Windows Vista Forums
Vista Forums Home Join Vista Forums Windows 7 Forum Vista Tutorials Tags
Welcome to Windows Vista Forums. Our forum is dedicated to helping you find solutions with any problems, errors or issues you are experiencing with Windows Vista. The Vista forum also covers news and updates and has an extensive Windows Vista tutorial section that covers a wide range of tips and tricks.

Go Back   Vista Forums > Vista Newsgroups > Vista General

Vista Tutorial - Moving data to separate drive

Reply
 
Old 11-18-2007   #1 (permalink)
dmart
Guest


 
 

Moving data to separate drive

My brand new laptop has its large single disk partitioned into C and D
with the operating system and user folders on C. I want some of the
user folders (eg. documents, pictures, music) to point to D and store
the data there. I've seen plenty of posts on ways to do this in VISTA
- including Ed Bott's - but all have failed on my system.

My attempts result in one or more problems:
- end up with two folders with the same name under user folders in C
- no connection to data in D
- worst of all, "Local Disk D" ends up as a user folder under C!

I even installed Tweak VI and used that - but it failed too.

I've seen a few other posts with the same problem, but no solution.
Any new ideas?



My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 11-18-2007   #2 (permalink)
Administrator


Join Date: Apr 2007
Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64
 
 

Re: Moving data to separate drive

Quote  Quote: Originally Posted by dmart View Post
My brand new laptop has its large single disk partitioned into C and D
with the operating system and user folders on C. I want some of the
user folders (eg. documents, pictures, music) to point to D and store
the data there. I've seen plenty of posts on ways to do this in VISTA
- including Ed Bott's - but all have failed on my system.

My attempts result in one or more problems:
- end up with two folders with the same name under user folders in C
- no connection to data in D
- worst of all, "Local Disk D" ends up as a user folder under C!

I even installed Tweak VI and used that - but it failed too.

I've seen a few other posts with the same problem, but no solution.
Any new ideas?
Hi Dmart,

Having the personal user folders point to another location has always been temperamental. I always just created a folder in the new location and placed a shortcut to it in the personal user folder. That way everything is stored in the new location with access to it from the personal user folder to. It's not the same, but it works a lot better.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 11-18-2007   #3 (permalink)
Pavel
Guest


 
 

Re: Moving data to separate drive

When you select to move any one of the USER folders to another area, you
will be prompted to MOVE or not. The box will contain warning that if you
choose not to MOVE, you will end up with two entries.

--
Pavel



"dmart" <dmart7@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:c6577170-a2e3-46a6-a882-86513bd2f9f3@xxxxxx
Quote:

> My brand new laptop has its large single disk partitioned into C and D
> with the operating system and user folders on C. I want some of the
> user folders (eg. documents, pictures, music) to point to D and store
> the data there. I've seen plenty of posts on ways to do this in VISTA
> - including Ed Bott's - but all have failed on my system.
>
> My attempts result in one or more problems:
> - end up with two folders with the same name under user folders in C
> - no connection to data in D
> - worst of all, "Local Disk D" ends up as a user folder under C!
>
> I even installed Tweak VI and used that - but it failed too.
>
> I've seen a few other posts with the same problem, but no solution.
> Any new ideas?
>
>
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 11-18-2007   #4 (permalink)
dmart
Guest


 
 

Re: Moving data to separate drive

Pavel

Yes, I understood that. But even if when avoided the double copy, I
ended up with "Local Disk D" inside my personal folder on C!

Thanks anyway

David M

On 18 Nov, 17:45, "Pavel" <Ati...@xxxxxx> wrote:
Quote:

> When you select to move any one of the USER folders to another area, you
> will be prompted to MOVE or not. The box will contain warning that if you
> choose not to MOVE, you will end up with two entries.
>
> --
> Pavel
>
> "dmart" <dma...@xxxxxx> wrote in message
>
> news:c6577170-a2e3-46a6-a882-86513bd2f9f3@xxxxxx
>
>
>
Quote:

> > My brand new laptop has its large single disk partitioned into C and D
> > with the operating system and user folders on C. I want some of the
> > user folders (eg. documents, pictures, music) to point to D and store
> > the data there. I've seen plenty of posts on ways to do this in VISTA
> > - including Ed Bott's - but all have failed on my system.
>
Quote:

> > My attempts result in one or more problems:
> > - end up with two folders with the same name under user folders in C
> > - no connection to data in D
> > - worst of all, "Local Disk D" ends up as a user folder under C!
>
Quote:

> > I even installed Tweak VI and used that - but it failed too.
>
Quote:

> > I've seen a few other posts with the same problem, but no solution.
> > Any new ideas?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 11-18-2007   #5 (permalink)
Mick Murphy
Guest


 
 

RE: Moving data to separate drive

You say it is a brand new computer. I have to assume Vista pre-installed as
you don't say which way it is installed.
You don't give the G size of the Partitions.

"D" could be the Vista Recovery Partition installed by the computer
manufacturer, in the event of an OS failure.

If that is the case, don't touch it.


"dmart" wrote:
Quote:

> My brand new laptop has its large single disk partitioned into C and D
> with the operating system and user folders on C. I want some of the
> user folders (eg. documents, pictures, music) to point to D and store
> the data there. I've seen plenty of posts on ways to do this in VISTA
> - including Ed Bott's - but all have failed on my system.
>
> My attempts result in one or more problems:
> - end up with two folders with the same name under user folders in C
> - no connection to data in D
> - worst of all, "Local Disk D" ends up as a user folder under C!
>
> I even installed Tweak VI and used that - but it failed too.
>
> I've seen a few other posts with the same problem, but no solution.
> Any new ideas?
>
>
>
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 11-18-2007   #6 (permalink)
dmart
Guest


 
 

Re: Moving data to separate drive

This is a pretty standard install. Vista is on C, which is 69Gb. D is
same size and available for data. (There is a 10Gb hidden recovery
partition but that is quite separate from C and D.)

David M

On 18 Nov, 20:42, Mick Murphy <MickMur...@xxxxxx>
wrote:
Quote:

> You say it is a brand new computer. I have to assume Vista pre-installed as
> you don't say which way it is installed.
> You don't give the G size of the Partitions.
>
> "D" could be the Vista Recovery Partition installed by the computer
> manufacturer, in the event of an OS failure.
>
> If that is the case, don't touch it.
>
>
>
> "dmart" wrote:
Quote:

> > My brand new laptop has its large single disk partitioned into C and D
> > with the operating system and user folders on C. I want some of the
> > user folders (eg. documents, pictures, music) to point to D and store
> > the data there. I've seen plenty of posts on ways to do this in VISTA
> > - including Ed Bott's - but all have failed on my system.
>
Quote:

> > My attempts result in one or more problems:
> > - end up with two folders with the same name under user folders in C
> > - no connection to data in D
> > - worst of all, "Local Disk D" ends up as a user folder under C!
>
Quote:

> > I even installed Tweak VI and used that - but it failed too.
>
Quote:

> > I've seen a few other posts with the same problem, but no solution.
> > Any new ideas?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 11-18-2007   #7 (permalink)
andy
Guest


 
 

Re: Moving data to separate drive

Use MKLINK to create directory junction points.

C:\Users\andy>dir
Volume in drive C is Vista x32
Volume Serial Number is B09E-7BCA

Directory of C:\Users\andy

11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> .
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> ..
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Contacts
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Desktop
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Documents
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Downloads
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Favorites
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Links
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Music
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Pictures
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Saved Games
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Searches
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Videos
0 File(s) 0 bytes
13 Dir(s) 24,099,205,120 bytes free

After moving Videos to G:

C:\Users\andy>dir
Volume in drive C is Vista x32
Volume Serial Number is B09E-7BCA

Directory of C:\Users\andy

11/18/2007 04:39 PM <DIR> .
11/18/2007 04:39 PM <DIR> ..
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Contacts
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Desktop
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Documents
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Downloads
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Favorites
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Links
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Music
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Pictures
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Saved Games
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Searches
0 File(s) 0 bytes
12 Dir(s) 23,779,938,304 bytes free

C:\Users\andy>dir g:
Volume in drive G is Data
Volume Serial Number is DA72-BF06

Directory of G:\

11/18/2007 04:38 PM <DIR> Videos
0 File(s) 0 bytes
1 Dir(s) 41,847,848,960 bytes free

C:\Users\andy>mklink /j Videos g:\Videos
Junction created for Videos <<===>> g:\Videos

C:\Users\andy>dir
Volume in drive C is Vista x32
Volume Serial Number is B09E-7BCA

Directory of C:\Users\andy

11/18/2007 04:44 PM <DIR> .
11/18/2007 04:44 PM <DIR> ..
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Contacts
11/18/2007 04:40 PM <DIR> Desktop
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Documents
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Downloads
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Favorites
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Links
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Music
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Pictures
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Saved Games
11/14/2007 12:46 AM <DIR> Searches
11/18/2007 04:44 PM <JUNCTION> Videos [g:\Videos]
0 File(s) 0 bytes
13 Dir(s) 23,779,102,720 bytes free

C:\Users\andy>

On Sun, 18 Nov 2007 08:05:00 -0800 (PST), dmart <dmart7@xxxxxx>
wrote:
Quote:

>My brand new laptop has its large single disk partitioned into C and D
>with the operating system and user folders on C. I want some of the
>user folders (eg. documents, pictures, music) to point to D and store
>the data there. I've seen plenty of posts on ways to do this in VISTA
>- including Ed Bott's - but all have failed on my system.
>
>My attempts result in one or more problems:
>- end up with two folders with the same name under user folders in C
>- no connection to data in D
>- worst of all, "Local Disk D" ends up as a user folder under C!
>
>I even installed Tweak VI and used that - but it failed too.
>
>I've seen a few other posts with the same problem, but no solution.
>Any new ideas?
>
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Reply

Thread Tools


Similar Threads
Thread Forum
Moving Applications To A Separate Partition Vista General
Vista set up - separate directory for user data Vista installation & setup
Moving data from XP HD to Vista Vista installation & setup
storing all data files on a separate partition with Windows Vista Vista General
Best way to separate OS/programs from user data? Vista account administration


Vista Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized,
sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation.
"Windows Vista", the Start Orb, and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
© Designer Media Ltd

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46