Alexander On Sat 25 June 2005, 02:30:34 +1000, you wrote: >> profile home. On Windows 2K and higher for example, that's c:\documents >> and settings\username\. > > Sidenote: it is a nuisance. Why on earth that folder can't be easily moved > after installing Windows is completely beyound my comprehension. I'm close > to re-installing windows and putting the entire profile folder onto a > different partition.
It can't be moved easily, but it can be moved. Here is a Microsoft Knowledge Base article that addresses it. ,----- [ Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 236621 ] | | Cannot Move or Rename the Documents and Settings Folder | | Applies To | This article was previously published under Q236621 | IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the | registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and | make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem | occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the | registry, click the following article number to view the article in the | Microsoft Knowledge Base: | 256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry | | SYMPTOMS | If you try to move or rename the "Documents and Settings" folder in | Windows, you receive the following error message: | "Documents and Settings is a Windows system folder and is required for | Windows to run properly. It cannot be moved or renamed." | | CAUSE | This behavior is by design. | | RESOLUTION | To specify a different folder for the "Documents and Settings" folder | during installation, follow these steps: | Use the /UNATTEND switch with Winnt.exe or Winnt32.exe and insert the | following entry into the Unattend.txt file, where z:\foldername is the | path and folder name you want: | | [GuiUNattended] | ProfilesDir = z:\foldername | | Install Windows. The path you included in the Unattend.txt file is used | instead of the default "Documents and Settings" folder. | For additional information about unattended setup of Windows 2000, click | the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge | Base: | 183245 Windows 2000 Unattended Setup Parameters | | MORE INFORMATION | NOTE: The following section provides information about a configuration | that Microsoft does not support. We provide this information for | informational purposes only; Microsoft makes no guarantee that this | configuration functions properly. | | WARNING: Microsoft strongly recommends against renaming any system | folder. Catastrophic system failure or an unstable computer could result | if you rename system folders. If implemented, a backup should be made of | the system before attempting this procedure. | | To rename or move the "Documents and Settings" folder, use the | appropriate method. | | User-specific | WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious | problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. | Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from | using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk. | | NOTE: This method does not relocate key Windows components. Use this | method if you require only user-specific data to be moved. | | To specify a different folder for the "Documents and Settings" folder | after you install Windows for a particular user, follow these steps: | Identify the user's profile path. There are two methods to identify the | profile path. Either by user path settings or user SID. The user SID | method is preferred. | | User SID method | Use the GETSID tool from the Windows Server Resource Kit to obtain the | SID. Use syntax similar to the following example: | | GETSID \\SERVER1 UserName \\SERVER1 UserName | | Once you obtain the SID, use Regedit.exe or Regedt32.exe to select the | user's SID under the following registry key: | | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList | | User path setting | Log on to the computer as the user, and then type SET at a command | prompt. Note the setting for USERPROFILE, and then close the command | prompt window. | Log on as an administrator of the computer. | Use Registry Editor to add the USERPROFILE setting to the following | registry key: | | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList | | Click the registry key, and then click Find on the Edit menu. | In the Find box, type the value of the USERPROFILE setting, and then | click Find Next. | Change the ProfileImagePath value to use the new path you want in the | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList | registry key. | Close Registry Editor, and then log on as the user. Type SET at the | command prompt to verify the path has changed. | | Entire Folder | NOTE: This method relocates key Windows components. Use this method only | if you require the "Documents and Settings" folder to be moved or | renamed and you cannot use the Unattend.txt file to change the name | during installation. | | To specify a different folder for the entire "Documents and Settings" | folder, including key system components, follow these steps: | Log on to the computer as an administrator. | Create a new folder. | Open the current "Documents and Settings" folder. | On the Tools menu, click Folder Options, and then click the View tab. | Under Advanced settings click Show hidden files and folders, and then | click to clear the Hide file extensions for known file types and Hide | protected operating system files check boxes. | Click OK. | Click and drag to copy all the folders to the new folder, except for the | currently logged on users folder. | In Control Panel, double-click System, and then click the User Profiles | tab. | Copy the current user's profile to the new folder. | Click OK, close Control Panel, and then log off and log on to the | computer as an administrator again. | In Registry Editor, click Find on the Edit menu. | Type documents and settings, and then click Find. | Replace the value data or rename the value or registry key to the new | path for each and every registry key and value that contains the | original path.NOTE: You must complete this change for every instance in | the registry or your computer may not start. It is imperative that you | update all registry keys and values with the new path. | Restart the computer. | You can now safely remove the original "Documents and Settings" folder. | | The information in this article applies to: | Microsoft Windows 2000 Server | Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server | Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional | Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server | | Last Reviewed: 5/14/2003 (2.0) | Keywords: kberrmsg kbprb kbui KB236621 `----- -- Robin Using The Bat! v3.0.1.33 on Windows XP 5.1 Build 2600 Service Pack 2 ________________________________________________ Current version is 3.5.25 | 'Using TBUDL' information: http://www.silverstones.com/thebat/TBUDLInfo.html
