Move Users Folder Location in Windows 11

Well I get to be the next in a line of folks resurrecting this thread due to the sad state that this tutorial doesn't seem to work with my Windows 11 install, after years of using it for deploying multi-drive Windows 10 boxes.

I have 2x AMD Ryzen based gaming machines, with a NVMe as primary boot and SATA connected drive as secondary storage. In both cases trying to use this tutorial only results in the same OOBE error plaguing others. I've tried using audit mode, and setting the drives there. I've tried partitioning and formating the drives at drive selection. I've removed the optical drive. I've made sure to unplug the USB. I just don't know to do anymore. I had a ray of hope with this post from TenForums, but it doesn't really elaborate on where to insert the XML and I'm not familiar enough with modifying Windows boot and install.

At this point the only way this works is to install Win10 using Kari's tutorial, and do a Win11 upgrade. It's a pain in the ass, but it does acheive the end goal.

Decius said:

Well I get to be the next in a line of folks resurrecting this thread due to the sad state that this tutorial doesn't seem to work with my Windows 11 install, after years of using it for deploying multi-drive Windows 10 boxes.

I have 2x AMD Ryzen based gaming machines, with a NVMe as primary boot and SATA connected drive as secondary storage. In both cases trying to use this tutorial only results in the same OOBE error plaguing others. I've tried using audit mode, and setting the drives there. I've tried partitioning and formating the drives at drive selection. I've removed the optical drive. I've made sure to unplug the USB. I just don't know to do anymore. I had a ray of hope with this post from TenForums, but it doesn't really elaborate on where to insert the XML and I'm not familiar enough with modifying Windows boot and install.

At this point the only way this works is to install Win10 using Kari's tutorial, and do a Win11 upgrade. It's a pain in the ass, but it does acheive the end goal.

Click to expand...

There are two ways to move \Users to another drive: During a clean install and after Win is installed.
During installation is the best and easiest way but it can be done after installation.

See my earlier post Move Users Folder Location in Windows 11
On the attached zip file you will find all the needed CMD and files
I suggest you open a new thread,

I just built a new box and installed Windows 11 to do some testing on it but since Windows 7 I have always relocated the Users folder. So I went to re-install Windows and I got to the run Sysprep section and it tells me "If no command-line arguments are provided a graphical user interface is used to select Sysprep operations" then nothing. I am using %windir%\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe /oobe /reboot/unattend: \relocate.exe
Any idea what might have gone wrong? I did tell Windows to format that partition before installing the 2nd time but it did appear to keep the other 2 partitions.

Not sure how that image got in there but it was /unattend: \relocate.xml (Well it did it again?? D is what it should be)

Megahertz said:

ph3ll3r​

I just did a Win 11 fresh install on a small M.2 drive and moved \Users to a HDD. Runs very good.
Don't relocate ProgramData. It isn't recommended.
Don't need the reference to the wim file (see code below)

The Relocate.xml should be like this.

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <settings pass="oobeSystem">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <FolderLocations>
                <ProfilesDirectory>D:\Users</ProfilesDirectory>
            </FolderLocations>
        </component>
    </settings>
</unattend>

The files on the zip file attached has been added a txt suffix to be edited and not executed by acident. Remove the txt suffix before you run the CMD.
You enter Audit mode during installation by Ctrl+Shift+F3
You enter Audit mode under Windows by running Audit.cmd
SSD.txt are tips to be done after you relocate \Users to another drive

Click to expand...

after running Audit.cmd
C:/User copy to D:\User and then reboot
system preparation tool menu appers again.

System preparation (?) or OOBE asking to create a user?
When you launch Syprep on a running Windows and then move C:\Users to D:\Users you will be back to OOBE. Create a new user and it will restart normally. Log on normally and delete the new user just created.

Megahertz said:

System preparation (?) or OOBE asking to create a user?
When you launch Syprep on a running Windows and then move C:\Users to D:\Users you will be back to OOBE. Create a new user and it will restart normally. Log on normally and delete the new user just created.

Click to expand...

my procedure.
1.After CTRL+SHIFT+F3 into audit mode and press cancel
2.run audit.cmd first and after reboot run sysprep.cmd

vege said:

my procedure.
1.After CTRL+SHIFT+F3 into audit mode and press cancel
2.run audit.cmd first and after reboot run sysprep.cm

Click to expand...

You run one or the other. Not both.

You enter Audit mode during installation by Ctrl+Shift+F3
You enter Audit mode under Windows by running Audit.cmd

Megahertz said:

You run one or the other. Not both.

You enter Audit mode during installation by Ctrl+Shift+F3
You enter Audit mode under Windows by running Audit.cmd

Click to expand...

I create a user first and into windows run sysprep.cmd without audit mode.
my setupact.log

2024-07-21 09:25:50, Info SYSPRP ========================================================
2024-07-21 09:25:50, Info SYSPRP === Beginning of a new sysprep run ===
2024-07-21 09:25:50, Info SYSPRP ========================================================
2024-07-21 09:25:50, Info [0x0f004d] SYSPRP The time is now 2024-07-21 09:25:50
2024-07-21 09:25:50, Info [0x0f004e] SYSPRP Initialized SysPrep log at C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\Panther
2024-07-21 09:25:50, Info [0x0f0054] SYSPRP ValidatePrivileges:User has required privileges to sysprep machine
2024-07-21 09:25:50, Info [0x0f007e] SYSPRP FCreateTagFile:Tag file C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\Sysprep_succeeded.tag does not already exist, no need to delete anything
2024-07-21 09:25:50, Info [0x0f005f] SYSPRP ParseCommands:Found supported command line option 'OOBE'
2024-07-21 09:25:50, Info [0x0f005f] SYSPRP ParseCommands:Found supported command line option 'REBOOT'
2024-07-21 09:25:50, Info [0x0f005f] SYSPRP ParseCommands:Found supported command line option 'UNATTEND'
2024-07-21 09:25:50, Info [0x0f00d7] SYSPRP WinMainre-validing 'cleanup' internal providers.
2024-07-21 09:25:50, Info SYSPRP RunDlls:Running platform actions specified in action file for phase 3
2024-07-21 09:25:50, Info SYSPRP SysprepSession::CreateSession: Successfully created instance with action file C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\ActionFiles\Cleanup.xml, and mode <null>
2024-07-21 09:25:50, Info SYSPRP SysprepSession::Validate: Beginning action execution from C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\ActionFiles\Cleanup.xml
2024-07-21 09:25:50, Info SYSPRP SysprepSession::CreateXPathForSelection: Sysprep mode in registry is <null>
2024-07-21 09:25:50, Info SYSPRP SysprepSession::CreateXPathForSelection: Processor architecture in registry is AMD64
2024-07-21 09:25:50, Info SYSPRP ActionPlatform::LaunchModule: Executing method 'Sysprep_Clean_Validate_Opk' from C:\Windows\System32\spopk.dll
2024-07-21 09:25:51, Info CSI 00000001 Shim considered [l:126]'\??\C:\Windows\Servicing\amd64_microsoft-windows-servicingstack_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.22621.3801_none_e919caea4301d33a\wcp.dll' : got STATUS_OBJECT_PATH_NOT_FOUND
2024-07-21 09:25:51, Info CSI 00000002 Shim considered [l:123]'\??\C:\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft-windows-servicingstack_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.22621.3801_none_e919caea4301d33a\wcp.dll' : got STATUS_SUCCESS
2024-07-21 09:25:52, Error SYSPRP Sysprep_Clean_Validate_Opk: Audit mode cannot be turned on if reserved storage is in use. An update or servicing operation may be using reserved storage.; hr = 0x800F0975
2024-07-21 09:25:52, Error SYSPRP ActionPlatform::LaunchModule: Failure occurred while executing 'Sysprep_Clean_Validate_Opk' from C:\Windows\System32\spopk.dll; dwRet = 0x975
2024-07-21 09:25:52, Error SYSPRP SysprepSession::Validate: Error in validating actions from C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\ActionFiles\Cleanup.xml; dwRet = 0x975
2024-07-21 09:25:52, Error SYSPRP RunPlatformActions:Failed while validating Sysprep session actions; dwRet = 0x975
2024-07-21 09:25:52, Error [0x0f0070] SYSPRP RunDlls:An error occurred while running registry sysprep DLLs, halting sysprep execution. dwRet = 0x975
2024-07-21 09:25:52, Error [0x0f00d8] SYSPRP WinMain:Hit failure while pre-validate sysprep cleanup internal providers; hr = 0x80070975

setuperr.log

2024-07-21 09:25:52, Error SYSPRP Sysprep_Clean_Validate_Opk: Audit mode cannot be turned on if reserved storage is in use. An update or servicing operation may be using reserved storage.; hr = 0x800F0975
2024-07-21 09:25:52, Error SYSPRP ActionPlatform::LaunchModule: Failure occurred while executing 'Sysprep_Clean_Validate_Opk' from C:\Windows\System32\spopk.dll; dwRet = 0x975
2024-07-21 09:25:52, Error SYSPRP SysprepSession::Validate: Error in validating actions from C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\ActionFiles\Cleanup.xml; dwRet = 0x975
2024-07-21 09:25:52, Error SYSPRP RunPlatformActions:Failed while validating Sysprep session actions; dwRet = 0x975
2024-07-21 09:25:52, Error [0x0f0070] SYSPRP RunDlls:An error occurred while running registry sysprep DLLs, halting sysprep execution. dwRet = 0x975
2024-07-21 09:25:52, Error [0x0f00d8] SYSPRP WinMain:Hit failure while pre-validate sysprep cleanup internal providers; hr = 0x80070975

I try hard disk,sata ssd,m2 ssd never sucess.
Need help.

poles said:

I tried applying this procedure installing Windows 11 on VMWare player and have not been successful after a few attempts. Attached is the screenshot of the error after Step 3 of Method One (after sysprep).... I tried same procedure with Windows 10 and it does work like a charm. I am keen to find out what went wrong

Click to expand...

I try method 1 and method 2 all show the same error after i remove all usb storage and BD rom driver.
Drive c sata ssd,drive d is 8T harddisk.
I reinstall almost 2x times.
I dont understand why it always failed?
I try the other 3 desktop with method 2,they are all successed.

I have tried to update my Windows 11 installation to ver. 24H2 but I get the error that windows cannot do an update on the system. I see from Kari's earlier posts that even though my user profiles are on my D drive and my OS is on the C drive, as per Kari's method, I should be able to upgrade it but the OS gives me errors when I try.

Do I first need to move my user profiles back to the C drive? I couldn't do that anyway as my C drive is on an SSD drive 256GB and my HDD is 4TB.
I could just reinstall the OS overiting the WIndows 11 files on my SSD drive but I have some software that would take me a while to reinstall so from a business POV it's not practical to do at the moment.

Any ideas on how to get the upgrade done without a reinstall?

Peterwm said:

I have tried to update my Windows 11 installation to ver. 24H2 but I get the error that windows cannot do an update on the system. I see from Kari's earlier posts that even though my user profiles are on my D drive and my OS is on the C drive, as per Kari's method, I should be able to upgrade it but the OS gives me errors when I try.

Click to expand...

Peterwm said:

Do I first need to move my user profiles back to the C drive? I couldn't do that anyway as my C drive is on an SSD drive 256GB and my HDD is 4TB.

Click to expand...

No, you don't

Peterwm said:

I could just reinstall the OS overiting the WIndows 11 files on my SSD drive but I have some software that would take me a while to reinstall so from a business POV it's not practical to do at the moment.

Any ideas on how to get the upgrade done without a reinstall?

Click to expand...

What exactly did you do?

I have moved C:\Users (SSD) to D:\Users (HDD)
Just did an in place upgrade using a tweaked Win 11 23h2 with Win 11 24h2 install.wim
No problems at all

Megahertz said:

No, you don't

What exactly did you do?

I have moved C:\Users (SSD) to D:\Users (HDD)
Just did an in place upgrade using a tweaked Win 11 23h2 with Win 11 24h2 install.wim
No problems at all

Click to expand...

I downloaded the ISO and extracted the ISO File using 7Zip to the desktop.

Then used "setupprep.exe /product server" to install.

I selected Keep personal files and apps, the procedure starts and the shortly after the installation of Windows starts, I get an message saying the "Installation of windows server has failed"

I tried the method by mounting the file and then initializing the process with the "setupprep.exe /product server", but the result was the same
@Megahertz Do I need to modify the wim file?

There are new restrictions to install / upgrade Win 11 24h2 on unsupported hardware.
One of them, is to use a tweaked Win 11 23h2 with Win 11 24h2 install.wim

Do you have a Win 11 23h2 iso or Win 11 23h2 USB installation drive?

Peterwm said:

I downloaded the ISO and extracted the ISO File using 7Zip to the desktop.

Then used "setupprep.exe /product server" to install.

I selected Keep personal files and apps, the procedure starts and the shortly after the installation of Windows starts, I get an message saying the "Installation of windows server has failed"

I tried the method by mounting the file and then initializing the process with the "setupprep.exe /product server", but the result was the same
@Megahertz Do I need to modify the wim file?

Click to expand...

@Megahertz Here's the error file, I am seeing the 0x80040154 which I have corrected by running the trouble shooter but it hasnt done much. Any other ideas?
0x80070005, 0x80000005 I don't understand these two becuase the insatll is definately run in CMD with ADMIN mode.

Megahertz said:

There are new restrictions to install / upgrade Win 11 24h2 on unsupported hardware.
One of them, is to use a tweaked Win 11 23h2 with Win 11 24h2 install.wim

Do you have a Win 11 23h2 iso or Win 11 23h2 USB installation drive?

Click to expand...

Yes I do
Also just seen your posts with Bree, I will try that

You have to use the Repair install method or In-Place Upgrade, that is, run setup.exe from a mounted and tweaked Win 11 22h2 iso or Win 11 23h2 iso.

• Right click on the Win11_23H2_x64.iso file and select Mount.
• On the virtual drive select ALL files and folders and select copy.

Or

• If you have a Win11_23h2 USB installation drive, select ALL files and folders and select copy.

• Create a Win11_23h2 folder. Paste the files on it.
• Make sure "Hide known extensions" is NOT set under Explorer options.
• Go to Win11_23h2\Sources and rename appraiserres.dll to appraiserres.dll.orig
• On Win11_23h2\Sources, create a blank text file and rename to appraiserres.dll
• On Win11_23h2\Sources, delete install.wim (or install.esd)
• Right click on the Win11_24H2_x64.iso file and select Mount.
• On the virtual drive select sources\install.wim or install.esd and select copy.
• Go to Win11_23h2\Sources and paste the install.wim or install.esd
• Rename Win11_23h2 folder to Win11_24h2 folder
• Run Win11_24h2\Setup.exe
• First, you must disconnect from the internet before attempting to upgrade an unsupported device to Win 11 24h2.
• Second, you must choose how Setup checks for updates as 'not for now'.

My mistake; ignore

@antspants
FYI: You can delete your own contribution as well.
(if you might not have known that)

Kees said:

@antspants
FYI: You can delete your own contribution as well.
(if you might not have known that)

Click to expand...

Yeah I did thanks mate then made a new post to show Id made a mistake. For those who might of been thinking “what’s he on about”