and then move his Favorites there. And then log off, switch user, log on as Rebecca and do the same?
     
    rebecca,
    #14
  16. 2005/09/29
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Hey,
    one step at a time, patience is the key word!

    It's more difficult to understand what You have done if You make changes in between!!

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #15
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  17. 2005/09/29
    rebecca Contributing Member

    rebecca Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I don't see that option when I right-click on My Computer. The tabs I have are "general ", "computer name ", "hardware ", "advanced ", "remote ", "automatic updates ", and "system restore ". Oh... is that the restore default you're talking about? Sorry I'm so slow on picking this all up!
     
    rebecca,
    #16
  18. 2005/09/29
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Sorry, that should be My Documents!

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  19. 2005/09/29
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    We need to slow down and wait for answers and questions, if not You will soon be back in square one!

    It's late here in Sweden and my mind is beginning to slip!

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #18
  20. 2005/09/29
    rebecca Contributing Member

    rebecca Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Any time you need to go, I'll try to catch you again tomorrow afternoon (my time)!
    OK, I restored everything as you instructed, and then moved the My Document folders to D:\Gary and D:\Rebecca.
    When I double click on My Documents under Rebecca, there are 2 folders: my music and my pictures.
    Under Gary's My Documents, there's only one folder: my pictures.
    When I click on D: now, there are 5 folders in total:
    Copy of My Music
    Gary
    My Music
    My Pictures
    Rebecca
     
    rebecca,
    #19
  21. 2005/09/29
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    That's correct.

    He needs a My music folder. Right-click and drag-n-drop the My music folder (that is outside Gary and Rebecca) to D:\Gary\My documents > choose "Move here ".

    Now, the My documents folder and all the folders within Your respective My documents folder should not be plain yellow in colour but have a specific look for the respective folder. If it is so, all is well (I think).

    Log in separately to each account, on the desktop, double-click the My documents folder and the two folders within it in turn. If they open without any pop up messages, go back in Windows Explorer and delete everything outside of Rebecca and Gary.

    Don't empty the recycle bin until we are 100% sure we don't need the folders!

    Christer
     
    Last edited: 2005/09/29
    Christer,
    #20
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