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Question

Startup files

Apr 10, 2016 1:12AM PDT

I have a desktop pc running Windows 10. I do not have a Windows CD, but have already downloaded the Media Creation Restore Tool onto a USB flash drive. I have a SSD drive as my Operating System drive and a second hard drive for data. I decided to move my data folders (Documents, Music, Pictures etc.) from the User folder on the C Drive to the second data drive, using Properties, Location and Move option. At no stage did I touch any Windows system files, but I now find that the Boot, Boot Mgr and System Information files are now on my second drive. If I disconnect this drive the pc will not boot up from the C Drive. Can I simply replace these files back into the C Drive, and, if so, where do I place them. The pc works fine all the time the second drive is in place. I do not want to simply reinstall Windows 10 from the USB flash drive, as this would then mean reinstalling other programmes afterwards.
Your help please.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: startup files
Apr 10, 2016 3:06AM PDT

I don't think there's any option in Windows to move those data. So probably it's right there from the start, but you only see it now.
Be careful when you reinstall to have the disks used as you prefer.

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Re Startup Files
Apr 10, 2016 3:27AM PDT

Thanks Kees_B,

If that's the case, I will probably stay with it as it is for now. If I do decide to reinstall, would the best option be to use media creation software and disconnect the data drive while I do it, so there is no chance of it happening again?

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Re: disconnecting
Apr 10, 2016 3:31AM PDT

Disconnecting would be a great idea.

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Answer
This may not help but, from all I've read,
Apr 10, 2016 3:22AM PDT

relocating personal data files is not recommended. The better option, if you want to conserve space on your boot drive, is to manually copy your personal files to another drive and remove them from their default location. I suspect those relocated folders become inextricably linked from the Windows way of doing things and that means your second drive becomes mandatory. I don't know about the system reserved area where boot files are kept. I've not seen that. I do wonder if you've checked to see if the same feature that allowed you to move your personal files will allow you to move it back. These are usually found under your username.

If nothing else, I'd recommend that you start using a utility that will image your entire hard drive so that recovery from such things takes minutes instead of hours or days. I currently use Acronis but many others are out there. Anytime I install a new piece of software or make major changes, I create an image of my hard drive. I also do this at regular intervals deleting the older copies to make room for the newer. Best of luck to you.

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Re: relocating data files
Apr 10, 2016 3:30AM PDT

I've done the same on my Windows 7 PC: system on (smallish, it's from 2010) SSD, data on larger HDD, relocating My Documents and such folders (for all users) to the HDD. No problem at all.

I never tried what happens running without the HDD connected, but I wouldn't mind if it gave issues, because it's not the intention at all. That I can make an image of my system, and restore it without touching my data.

It's very strange that the PC of the OP apparently boots from another drive. Something must have gone wrong somewhere.

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Re Startup Files
Apr 10, 2016 8:53AM PDT

I have moved all data files back to the C Drive, but the system files remain in the second drive. I can only assume that they were there from the initial installation.
Thanks everybody.

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Answer
Well those folder you moved are all located in your profile
Apr 10, 2016 1:35PM PDT

Your profile folder is C:\users\accountname. I just this week created a new profile on my Windows 10 Surface Book. I copied all the folders under C:\users\oldaccount to C:\users\newaccount. The all my download, pictures, desktop were the same on both accounts. I did a copy not a move. Also my original account was a MS account and the new account a local account with admin rights. The result I have a local account that is setup to use to sync onedrive and the Store

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Startup Files
Apr 11, 2016 1:17AM PDT

I only have the one account, but that's worth knowing for the future.
Thanks

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One account is trouble in the future.
Apr 11, 2016 7:17AM PDT

Why? Google "Windows Corrupt Profile"

With a spare admin account you can recover from this issue. If you don't have a spare, recovery may not be possible.