Moving Windows XP default folders Rev1

I have compiled the Guide to moving Windows XP default folders from the system partition to a dedicated data partition. I have done it with the invaluable assistance of PeteC and Steve R Jones who, in addition to having english speaking computers, have provided feedback. I would say that it has been a joint venture.

This is the first revision of the guide and it is attached as Moving XP Folders Rev1.pdf for you to download.

Change log Rev0 > Rev1:

Corrected Move the Store Folder location for E-mail in Outlook Express regarding remaining folders in the previous (default) location.

In Move the Address Book, rearranged and clarified on how to use the Registry Editor.

Added Annex 1-2.

I encourage comments on the guide itself but please, don't post questions pertaining to a specific installation in this thread. Start a new thread for that.

The next few posts in this thread will contain these sections;

- General
- Move the My Documents folder
- Move the Favorites folder
- Move the Store Folder location for E-mail in Outlook Express
- Move the Address Book

There are currently two annexes;

Annex 1 - Move the Microsoft Outlook 2002 (Office XP) default storage location
Annex 2 - Create new profiles in Mozilla Firefox and Mozilla Thunderbird

Christer

 

General:

When installing an operating system, it is common to leave the hard disk as a single partition [C:]. Splitting the hard disk into two partitions, [C: and D:] is good strategy. It gives you the opportunity to separate user data from the operating system and program files. This simplifies backing up user data as well as restoring/reinstalling the system without losing user data. An extension of this strategy is to install a second hard disk and partition it for backups of user data and images of the system partition.

This guide does not detail how to partition a hard disk. It requires a separate guide and several are available on the Internet.

This guide is valid for Windows XP Professional, on which it was devised and for Windows XP Home.

The default Windows XP folders, containing user data, are:

- My Documents (including a number of subfolders within it)
- Favorites
- Store Folder location for E-mail in Outlook Express (several files)
- Address Book (two files)

You will find instructions on how to move these default Windows XP folders from their respective default location on C: into the folder(s) of your choice on D: below.

Two annexes have been added, detailing how to move folders or create new folders for different applications installed on Windows XP:

- Annex 1 - Move the Microsoft Outlook 2002 (Office XP) default storage location
- Annex 2 - Create new profiles in Mozilla Firefox and Mozilla Thunderbird

Windows Explorer:

Some folders are moved in Windows Explorer. To open Windows Explorer, click Start > right click on My Computer > click Explore.

You have to (temporarily - do not forget to change back when done) configure Windows Explorer to show hidden files and folders. To do that, in Windows Explorer, click Tools > Folder options > View Tab > Advanced settings > find "˜Hidden files and folders’ and click the Radio button to show hidden files and folders.

Moving folders (and files) using the mouse:

Left click drag-n-drop means that the left Mouse button should be held down while dragging and released when dropping in the new location.

If this is done from one location to another on the same partition, the folder will be moved.

If this is done from one partition to another, the folder will be copied and you do not want that!

Instead, you will use right click drag-n-drop. When the Mouse button is released in the new location, a menu will appear with four choices: Copy, Move, Create shortcut and Cancel. You want to Move!

Another way to do it (safer, easier and actually my recommendation) is to right click (not hold) on the folder, a menu will appear with a few choices; choose "˜cut’. Navigate to the new location, right click (not hold) in any free space, the menu will reappear; choose "˜paste’.

Multiple users:

If you have created a single user account, creating a folder on D: for the single account is optional, but if there is a chance that users will be added in the future, create the folder now. It will make it easier when adding users. The instructions assume that a separate folder, D:\Name-1, has been created for the single account. If you choose to not create the folder, you should substitute D: for D:\Name-1 in the instructions.

If you have created more than one user account, you have to create a separate folder on D: for each account, e.g. D:\Name-1 and D:\Name-2, etc.

The procedure of moving the folders has to be repeated for each account, logged in to each account in turn. You must be logged in to the user account you are working with. Never move any folders or make any changes to Name-X if you are logged in to Name-1.

I recommend disabling Fast User Switching for the duration of the work. To do that, click Start > Control panel > User accounts > "˜Change the way users log on or off’ and uncheck the box for "˜Use Fast User Switching’.

Create a folder:

In Windows Explorer, click on D: in the left hand pane to highlight it. The right hand pane will show the files and folders on D: but if you are starting fresh, it will be almost empty.

Depending on how you have configured Windows Explorer, hidden files and folders (and hidden system files) may be visible. A hidden file or folder can be distinguished by a "˜pale’ appearance compared to a "˜normal’ file or folder. Leave them alone!

Right click (not hold) in any free space in the right hand pane and from the menu which appears; choose New > Folder. The folder will appear with the name "˜New Folder’ on a blue (the default colour) background which you should rename to "˜Name-1’ (or "˜Name-2’, etc.).

After highlighting the new folder, e.g. "˜Name-1’, in the left hand pane, the Address Bar above the panes should read "˜D:\Name-1’. If the Address Bar is not visible click on View > Toolbars and click on Address Bar.

 

Move the My Documents folder:

The default location of the My Documents folder is:

C:\Documents and Settings\Name-1\My Documents

The first thing to do is to create a new My Documents folder in D:\Name-1.

Open Windows Explorer.

Navigate to D:\Name-1 and highlight "˜Name-1’ in the left hand pane. Right click in any free space in the right hand pane and from the menu which appears; choose New > Folder > name it "˜My Documents’.

Close Windows Explorer.

Click Start > right click My Documents > click Properties. In the Target Tab (should open in that tab) click Move > click on the + sign next to My Computer > click on the + sign next to D: > click on the + sign next to Name-1 > click on My Documents > OK (window closes) > Apply and when asked if you want all subfolders and contents to be moved, the answer is YES to all > OK.

To verify that the move was successful, click Start > right click My Documents > click Properties and verify that the path to the target is D:\Name-1\My Documents.

Open Windows Explorer.

Navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\Name-1 and highlight "˜Name-1’ in the left hand pane. The subfolder My Documents should no longer be there.

Navigate to D:\Name-1\My Documents and highlight "˜My Documents’ in the left hand pane. The subfolders My Music and My Pictures should be there. (That is for a virgin system but if it has been used, there may be other folders and files too.)

Close Windows Explorer.

You do not have to edit the registry. It is automatically updated to reflect the change.

Restart the computer.

 

Move the Favorites folder:

The default location of the Favorites folder is:

C:\Documents and Settings\Name-1\Favorites

Open Windows Explorer.

Navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\Name-1 and highlight "˜Name-1’ in the left hand pane. In the right hand pane, right click on Favorites and from the menu which appears; choose "˜cut’.

Navigate to D:\Name-1 and highlight "˜Name-1’ in the left hand pane. Right click in any free space in the right hand pane and from the menu which appears; choose "˜paste’.

Highlight "˜Favorites’ in the left hand pane. When it opens the Address Bar should read "˜D:\Name-1\Favorites’. The subfolder Links and a few shortcuts should be there. (That is for a virgin system, but if it has been used there may be other folders too and several shortcuts.)

Navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\Name-1 and highlight "˜Name-1’ in the left hand pane. The subfolder Favorites should no longer be there.

Close Windows Explorer.

You do not have to edit the registry. It is automatically updated to reflect the change.

Restart the computer.

 

Move the Store Folder location for E-mail in Outlook Express:

The default storage location is:

C:\Documents and Settings\Name-1\Local Settings\Application Data \Identities\{GUID}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

where {GUID} is a unique alphanumeric number.

(Moving the Address Book will be handled separately, but you will create the associated new folder now.)

I suggest creating a separate folder with subfolders in D:\Name-1 for these files.

Open Windows Explorer.

Navigate to D:\Name-1 and highlight "˜Name-1’ in the left hand pane. Right click in any free space in the right hand pane and from the menu which appears; choose New > Folder > name it "˜E-mail’.

Highlight "˜E-mail’ in the left hand pane. Right click in any free space in the right hand pane and from the menu which appears; choose New > Folder > name it "˜Outlook Express’.

Right click again in any free space in the right hand pane and from the menu which appears; choose New > Folder > name it "˜Address Book’.

Highlight "˜Outlook Express’ in the left hand pane. The Address Bar above the panes should read "˜D:\Name-1\E-mail\Outlook Express’.

Highlight "˜Address Book’ in the left hand pane. The Address Bar above the panes should read "˜D:\Name-1\E-mail\Address Book’.

Close Windows Explorer. Open Outlook Express.

Click Tools > Options > Maintenance Tab > the Store folder button > Change > click on the + sign next to My Computer > click on the + sign next to D: > click on the + sign next to Name-1 > click on the + sign next to E-mail > click on Outlook Express > OK (window closes) > OK > OK.

Close Outlook Express.

You do not have to edit the registry. It is automatically updated to reflect the change.

Restart the computer.

To verify that the move was successful, open Outlook Express, click Tools > Options > Maintenance Tab > the Store folder button > verify that the path to the target is D:\Name-1\E-mail\Outlook Express.

Close Outlook Express. Open Windows Explorer.

Navigate to:

C:\Documents and Settings\Name-1\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{GUID}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

and highlight "˜Outlook Express’ in the left hand pane. It should be empty.

Navigate to D:\Name-1\E-mail\Outlook Express and highlight "˜Outlook Express’ in the left hand pane. There should be four *.dbx files; folders, inbox, offline and outbox. (If Outlook Express has been used prior to the move, there will be additional files.)

Close Windows Explorer.

 

Move the Address Book:

The Address Book is created by the system the first time the Address Book is opened. If you have not been there, open Outlook Express, open the Address Book and close them both again.

The default location of the Address Book is:

C:\Documents and Settings\Name-1\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book

In this case, you are not moving the folder itself but the two files (Name-1.wab and Name-1.wab~) within it. It is also a bit more complicated since you will have to edit the registry manually.

Before proceeding, learn how to backup and restore the registry in:

How to back up, edit, and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003

To be able to edit the registry, the user account must have administrator privileges. Name-1 should by default have such privileges but Name-2 and other users may not.

To check and (temporarily - do not forget to change back when done) change the privileges, log in to Name-1. Click Start > Control panel > User accounts > Change an account > choose Name-X > Change account type > click the Radio button for "˜Administrator’ > click the Change button > OK and exit your way out. Log out Name-1 and log in to Name-X in order to edit the registry for the correct user account.

In the section Move the Store Folder location for E-mail in Outlook Express you created a new Address Book folder located in D:\Name-1\E-mail\Address Book. (If not, go to that section of the guide and follow the instructions.)

Verify that Outlook Express and the Address Book are closed.

Open Windows Explorer and navigate to:

C:\Documents and Settings\Name-1\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book

and highlight "˜Address Book’ in the left hand pane. In the right hand pane, right click on Name-1.wab and from the menu which appears; choose "˜cut’.

Navigate to D:\Name-1\E-mail\Address Book, and highlight "˜Address Book’ in the left hand pane. Right click in any free space in the right hand pane and from the menu which appears; choose "˜paste’.

Repeat the procedure for the file Name-1.wab~.

Both files can be moved at the same time by ctrl clicking the second file. (Ctrl clicking means hold down the ctrl key on the keyboard and click.) In the right hand pane, first click on Name-1.wab, then ctrl click on Name-1.wab~. Both files should become highlighted. Right click on the files and from the menu which appears; choose "˜cut’. Proceed as outlined above to paste in the new location.

Close Windows Explorer. Do not open Outlook Express or the Address Book!

Now, it is time to edit the registry:

Click Start > Run > type in: regedit > OK > the Registry Editor will open.

If the Registry Editor has never been run, My Computer should be highlighted in the left hand pane. If not, highlight "˜anything’ in the left hand pane and press Shift + Home (at the same time) on the keyboard. My Computer should be highlighted after that. It is important that My Computer is highlighted at the start of a search. If it is not, the search will not start from the beginning of the Registry.
Click Edit > Find and type in: wab file name in the "˜Find what’ dialogue box > click Find next (it will take some time). The search should take you to the key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB\WAB4\Wab File Name

In the right hand pane, right click on the value (Default) > click Modify and the "˜Edit String’ dialogue box appears. The Value data field should read:

C:\Documents and Settings\Name-1\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book\Name-1.wab

Change it to:

D:\Name-1\E-mail\Address Book\Name-1.wab

Highlight "˜anything’ in the left hand pane, press Shift + Home (at the same time) on the keyboard and My Computer should be highlighted.

Close the registry editor and restart the computer.

Open Outlook Express and the Address Book and close both again.

To verify that the move was successful, open Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\Name-1\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book. There should be no files.

Navigate to D:\Name-1\E-mail\Address Book and highlight "˜Address Book’ in the left hand pane. The two files should be there.

(If the edit of the registry should be unsuccessful or if Outlook Express and/or the Address Book were opened before the computer was restarted, the files will get recreated in the original location.)

Close Windows Explorer.

 

Annex 1 - Move the Microsoft Outlook 2002 (Office XP) default storage location:

The default storage location is:

C:\Documents and Settings\Name-1\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

(Windows Explorer must show hidden files and folders to view the "˜Local Settings’ and "˜Application Data’ folders.)

Outlook.pst is the default data base file, containing your E-mails, Contacts, etc. Another file, archive.pst, will get created the first time messages are sent to the Archive. (The default setting is to not automatically send to the Archive.)

If you have moved the Store Folder location for E-mail in Outlook Express, then you have already created the folder D:\Name-1\E-mail. (If not, go to that section of the guide and follow the instructions.)

Open Windows Explorer.

Navigate to D:\Name-1\E-mail and highlight "˜E-mail’ in the left hand pane. Right click in any free space in the right hand pane and from the menu which appears; choose New > Folder > name it "˜Microsoft Outlook’.

Highlight "˜Microsoft Outlook’ in the left hand pane. When it opens the Address Bar should read "˜D:\Name-1\E-mail\Microsoft Outlook’.

Navigate to:

C:\Documents and Settings\Name-1\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

and highlight "˜Outlook’ in the left hand pane. In the right hand pane, right click on Outlook.pst and from the menu which appears; choose "˜copy’. (Do not choose "˜cut’. If you do, Microsoft Outlook will not be able to start properly.)

Navigate to D:\Name-1\E-mail\Microsoft Outlook and highlight "˜Microsoft Outlook’ in the left hand pane. Right click in any free space in the right hand pane and from the menu which appears; choose "˜paste’.

Close Windows Explorer.

Open Microsoft Outlook. (A popup may appear, asking if you want to make Microsoft Outlook the default E-mail client. If it does, make your choice.)

Click Tools > Options > Mail Setup Tab > the E-mail accounts button (even if no account has been specified) > choose "˜View or change existing E-mail accounts’ > click Next > the New Outlook data file button > choose "˜Personal Folders file (.pst)’ > click OK.

In the new window, click the "˜down arrow’ button to get a drop down menu which when it opens will display the default location. Click on D: > double click on Name-1 > double click on E-mail > double click on Microsoft Outlook > click on Outlook.pst > click OK > type in: ‘Name-1’ in the Name field > click Apply > OK.

You have returned to "˜E-mail accounts’ > click the "˜down arrow’ button under "˜Deliver new E-mail to the following location’ and choose "˜Name-1’ > Finish.

Read the popup window and click OK > OK.

Close and reopen Microsoft Outlook.

Read the popup window and click OK.

Click Tools > Options > Mail Setup Tab > the Data files button > click on the default (old) location > the Remove button > OK > Close > OK.

To move the location of the archive.pst file to the same location as the Outlook.pst file, click Tools > Options > Other Tab > the Archive "¦ button > the Browse button > the "˜down arrow’ button to get a drop down menu which when it opens will display the default location. Click on D: > double click on Name-1 > double click on E-mail > double click on Microsoft Outlook > OK > OK > OK.

There is a second route to "˜Archive’, click File > Archive "¦ > check that the path is D:\Name-1\E-mail\Microsoft Outlook. If not, click the Browse button and proceed as above.

If it was not the same location but the default location, is an indication that a file archive.pst exists in the default location. Microsoft Outlook has been used and messages have been sent to the "˜Archive’. The file archive.pst has to be moved to the new location in order not to lose the "˜Archive’.

Close Microsoft Outlook.

Open Windows Explorer, there are two things to do; delete the original Outlook.pst and check for archive.pst.

Navigate to:

C:\Documents and Settings\Name-1\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

and highlight "˜Outlook’ in the left hand pane. In the right hand pane, right click on Outlook.pst and from the menu which appears; choose "˜delete’.

If there is an archive.pst file, right click on it and from the menu which appears; choose "˜cut’.

Navigate to D:\Name-1\E-mail\Microsoft Outlook and highlight "˜Microsoft Outlook’ in the left hand pane. Right click in any free space in the right hand pane and from the menu which appears; choose "˜paste’.

Close Windows Explorer.

 

Annex 2 - Create new profiles in Mozilla Firefox and Mozilla Thunderbird:

The folders and files associated with Firefox and Thunderbird are not moved from the default location. The first time the programs are run, a default profile is created in:

C:\Documents and Settings\Name-1\Application Data\ "¦

(Windows Explorer must show hidden files and folders to view the "˜Application Data’ folder.)

I suggest leaving the default profiles alone and creating new profiles in the desired location. (Only ~3 MB disk space is wasted.)

Open Windows Explorer.

Navigate to D:\Name-1 and highlight "˜Name-1’ in the left hand pane. Right click in any free space in the right hand pane and from the menu which appears; choose New > Folder > name it "˜Mozilla’.

Highlight "˜Mozilla’ in the left hand pane. Right click in any free space in the right hand pane and from the menu which appears; choose New > Folder > name it "˜Firefox’.

Right click again in any free space in the right hand pane and from the menu which appears; choose New > Folder > name it "˜Thunderbird’.

Highlight "˜Firefox’ in the left hand pane. The Address Bar above the panes should read "˜D:\Name-1\Mozilla\Firefox’.

Highlight "˜Thunderbird’ in the left hand pane. The Address Bar above the panes should read "˜D:\Name-1\Mozilla\Thunderbird’.

Close Windows Explorer.

Firefox:

Install Firefox, when finished, start the program. (A popup may appear, asking if you want to make Firefox the default browser. If it does, make your choice.) Follow any prompts but do not import anything from anywhere (it would end up in the default profile that you do not want to use and only waste disk space) and do not configure anything at all (it would be wasted time). Close Firefox.

To create the profile you want to use, click Start > Run > type in:

firefox.exe -profilemanager > OK.

The Profile manager will open and there should be a single profile (default). Leave it alone!

Click Create profile > Next > change the profile name to "˜Name-1’ > click Choose folder > click on the + sign next to My Computer > click on the + sign next to D: > click on the + sign next to Name-1 > click on the + sign next to Mozilla > click on Firefox > OK (window closes) > Finish.

In the "˜Choose User Profile’ dialogue box highlight "˜Name-1’ > check the box "˜Don’t ask ... "˜ > click Start Firefox. Follow any prompts to configure the browser.

Thunderbird:

Install Thunderbird, when finished, start the program. (A popup may appear, asking if you want to make Thunderbird the default E-mail client. If it does, make your choice.) Follow any prompts but do not import anything from anywhere (it would end up in the default profile that you do not want to use and only waste disk space) and do not configure anything at all (it would be wasted time). Close Thunderbird.

To create the profile you want to use, click Start > Run > type in:

thunderbird.exe -profilemanager > OK.

The Profile manager will open and there should be a single profile (default). Leave it alone!

Click Create profile > Next > change the profile name to "˜Name-1’ > click Choose folder > click on the + sign next to My Computer > click on the + sign next to D: > click on the + sign next to Name-1 > click on the + sign next to Mozilla > click on Thunderbird > OK (window closes) > Finish.

In the "˜Choose User Profile’ dialogue box highlight "˜Name-1’ > check the box "˜Don’t ask ... "˜ > click Start Firefox. Follow any prompts to configure the E-mail client.

Multiple users:

Firefox and Thunderbird do not have to be installed separately for each user but the procedure of creating new profiles has to be repeated for each user, logged in to the respective user account.

 

Considerations regarding backups:

Backup utilities like Replicator can be configured to run specific jobs, either scheduled or manually. A job specifies a source folder and a destination folder. The job can include all subfolders but not exclude certain subfolders.

The My Documents folder will grow with a lot of documents, pictures and music. Sooner or later, it will take some time to backup everything and moving some of the folders out from the My Documents folder may be a good idea. That would make it possible to backup "office documents" separately, not including all pictures and all music.

These two folders are examples and if you want to move them out from the My Documents folder, after moving the My Documents folder from C: to D:, follow the procedure in Move the Favorites folder to move them from D:\Name-1\My Documents to D:\Name-1\.

Christer

 

Note to users of imaging software:

I use Norton Ghost for backing up the system partition. When I for some reason restore an image, the sort order of the Favorites may get messed up. This depends on whether favorites have been added since the image to be restored was created or not. With the Favorites folder in its default location, this would not be an issue since new favorites would be lost in the image restore process.

There is a key in the registry that acts as a "connection" between the D:\Favorites folder and what appears on the screen in Internet Explorer.

What happens is that this key in the registry and the D:\Favorites folder get out of synchronization. The key reflects the sort order of favorites as they were when the image was created. In Internet Explorer, added favorites without any reference in that key, will be sorted last in the Favorites folder or respective sub folder.

The solution is to export that key prior to restoring an image and importing it back after restoring the image.

To export the key, open the Registry Editor; Start > Run > type in: regedit > OK > and navigate to

Code:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MenuOrder\Favorites

and highlight Favorites in the left hand pane.

Click on File > Export > and in the dialog that appears, name the file MenuOrderFavorites and choose the location to to save it in > click on Save. (The file name is not important, it can be named anything but my choice is descriptive.)

When the image has been restored, to import the key back, find it and double click on it. Confirm that you want to add the information to the registry and when done click on OK.

Remember that this reg-file has an expiry date. It gets outdated as soon as you make any change to the Favorites, adding one or changing the sort order. When the procedure is completed, you might as well delete the reg-file.

For more words on this, read the discussion Where does IE "store" the Favorites sort order?

Christer

 

I received a PM from Terry and I share it including my response with the rest of you: