Can I put my desktop files on D Drive?

Mechanics55 · Jul 17, 2015

I have a few school-related folders and videos that I store on my desktop. They are all located on my C drive and I was wondering if there is a way to just put these files on my d drive. I have my documents, pics, videos, and music folders on my d drive. Is it possible to just drag these folders into my documents folder (which is in the d drive) and then just drag them back to the desktop? Thanks in advance.

Update: My idea didn't work. So is it possible to have documents and files on my desktop that are mapped to the d drive rather than C? I know the C drive is the default location for Desktop.

SchizTech · Jul 17, 2015

You can change the default location of the desktop folder. Right-click Desktop in the left-hand pane in Explorer, click Properties, go go Location tab. In there you can point Desktop folder to a new location of your choosing (I'd create a new folder: D:/Desktop)

Mechanics55 · Jul 17, 2015

SchizTech :

I have a TON of games and applications on the desktop as well. Will re-mapping the desktop drive location screw up anything or just take a long time?

SchizTech · Jul 17, 2015

It shouldn't screw up anything though it might take a bit of time if there's a lot to move.

Mechanics55 · Jul 17, 2015

SchizTech :

And would you recommend moving it to the d drive yourself? I read that its best to keep the OS drive relatively empty. Also will my steam games move to the d drive too?

SchizTech · Jul 17, 2015

There are good reasons to keep things on a separate drive. It can save your files in case the OS is infected (you can wipe out C without fear of losing anything, and just re-map folders again). It is good to maintain a certain amount of free space, yes.

Beyond that, the best option for data security is redundancy, whether as backup drives or cloud backup.

SchizTech · Jul 17, 2015

Migrating the desktop changes the path in Windows, so programs should read the Windows path and find the files. If there's a problem, see this:

http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1930551/change-download-region-game-download-locations-steam.html

USAFRet · Jul 17, 2015

Mechanics55 :

"Games and applications", or simply shortcuts to those games and applications?

Mechanics55 · Jul 17, 2015

SchizTech :

Alright I changed it to the D Drive. Now, when I right click a game, such as Portal 2 on the desktop, it says it is on the D Drive on the desktop. So is this game truly now stored on the d drive or just the application itself? (Are the game files on the d drive too?) Thanks for your help by the way!

USAFRet · Jul 17, 2015

Mechanics55 :

SchizTech :

Alright I changed it to the D Drive. Now, when I right click a game, such as Portal 2 on the desktop, it says it is on the D Drive on the desktop. So is this game truly now stored on the d drive or just the application itself? (Are the game files on the d drive too?) Thanks for your help by the way!

On your Desktop...is that the actual game exe, or a shortcut to the game?

Mechanics55 · Jul 17, 2015

USAFRet :

I believe it's the actual game? Usually if I wanted to launch a game I'd double click it on the desktop and it would launch so I could play. Let me know how to find out unless that answers your question.

SchizTech · Jul 17, 2015

In properties when you right-click the icon it read "application" if it's the actual executable or it will say it's a shortcut. Most program icons on the desktop are just links

Mechanics55 · Jul 17, 2015

USAFRet :

Mechanics55 :

On your Desktop...is that the actual game exe, or a shortcut to the game?

Oh and some of the target locations are on the c drive but it says the location is on the D drive under properties in general tab

Mechanics55 · Jul 17, 2015

SchizTech :

It says "internet shortcut (.url)"

SchizTech · Jul 17, 2015

That's normal, and also why the location points to C. When you try to launch the games do they run?

edit: internet shortcut means it's a link to a website. That then, is not quite a standard desktop link.

USAFRet · Jul 17, 2015

Mechanics55 :

Right click on it
Select Properties
Select the General tab
Next to 'Type of file', what does it say?

For instance, this is the Shortcut to my Steam client:

Mechanics55 · Jul 17, 2015

USAFRet :

Mechanics55 :

Right click on it
Select Properties
Select the General tab
Next to 'Type of file', what does it say?

For instance, this is the Shortcut to my Steam client:

Yeah, most of them are shortcuts and most of the games are "internet shortcuts". So I assume that they're still on the C drive and its best to just uninstall or reinstall? When I right click "desktop" under favorites rather than pc it says it's on the c drive while when i right click under "this pc" it's under the d drive.

USAFRet · Jul 17, 2015

Mechanics55 :

Right. So those are not the actual games or applications, but just the shortcuts.

Folders and videos (actual files) can be moved to wherever.
Applications and games would need to be either reinstalled, or moved, in the case of Steam games.
See this for Steam games: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129

USAFRet · Jul 17, 2015

For other stuff in your Libraries (Doc, music, etc), see this:
Win 7 & 8: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1834397/ssd-redirecting-static-files.html
Win 8.1: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2024314/windows-redirecting-folders-drives.html

Mechanics55 · Jul 17, 2015

USAFRet :

Thanks a bunch for your help! I'll probably see what is most convenient to move onto d drive, whether uninstalling or re mapping certain things.

Can I put my desktop files on D Drive?

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