# Relocating the "Documents and Settings" Folders (XP) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 2, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relocating-the-documents-and-settings-folders-xp/495118 "2009-05-02T20:38:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relocating-the-documents-and-settings-folders-xp/495118/1 "2009-05-02T20:38:49Z")
A couple of days ago I decided that the time had come to switch from Windows 2000 to XP (not as random a move as it might seem: I prefer to be about two releases behind, and it appears that Windows 7 will be debuting soon). So I toddled on over to my favorite shop and got an OEM version of XP Pro. Another of my many foibles is that I strongly prefer to keep anything other than the absolute essentials somewhere other than the C: drive. When I installed Windows 2000, I used a Winnt.sif file along with an unattended install to put the “Documents and Settings” folders on the D: drive, and it worked swimmingly; but when I tried to do the same with XP, Microsoft told me during authentication that they had never issued the license key, and I must have a pirated copy\*. The only way to get past authentication was to do a normal (attended) install, which put D&S on the C: drive. Though the system is working satisfactorily, this kinda rankles. So I tried searching for ways to relocate these folders post-install — and I don’t recall encountering such an array of dubious home remedies, misinformation and outright bushwa since I researched my daughter’s ulcerative colitis. I did finally locate a method that seemed reasonable, and tried it (after creating a restore point). The result was a message that my profile was corrupted and that I would be logged on with a temporary profile that would not be saved; worse yet, I couldn’t get to the restore point, so another install. So now I’m doing what I should have done right off the bat: namely, throwing the question at the Dope. Does anyone know (or know of) a _reliable_ method of relocating these folders? Alternatively, any ideas on how to get an unattended install to authenticate? (I’m assuming that with XP it only works with a volume license, or at any rate with something other than an OEM license.) As always, thanks in advance for any pointers, suggestions, etc. \*Bless them, out of the goodness of their hearts they offered to provide me with a valid license key for only 150 $quanderbucks. I’m sure they were devastated when I declined. ---
**Author:** ![J-P\_L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/j-p_l/32/3156_2.png) [@J-P\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J-P_L)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relocating-the-documents-and-settings-folders-xp/495118/2 "2009-05-02T20:47:30Z")
I have not done that myself although I’m considering it, but supposedly, you can move “My Document” simply by right clicking it in Explorer, select “Properties” and then the “Move” button and selecting a new target location, Windows will, I’m told, move all your documents to the new location. Use at your own risk! ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relocating-the-documents-and-settings-folders-xp/495118/3 "2009-05-02T21:22:26Z")
These links may be useful [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/236621](http://support.microsoft.com/kb/236621) Scroll down to the More Info section [Moving Documents and Settings | WindowsBBS](http://www.windowsbbs.com/windows-xp/31396-moving-documents-settings.html) ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relocating-the-documents-and-settings-folders-xp/495118/4 "2009-05-03T00:21:06Z")
We have an article describing just how to move the “My Documents” folder [here](http://www.techsupportalert.com/how_to_move_my_documents.htm)on [Techsupportalert.com](http://Techsupportalert.com). ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relocating-the-documents-and-settings-folders-xp/495118/5 "2009-05-03T02:40:55Z")
I guess I wasn’t clear about what I had in mind. Typical. I’m not just interested in moving my documents, I’m interested in moving the entire Documents and Settings folder structure — in other words, the user profile information, including desktop, start menu, favorites, etc. Thus far, the KB link provided by **MannyL** seems the most promising, provided I can get the process straight. That said, I really(!) appreciate the responses. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relocating-the-documents-and-settings-folders-xp/495118/6 "2009-05-03T16:02:52Z")
Don’t know about relocating the folders but you can use [nLite](http://www.nliteos.com/nlite.html) to create a CD to do an unattended install, including slipstreaming all the service packs, patches, drivers, etc., as well as removing the Windows services and such that you don’t need. ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relocating-the-documents-and-settings-folders-xp/495118/7 "2009-06-03T00:52:06Z")
Did you get it to work?