Moving Users folder back to system drive to update to 8.1

Eric7

New Member
Messages
2
Not knowing it would cause problems for me later, I setup a home built computer with a symbolic link for the Users folder from my SSD drive (system drive C) to Drive D. When I found I couldn't update to Windows 8.1 I did some research and discovered I should not have used this method for moving the Users folder and I need to move it back first in order to update.

After doing some research, I decided to follow the knowledge base article found at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2876597 as my guide to move it back to the system drive. I have started this process and I'm part way through but I have encountered a problem that I can't figure out how to solve.

I booted into safe mode with a command prompt and deleted the symbolic link on my C drive. I followed the instructions in the article to use robocopy to copy the Users folder from my D drive to my system drive but it fails because some system files (like ntuser.dat) can't be copied (presumably because they contain the system info for the account I'm logged into so I am locked out).

I'm not really sure how to get around this and I don't think I'd be able to reboot and get into my system right now unless maybe I recreate the symbolic link from the system drive to d:\users.

Any advice or links to an article with steps I can follow would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Eric
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I did the same thing. You need to boot to a Command Prompt from your Windows Install disc. This is the tutorial I used to move Users off of C: and I just reversed it to move it back, deleting the link and using robocopy as you mentioned.

Move the Users Directory in Windows 7
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
Thanks for getting back to me Rich. That finally let me move the users folder.

One more question for you or anyone else who can help...

I noticed in a command window that on my system drive I have a folder named UsersBackup. When I look in File Explorer at the drive, I see I have 2 folders names Users and one of them points to the UsersBackup folder (the other points to the Users folder that I moved back to my system drive from the 'D' drive). A standard command window directory listing does not show anything that would indicate this UsersBackup folder should appear as Users from inside of File Explorer.

I can't remember if I created this UsersBackup folder when I originally moved my Users folder to my 'D' drive or if maybe Windows 8 created it. I suspect I may have created it but not certain.

So, I would really like to delete the folder (or maybe back it up) because it will drive me nuts to see two "Users" folders every time I open File Explorer and look at my 'C' drive. Before I delete it, I just want to be certain that Windows 8 does not normally put it there. If anyone can confirm this for me, it will help me know if it is safe to delete the folder.

Thanks.

Eric
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Back
Top