Setting User folder location during Install

**Cybs** · 06-09-11, 11:47 PM

I know this can be done because I did it the last time I reinstalled my Win 7 machine.

During installing Windows 7, there is a way to get to a screen to set the location of the user folders (To set them up on a different drive for example) BEFORE you log in for the first time. Anyone know how to do it?

**Phyrelight** · 06-10-11, 11:11 AM

it can be done with registry edits but I am not aware of a setting while installing windows 7 to set that option. I have only ever done it after the installation of the OS from the main administrator account. It does apply the settings to all profiles/user accounts that are created after that though. Not sure if that is what you are looking for?

**Cybs** · 06-10-11, 01:08 PM

Nevermind, I FOUND IT! You have to go into Audit mode. Full details here: Relocate user folders during Windows 7 installation « Windows 7 is easy!

**Phyrelight** · 06-10-11, 01:39 PM

very nice, I do imaging for a living and I didn't know that. Its now bookmarked and I will play around with it. Unfortunately we only order our systems with a single drive so it's not useful for work related stuff but I would like to do this at home.

**h7g6f5** · 06-10-11, 03:27 PM

If you really wanted to try something and its not hard to set up. Granted that you have an AD controller, v-filer, etc... You could set up a GPO; set to do folder redirection.

Respectfully,
h7g6f5

**Phyrelight** · 06-10-11, 04:15 PM

We have all that but we order our business systems with a single 250GB 7200RPM SATA drive. So there is nowhere to redirect it to. Once we finish upgrading the infrastructure across campus to gigabit (lots of cat 3 at the moment) we will be looking at implementing roaming profiles.

Currently we use AD and GPO to redirect my documents to a personal network drive. We also assign security groups by GPO. Soon default printers will be done the same way. Its a process

**h7g6f5** · 06-10-11, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Phyrelight

We have all that but we order our business systems with a single 250GB 7200RPM SATA drive. So there is nowhere to redirect it to. Once we finish upgrading the infrastructure across campus to gigabit (lots of cat 3 at the moment) we will be looking at implementing roaming profiles.

Currently we use AD and GPO to redirect my documents to a personal network drive. We also assign security groups by GPO. Soon default printers will be done the same way. Its a process

I would advise not using roaming profiles stick with folder redirection...

Also, why not redirect everything User app_data, desktop, my_doc. Since, you all already redirecting My_docs?

Respectfully,
h7g6f5

**Phyrelight** · 06-10-11, 04:29 PM

because with 2200 users that we support that would require more than the current strorage allotment they pay for (they are about 150GB from a full departmental drive as it is). If they want to pay for a couple TB more of storage we can talk about it. For now they have a departmental shared drive for work related material and a personal drive with 3GB limit for their PST file and mydocuments redirect.

The mentality at this level is to save anything and everything. You don't need that coupon email from 5 years ago. Delete it! but they don't they think they have to save everything. So we have space caps and make them pay for every TB they need over it.

**h7g6f5** · 06-10-11, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by Phyrelight

because with 2200 users that we support that would require more than the current strorage allotment they pay for (they are about 150GB from a full departmental drive as it is). If they want to pay for a couple TB more of storage we can talk about it. For now they have a departmental shared drive for work related material and a personal drive with 3GB limit for their PST file and mydocuments redirect.

The mentality at this level is to save anything and everything. You don't need that coupon email from 5 years ago. Delete it! but they don't they think they have to save everything. So we have space caps and make them pay for every TB they need over it.

K, I see. I know the feeling though its expensive as hell. People, just don't release that the drive they see on newegg for $100. Is not the same thing in a server blade... Hear you on that people save every god dam email on the planet they receive. Just delete it..... LOl...
It's worse when people start storing photos. They have pictures since the dawn of time. Plus, they never use them...

Respectfully,
h7g6f5

**Phyrelight** · 06-10-11, 04:41 PM

what kills us is that since we remap mydocs and the people we take care of are all admins on their machines......well the latest craze is ipad. What happens when you install itunes? The default itunes library ends up on your mydocs which in turn end up on the network share. Then they synch their Ipad they brought from home with 20GB of music on it. Then all the sudden Their drives are full and they scream like the sky is falling. duh.