Move Documents to a Partition

[Kernel64]

I'd like to move the documents library in Win 7 Pro to a partition, like I
did with XP. Made it real nice when I wanted to reformat the primary
partition...didn't have to backup My Documents. Is that possible with Win
7? TIA

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

I'd like to move the documents library in Win 7 Pro to a partition, like I
did with XP. Made it real nice when I wanted to reformat the primary
partition...didn't have to backup My Documents. Is that possible with Win
7? TIA

AIUI, "libraries" in 7 are not real folders/directories, but are a list
of real folders. (I don't know where the list itself is actually kept:
registry maybe?)

I think the default arrangement on a single-user 7 system is that the
"documents" library only contains a single folder/directory, and I think
there _is_ a way to move that (in such a way that the library still
lists to it); sorry, I've forgotten how (no longer have a 7 machine),
but someone who does will hopefully be along shortly (-:
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Today, I dare say more people know who starred as /The Vicar of Dibley/ than
know the name of the vicar of their local parish. - Clive Anderson, Radio
Times 15-21 January 2011.

 

[Ken Blake]

I'd like to move the documents library in Win 7 Pro to a partition, like I
did with XP. Made it real nice when I wanted to reformat the primary
partition...didn't have to backup My Documents. Is that possible with Win
7? TIA

See J.P Gilliver's reply. You have to move the *folder*, not the
library.

And note the following: you say "when I wanted to reformat the primary
partition...didn't have to backup My Documents." If that's the case,
you're playing with fire! You should *always* have a current backup of
your Documents folder and anything else important to you. And backups
need to be on external media; having your documents on a second
partition on your only drive is the weakest form of protection there
is. You are always exposed to losing the hard drive to many of the
most common dangers: severe power glitches, nearby lightning strikes,
virus attacks, user error, even theft of the computer.

You might want to read this article on backup I've written: "Back Up
Your Computer Regularly and Reliably" at
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=314

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

See J.P Gilliver's reply. You have to move the *folder*, not the
library.

And note the following: you say "when I wanted to reformat the primary
partition...didn't have to backup My Documents." If that's the case,
you're playing with fire! You should *always* have a current backup of
your Documents folder and anything else important to you. And backups
need to be on external media; having your documents on a second
partition on your only drive is the weakest form of protection there
is. You are always exposed to losing the hard drive to many of the
most common dangers: severe power glitches, nearby lightning strikes,
virus attacks, user error, even theft of the computer.

Though I'd agree, it sometimes pays to temper one's reflex responses;
it's always possible that he knows all that, and was using "backup" in a
less-than-rigorous sense. In theory, and in practice provided he's
careful, what he says _is_ valid: if he's got his documents on another
partition, he doesn't _have_ to back them up when reformatting the
primary one.

What I'm more interested in is why he's intending to reformat his
primary partition anyway (but still, by the sound of it, intending to
continue - presumably by restoring it - use Windows 7, and presumably
expecting to access the documents on the second partition. Which of
course he can, but he'll have to re-"point" the "library" _after_ the
reinstallation).

You might want to read this article on backup I've written: "Back Up
Your Computer Regularly and Reliably" at
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=314

He might (-:.

 

[..winston]

Open Windows Explorer
Navigate to the My Documents folder on your C:\Drive
- C:\Users\<windows logon name>\My Documents
Rt. Click, scroll and select Properties
Click the Location tab
Use the 'Move' option

Once done, backup your relocated My Documents folder to
external media (DVD, External Hard drive, network, USB Flash)


--
....winston
msft mvp


"Kernel64" wrote in message
I'd like to move the documents library in Win 7 Pro to a partition, like I
did with XP. Made it real nice when I wanted to reformat the primary
partition...didn't have to backup My Documents. Is that possible with Win
7? TIA

 

[Kernel64]

Thanks Ken, it's nice to still be reading your superb posts after so many
windows versions.

This reply is meant for the masses...nothing new here for any of the ol'
timers:

I liked several features that XP had that I'm finding more difficult with
Win 7. One example,
the OE Store folder in OE 6 can be moved to a logical partition; all of the
email accounts can
be stored on the logical. That way, when a reformat/clean install is
desired, it's already saved.
Same with My Documents, just change the Target Folder location to the
logical. Again,
all the data is preserved when the primary C partition is formatted.

As for backing up, here's my suggestion. Partition the HDD with an extended
partition and
create two or three logical partitions. Change the store location for My
Documents, email,
etc. to one of the logicals. Then use a program such as Terabytes "Image
for Dos" which
runs from a CD (not too many computers with floppy drives these days; I used
to like Drive
Image) to clone the partitions to a spare hard drive, and store it in your
safe. To make it
a little more convenient, I added power switches to the case of my PC, an
on/off switch for
two hard drives. I only have two of them turned on when I want to clone to
one then,
turn it off. Occasionally I'll clone to the hard drive in the safe to
update it. The on/off
switches are wired in the power lead, using three pole single throw micro
switches. This
way I always have two backups, one for immediate acces with the flip of a
switch, one in
the safe. The second hard drive on the switch is also handy for testing out
a program. I'll
do that on the backup hard drive, and when I'm finished with the test, I'll
clone the main
drive to the spare again...etc. Doing the same thing with XP and Win 7; one
is on switch
one, the other on switch 2.

 

[gufus]

Once done, backup your relocated My Documents folder to
external media (DVD, External Hard drive, network, USB Flash)

I use X2 for all my HDD house keeping.

xplorer2
http://zabkat.com/index.htm

 

[Steve Hayes]

I'd like to move the documents library in Win 7 Pro to a partition, like I
did with XP. Made it real nice when I wanted to reformat the primary
partition...didn't have to backup My Documents. Is that possible with Win
7? TIA

It should be possible.

I have it on another partition on XP, because the default place is at the end
of a long path that is difficult to remember and type correctly, and has
spaces in it, so that some programs don't understand it.

This is not as necessary in Windows 7, because the path has been simplified.
It is much shorter and doesn't contain spaces. I moved it nevertheless, but to
another place on the C: drive just below the root. I wanted to move it to the
D: drive, but for about a year after I got my Win 7 computer the D: drive was
invisible and I could not use it. It is now visible, and I suppose I could
move it there, but it would just cause too much hassle of having to edit all
the batch files etc that look for it on C:.

So yes, if you have another partition, it should be possible to move it there,
and it is quite easy to set up your documents library to make it visible there
too.

What I don't think you can do is back up the whole library. It is a folder
that is not a directory, but rather a map of directories -- moving the map
does not move the territory! So you would have to back up the directories in
the library individually -- easy enough to do with a batch file.

 

[G. Morgan]

I'd like to move the documents library in Win 7 Pro to a partition, like I
did with XP. Made it real nice when I wanted to reformat the primary
partition...didn't have to backup My Documents. Is that possible with Win
7?

Right click the folder on the partition you want to add to the Documents
library and select "Include in Library: Documents". *Move* (not copy)
the contents of the "c:" drive's docs over to it next.

Now you can "remove" the original source location on the "c:" partition.
(open"Documents" and rt. click the old C:\ location and select "remove
from library") the new folder from the other partition you chose will
become the 'default' for all future saves. Repeat for downloads,
videos, pictures, etc... If you add more than one folder or remote
disk, you have to choose one as the default save location.

The nice thing about libraries is you're not beholden to just one folder
as in XP's "My Documents". You can add multiple locations to the
"Documents" name space and when you open the 'virtual' folder, it will
appear to you that all your docs are in one place. Makes it look tidy.
Sources for the libraries do not even have to be on the same computer.
This comes in handy if you have a mapped networked disk/folder. You can
point a folder or two from another PC (or multiple PC's) on the LAN to
the "Documents" name space and all the docs will *appear* to look like
they are in the same folder locally.

You can even add a mapped FTP remote folder from your ISP provided web
space or a web host's FTP server if you have one (most ISP's provide
personal web space on their servers for your use). Even 'cloud' storage
like Skydrive (https://skydrive.live.com/) , Gdrive
(https://drive.google.com/), Box.com, Dropbox.com, all offer free
'cloud' storage space you can point to the Documents library (any
library, not just Documents). You can also make your own libraries,
you're not limited to the pre-configured ones. I have a custom one I
call "Movies" to separate it from "Videos", I keep Hollywood in one and
all other video separate.

The possibilities are endless, you can add as many libraries as you want
and point sources from anywhere to them. Libraries are a very cool
feature when you get used to using them regularly, I don't think many
people take advantage of their full usefulness.

 

[Ken Blake]

Though I'd agree, it sometimes pays to temper one's reflex responses;
it's always possible that he knows all that, and was using "backup" in a
less-than-rigorous sense.

In that case, he will surely understand that what I said doesn't
pertain to his situation. That's for him to decide.

In theory, and in practice provided he's
careful, what he says _is_ valid: if he's got his documents on another
partition, he doesn't _have_ to back them up when reformatting the
primary one.

*If* he is very careful not to format the entire drive, which
sometimes happens.

 

[Ken Blake]

Thanks Ken, it's nice to still be reading your superb posts after so many
windows versions.

Thanks very much for the very kind words.

 

[Kernel64]

Thank you Steve and everyone else who replied to my post. I'm new to Win 7
and have a lot to learn...

 

[Motor T]

Thank you Steve and everyone else who replied to my post. I'm new to Win 7
and have a lot to learn...

http://www.tweakguides.com/TGTC.html is full of good stuff... there
is a free and a paid ($4.50) version.

 

[Char Jackson]

*If* he is very careful not to format the entire drive, which
sometimes happens.

I think you meant to say, if he is very careful not to format the wrong
partition. I'm not familiar with any formatting tools that will format more
than one partition at a time, (i.e., a whole drive containing two or more
partitions), or am I just having a brain problem?

 

[Ken Blake]

I think you meant to say, if he is very careful not to format the wrong
partition. I'm not familiar with any formatting tools that will format more
than one partition at a time, (i.e., a whole drive containing two or more
partitions), or am I just having a brain problem?

No, I meant to say what I did, but I was using "format" in the very
broad sense that many use it in, not the precise sense that you mean.
I really mean "partition and format" not just "format." If I remember
correctly, that's what recent versions of Windows mean when they say
"format."

But thanks for pointing out that I'm wrong if you really mean just
"format."

 

[Fred_Davis]

Have you tried ‘Long Path Tool’ ?
it’s very useful in this type of case.