Change location of user folders through cmd or PowerShell?
I often re-install Windows on my PC, and store all my user files on a dedicated drive, say D:.
Every time I do this, I have to manually go to C:Users<username>, right-click on every single folder (and some subfolders like AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsStart MenuPrograms) and change their location as shown below:
To make this easier, I want to write a .bat or .ps1 script that does this automatically. Is there a built-in cmdlet that lets me do this?
windows windows-10 command-line powershell cmd.exe
asked Jun 15 '17 at 20:26
iFreilichtiFreilicht
1811212
add a comment |
I often re-install Windows on my PC, and store all my user files on a dedicated drive, say D:.
Every time I do this, I have to manually go to C:Users<username>, right-click on every single folder (and some subfolders like AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsStart MenuPrograms) and change their location as shown below:
To make this easier, I want to write a .bat or .ps1 script that does this automatically. Is there a built-in cmdlet that lets me do this?
windows windows-10 command-line powershell cmd.exe
asked Jun 15 '17 at 20:26
iFreilichtiFreilicht
1811212
1
See this Q&A at StackOverflow
– LotPings
Jun 15 '17 at 22:03
Also see: social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/scriptcenter/en-US/… and helgeklein.com/blog/2015/02/… for some more detail about this task.
– Pimp Juice IT
Jun 16 '17 at 1:59
@McDonald's I think that script is much less safe as it purely modifies the registry entries. The answer LotPings linked is relying on API that is supported and maintained.
– iFreilicht
Jun 19 '17 at 8:42
Those can be easily done with registry. I.e. reg command.
– Biswapriyo
Jun 19 '17 at 12:44
add a comment |
I often re-install Windows on my PC, and store all my user files on a dedicated drive, say D:.
Every time I do this, I have to manually go to C:Users<username>, right-click on every single folder (and some subfolders like AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsStart MenuPrograms) and change their location as shown below:
To make this easier, I want to write a .bat or .ps1 script that does this automatically. Is there a built-in cmdlet that lets me do this?
windows windows-10 command-line powershell cmd.exe
asked Jun 15 '17 at 20:26
iFreilichtiFreilicht
1811212
I often re-install Windows on my PC, and store all my user files on a dedicated drive, say D:.
Every time I do this, I have to manually go to C:Users<username>, right-click on every single folder (and some subfolders like AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsStart MenuPrograms) and change their location as shown below:
To make this easier, I want to write a .bat or .ps1 script that does this automatically. Is there a built-in cmdlet that lets me do this?
windows windows-10 command-line powershell cmd.exe
windows windows-10 command-line powershell cmd.exe
asked Jun 15 '17 at 20:26
iFreilichtiFreilicht
1811212
asked Jun 15 '17 at 20:26
iFreilichtiFreilicht
1811212
asked Jun 15 '17 at 20:26
iFreilichtiFreilicht
1811212
asked Jun 15 '17 at 20:26
iFreilichtiFreilicht
1811212
asked Jun 15 '17 at 20:26
iFreilichtiFreilicht
1811212
1811212
1
See this Q&A at StackOverflow
– LotPings
Jun 15 '17 at 22:03
Also see: social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/scriptcenter/en-US/… and helgeklein.com/blog/2015/02/… for some more detail about this task.
– Pimp Juice IT
Jun 16 '17 at 1:59
@McDonald's I think that script is much less safe as it purely modifies the registry entries. The answer LotPings linked is relying on API that is supported and maintained.
– iFreilicht
Jun 19 '17 at 8:42
Those can be easily done with registry. I.e. reg command.
– Biswapriyo
Jun 19 '17 at 12:44
add a comment |
1
See this Q&A at StackOverflow
– LotPings
Jun 15 '17 at 22:03
Also see: social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/scriptcenter/en-US/… and helgeklein.com/blog/2015/02/… for some more detail about this task.
– Pimp Juice IT
Jun 16 '17 at 1:59
@McDonald's I think that script is much less safe as it purely modifies the registry entries. The answer LotPings linked is relying on API that is supported and maintained.
– iFreilicht
Jun 19 '17 at 8:42
Those can be easily done with registry. I.e. reg command.
– Biswapriyo
Jun 19 '17 at 12:44
1
1
See this Q&A at StackOverflow
– LotPings
Jun 15 '17 at 22:03
See this Q&A at StackOverflow
– LotPings
Jun 15 '17 at 22:03
Also see: social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/scriptcenter/en-US/… and helgeklein.com/blog/2015/02/… for some more detail about this task.
– Pimp Juice IT
Jun 16 '17 at 1:59
Also see: social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/scriptcenter/en-US/… and helgeklein.com/blog/2015/02/… for some more detail about this task.
– Pimp Juice IT
Jun 16 '17 at 1:59
@McDonald's I think that script is much less safe as it purely modifies the registry entries. The answer LotPings linked is relying on API that is supported and maintained.
– iFreilicht
Jun 19 '17 at 8:42
@McDonald's I think that script is much less safe as it purely modifies the registry entries. The answer LotPings linked is relying on API that is supported and maintained.
– iFreilicht
Jun 19 '17 at 8:42
Those can be easily done with registry. I.e. reg command.
– Biswapriyo
Jun 19 '17 at 12:44
Those can be easily done with registry. I.e. reg command.
– Biswapriyo
Jun 19 '17 at 12:44
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
There is no built in cmdlet to do this, as it is absolutely unsupported, and can break your modern applications. Read: Your start menu, cortana, and more.
There is a registry key to redirect profiles, but I would not advise using it.
Reference the ProfilesDirectory key on MSDN, which does this as well. You put a path here, and it moves your profile there. Definitely not recommended, though.
Read "Important usage notes"
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/customize/desktop/unattend/microsoft-windows-shell-setup-folderlocations-profilesdirectory
If you just want to back it up, you could use
copy-item C:usersusernamefolder D:usersusernamefolder
This would copy all contents of the folder on C: to the folder on D:
Do not copy appdata from your profile, you'll have a bad time when you re-import it.
answered Jun 16 '17 at 19:19
Charlie CCharlie C
863
I don't think you are correct in saying this is unsupported. As I have shown in my question, Windows has built-in UI for this for some special folders. Of course, I can not change the location of my usersappdatafolder that easily, but for most folders in the user directory, this works perfectly fine. This has been a feature in Windows since at least Windows 7 if not Vista or even XP.
– iFreilicht
Jun 19 '17 at 8:40
You are correct that moving %appdata% is a bad idea. Microsoft has never officially supported the redirection of profiles as a whole. Redirecting your profile can break some or all of your modern applications due to the user-state installation not being valid for a new build if the machine is ever imaged. I would recommend mirroring out to a removable or separate drive I'd recommend McDonald's answer to you, but it looks like you're set on using the SHSetKnown function. Check the script before you apply it. It contains profile redirection, which will include %appdata%.
– Charlie C
Jun 22 '17 at 12:45
add a comment |
Is this what you're looking for?
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/25709398/set-location-of-special-folders-with-powershell
It shows how to set locations for special folders, like documents, downloads etc.
answered Jul 5 '17 at 8:44
Tommy BråthenTommy Bråthen
11
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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There is no built in cmdlet to do this, as it is absolutely unsupported, and can break your modern applications. Read: Your start menu, cortana, and more.
There is a registry key to redirect profiles, but I would not advise using it.
Reference the ProfilesDirectory key on MSDN, which does this as well. You put a path here, and it moves your profile there. Definitely not recommended, though.
Read "Important usage notes"
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/customize/desktop/unattend/microsoft-windows-shell-setup-folderlocations-profilesdirectory
If you just want to back it up, you could use
copy-item C:usersusernamefolder D:usersusernamefolder
This would copy all contents of the folder on C: to the folder on D:
Do not copy appdata from your profile, you'll have a bad time when you re-import it.
answered Jun 16 '17 at 19:19
Charlie CCharlie C
863
I don't think you are correct in saying this is unsupported. As I have shown in my question, Windows has built-in UI for this for some special folders. Of course, I can not change the location of my usersappdatafolder that easily, but for most folders in the user directory, this works perfectly fine. This has been a feature in Windows since at least Windows 7 if not Vista or even XP.
– iFreilicht
Jun 19 '17 at 8:40
You are correct that moving %appdata% is a bad idea. Microsoft has never officially supported the redirection of profiles as a whole. Redirecting your profile can break some or all of your modern applications due to the user-state installation not being valid for a new build if the machine is ever imaged. I would recommend mirroring out to a removable or separate drive I'd recommend McDonald's answer to you, but it looks like you're set on using the SHSetKnown function. Check the script before you apply it. It contains profile redirection, which will include %appdata%.
– Charlie C
Jun 22 '17 at 12:45
add a comment |
There is no built in cmdlet to do this, as it is absolutely unsupported, and can break your modern applications. Read: Your start menu, cortana, and more.
There is a registry key to redirect profiles, but I would not advise using it.
Reference the ProfilesDirectory key on MSDN, which does this as well. You put a path here, and it moves your profile there. Definitely not recommended, though.
Read "Important usage notes"
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/customize/desktop/unattend/microsoft-windows-shell-setup-folderlocations-profilesdirectory
If you just want to back it up, you could use
copy-item C:usersusernamefolder D:usersusernamefolder
This would copy all contents of the folder on C: to the folder on D:
Do not copy appdata from your profile, you'll have a bad time when you re-import it.
answered Jun 16 '17 at 19:19
Charlie CCharlie C
863
I don't think you are correct in saying this is unsupported. As I have shown in my question, Windows has built-in UI for this for some special folders. Of course, I can not change the location of my usersappdatafolder that easily, but for most folders in the user directory, this works perfectly fine. This has been a feature in Windows since at least Windows 7 if not Vista or even XP.
– iFreilicht
Jun 19 '17 at 8:40
You are correct that moving %appdata% is a bad idea. Microsoft has never officially supported the redirection of profiles as a whole. Redirecting your profile can break some or all of your modern applications due to the user-state installation not being valid for a new build if the machine is ever imaged. I would recommend mirroring out to a removable or separate drive I'd recommend McDonald's answer to you, but it looks like you're set on using the SHSetKnown function. Check the script before you apply it. It contains profile redirection, which will include %appdata%.
– Charlie C
Jun 22 '17 at 12:45
add a comment |
There is no built in cmdlet to do this, as it is absolutely unsupported, and can break your modern applications. Read: Your start menu, cortana, and more.
There is a registry key to redirect profiles, but I would not advise using it.
Reference the ProfilesDirectory key on MSDN, which does this as well. You put a path here, and it moves your profile there. Definitely not recommended, though.
Read "Important usage notes"
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/customize/desktop/unattend/microsoft-windows-shell-setup-folderlocations-profilesdirectory
If you just want to back it up, you could use
copy-item C:usersusernamefolder D:usersusernamefolder
This would copy all contents of the folder on C: to the folder on D:
Do not copy appdata from your profile, you'll have a bad time when you re-import it.
answered Jun 16 '17 at 19:19
Charlie CCharlie C
863
There is no built in cmdlet to do this, as it is absolutely unsupported, and can break your modern applications. Read: Your start menu, cortana, and more.
There is a registry key to redirect profiles, but I would not advise using it.
Reference the ProfilesDirectory key on MSDN, which does this as well. You put a path here, and it moves your profile there. Definitely not recommended, though.
Read "Important usage notes"
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/customize/desktop/unattend/microsoft-windows-shell-setup-folderlocations-profilesdirectory
If you just want to back it up, you could use
copy-item C:usersusernamefolder D:usersusernamefolder
This would copy all contents of the folder on C: to the folder on D:
Do not copy appdata from your profile, you'll have a bad time when you re-import it.
answered Jun 16 '17 at 19:19
Charlie CCharlie C
863
answered Jun 16 '17 at 19:19
Charlie CCharlie C
863
answered Jun 16 '17 at 19:19
Charlie CCharlie C
863
answered Jun 16 '17 at 19:19
Charlie CCharlie C
863
863
I don't think you are correct in saying this is unsupported. As I have shown in my question, Windows has built-in UI for this for some special folders. Of course, I can not change the location of my usersappdatafolder that easily, but for most folders in the user directory, this works perfectly fine. This has been a feature in Windows since at least Windows 7 if not Vista or even XP.
– iFreilicht
Jun 19 '17 at 8:40
You are correct that moving %appdata% is a bad idea. Microsoft has never officially supported the redirection of profiles as a whole. Redirecting your profile can break some or all of your modern applications due to the user-state installation not being valid for a new build if the machine is ever imaged. I would recommend mirroring out to a removable or separate drive I'd recommend McDonald's answer to you, but it looks like you're set on using the SHSetKnown function. Check the script before you apply it. It contains profile redirection, which will include %appdata%.
– Charlie C
Jun 22 '17 at 12:45
add a comment |
I don't think you are correct in saying this is unsupported. As I have shown in my question, Windows has built-in UI for this for some special folders. Of course, I can not change the location of my usersappdatafolder that easily, but for most folders in the user directory, this works perfectly fine. This has been a feature in Windows since at least Windows 7 if not Vista or even XP.
– iFreilicht
Jun 19 '17 at 8:40
You are correct that moving %appdata% is a bad idea. Microsoft has never officially supported the redirection of profiles as a whole. Redirecting your profile can break some or all of your modern applications due to the user-state installation not being valid for a new build if the machine is ever imaged. I would recommend mirroring out to a removable or separate drive I'd recommend McDonald's answer to you, but it looks like you're set on using the SHSetKnown function. Check the script before you apply it. It contains profile redirection, which will include %appdata%.
– Charlie C
Jun 22 '17 at 12:45
I don't think you are correct in saying this is unsupported. As I have shown in my question, Windows has built-in UI for this for some special folders. Of course, I can not change the location of my users
appdata folder that easily, but for most folders in the user directory, this works perfectly fine. This has been a feature in Windows since at least Windows 7 if not Vista or even XP.– iFreilicht
Jun 19 '17 at 8:40
I don't think you are correct in saying this is unsupported. As I have shown in my question, Windows has built-in UI for this for some special folders. Of course, I can not change the location of my users
appdata folder that easily, but for most folders in the user directory, this works perfectly fine. This has been a feature in Windows since at least Windows 7 if not Vista or even XP.– iFreilicht
Jun 19 '17 at 8:40
You are correct that moving %appdata% is a bad idea. Microsoft has never officially supported the redirection of profiles as a whole. Redirecting your profile can break some or all of your modern applications due to the user-state installation not being valid for a new build if the machine is ever imaged. I would recommend mirroring out to a removable or separate drive I'd recommend McDonald's answer to you, but it looks like you're set on using the SHSetKnown function. Check the script before you apply it. It contains profile redirection, which will include %appdata%.
– Charlie C
Jun 22 '17 at 12:45
You are correct that moving %appdata% is a bad idea. Microsoft has never officially supported the redirection of profiles as a whole. Redirecting your profile can break some or all of your modern applications due to the user-state installation not being valid for a new build if the machine is ever imaged. I would recommend mirroring out to a removable or separate drive I'd recommend McDonald's answer to you, but it looks like you're set on using the SHSetKnown function. Check the script before you apply it. It contains profile redirection, which will include %appdata%.
– Charlie C
Jun 22 '17 at 12:45
add a comment |
Is this what you're looking for?
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/25709398/set-location-of-special-folders-with-powershell
It shows how to set locations for special folders, like documents, downloads etc.
answered Jul 5 '17 at 8:44
Tommy BråthenTommy Bråthen
11
add a comment |
Is this what you're looking for?
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/25709398/set-location-of-special-folders-with-powershell
It shows how to set locations for special folders, like documents, downloads etc.
answered Jul 5 '17 at 8:44
Tommy BråthenTommy Bråthen
11
add a comment |
Is this what you're looking for?
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/25709398/set-location-of-special-folders-with-powershell
It shows how to set locations for special folders, like documents, downloads etc.
answered Jul 5 '17 at 8:44
Tommy BråthenTommy Bråthen
11
Is this what you're looking for?
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/25709398/set-location-of-special-folders-with-powershell
It shows how to set locations for special folders, like documents, downloads etc.
answered Jul 5 '17 at 8:44
Tommy BråthenTommy Bråthen
11
answered Jul 5 '17 at 8:44
Tommy BråthenTommy Bråthen
11
answered Jul 5 '17 at 8:44
Tommy BråthenTommy Bråthen
11
answered Jul 5 '17 at 8:44
Tommy BråthenTommy Bråthen
11
11
add a comment |
add a comment |
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1
See this Q&A at StackOverflow
– LotPings
Jun 15 '17 at 22:03
Also see: social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/scriptcenter/en-US/… and helgeklein.com/blog/2015/02/… for some more detail about this task.
– Pimp Juice IT
Jun 16 '17 at 1:59
@McDonald's I think that script is much less safe as it purely modifies the registry entries. The answer LotPings linked is relying on API that is supported and maintained.
– iFreilicht
Jun 19 '17 at 8:42
Those can be easily done with registry. I.e. reg command.
– Biswapriyo
Jun 19 '17 at 12:44