SSD as new system drive - copied/moved files still gets them to the SSD instead of HDD

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majogi

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Hi all - and thanks for many helpful hints in here!

Tweaked a new system successfully by adding a SSD as new system drive and doing some other hardware upgrades.
Fresh-installed Windows 7 onto the SSD.
Moved the User Profile Folders (except "Public" which I never used) to HDD.

Here comes my question:
Using Explorer when I copy files, eg from a USB stick to the "Libraries" / "Documents" they physically still end up on the SSD (under C:/Users/Public/Public Documents).
How can I change that as well?

This also affects greatly the syncing with my Cloud computing account. Everything ends up on the SSD (also in the above mentioned folder).

Maybe, I should have read all about the Libraries concept when they introduced it many moons ago...
Thanks for any help!
 
Solution
Mattios
1) just create one for Documents, one for Photos, one for Videos and one for Music
3) what exactly are you having? I don't see what the problem is after following those instructions.

I would not recommend moving the AppData folder or user profile folders - this can cause the OS to get confused. Simply create 'Documents', 'Photos' etc. folders on the new drives and point the libraries to that location as the article describes. This will mean around 80% of your files go onto the HDD. Also create a 'Program Files' folder for your programs that don't need to be on the SSD.
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majogi

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Thanks, Mattios!
I was already aware of that article but found it to lack in some details.
1) It could be more specific in what folders to create on the HDD before moving certain User Profile folders.
2) The comment one reader made about moving the User/(name)/AppData folder is valid. I did not move that one!
3) The article does not address my specific issue. Any person following these instructions would end up with what I am having.

Thanks for reading and reacting!
Martin
 
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Mattios

Mattios

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1) just create one for Documents, one for Photos, one for Videos and one for Music
3) what exactly are you having? I don't see what the problem is after following those instructions.

I would not recommend moving the AppData folder or user profile folders - this can cause the OS to get confused. Simply create 'Documents', 'Photos' etc. folders on the new drives and point the libraries to that location as the article describes. This will mean around 80% of your files go onto the HDD. Also create a 'Program Files' folder for your programs that don't need to be on the SSD.
 
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Solution
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majogi

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Thanks again, Mattios!

I did successfully move those folders. No issues there!
When you ask what issues I am having I can only quote myself again: "when I copy files, eg from a USB stick to the "Libraries" / "Documents" they physically still end up on the SSD (under C:/Users/Public/Public Documents)". The problem gets more pressing when I start syncing my files from the cloud! They are being synced alright but also physically end up on the system (SSD) drive under "Public Documents". That can mean double entries in the Library with one version of the files on the D: (HDD) drive and the (synced) ones on the C: drive. That, of course, beats the purpose of relocating the data in the first place.
I believe, but am not sure yet, that I am missing a link (most likely using the MKLINK command) that would fix the issue.

Yes, NEVER move the AppData and ProgramData folders everybody out there!
Thanks.
 
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Mattios

Mattios

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The issue with syncing comes down to whichever service you use. You either need to change an option in the software to choose the sync location, or there is nothing you can do.

As for the issue with copying to the documents library, that shouldn't be happening. Make sure the only location in the documents folder is the hard drive location.
 
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majogi

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Sorry, Mattios. Your advice is not accurate in my view.
1) There is no such option in the Cloud computing service I use. (Now, don't put the blame on them, please. The process should be straight-forward.)
2) What you are suggesting is, in effect, not using the (built-in) Libraries concept in Windows 7. And that would require some other steps you don't talk about.

So, my question remains: Would placing a MKLINK function onto the system drive address my issue? Am I on the right track?

Thanks anyway.
 
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Mattios

Mattios

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The information is accurate, you just don't accept it/I haven't explained it too well.

1) Okay, there is no option in their system. Is this my fault? No, they did not build the feature in to their program. Many cloud services do not offer this option, I know, there was a chance they would. Mklink may be useful in this case, I don't know. I suggest giving it a go, what can go wrong.
2) Maybe I explained this badly. I am not expecting you to use anything other than the built in library systems. Mklink looks like it would work, but simply changing the library locations should save you from using this 'hack'.

What have you tried from the previous link/where are you seeing problems? Perhaps I can offer advice on that front.
 
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majogi

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I had a bit time today and figured it out myself.
When I began moving the User folders from the system drive, I made one MISTAKE:
On the data drive I created a folder "Users" in the root, and then put the account name and folders in there. That screwed up the move process and it became difficult to reverse my mistake - but I eventually succeeded.

The problem I had when moving files within the system (and syncing from the cloud) had to do with wrong settings for the Windows Libraries! Right-clicking on the individual Libraries (i.e. "Documents", "Music", etc.) revealed under "Library locations" that the Public user folders were checked off (exactly what I had been experiencing). Simple solution was to "Set save location" to the folder on the secondary drive. Everything works now.

For anybody planning to install a SSD and needing to move the User profile folders: More detailed information can be found on www.zdnet.com. Search for an article by Ed Bott titled "Windows 7 and SSDs: Cutting your system drive down to size". He has a series of a few articles on SSDs there that I found to be helpful, especially his warning article "Don't move your Windows user profiles to another drive". Not everything in the User profiles can be moved, but certainly the documents, pictures, music folders! - I also found some articles describing the fairly easy and straight-forward process of moving those folders lacking in detail when it comes to the target folders, hence my problem.
Good luck, everybody!
 
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