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Move "Users" from C: to D: to free up space.

pierre8401 Posted messages 230 Status Member -  
Castoramoi Posted messages 400 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   -

Hello,

I am using Windows 10 - Drive C: is a 120 GB SSD dedicated to the system and Drive D: is a 1 TB hard drive dedicated to data.

The system just warned me that my Drive C: no longer has enough free space.

I moved 6 GB of "downloads" from "users" on C: to "downloads" on D:

So I have a reprieve of 6 GB, but for how long? I need to free up space on C:

I see that half of the space on C: (57 GB) is taken up by the "Users" folder, which consists of 2 folders: "my name" and "Public".

The "Public" folder is 1 GB and the one in my name is 56 GB.

In my named folder, the "AppData" file is 55 GB.

So this "AppData" file alone accounts for over 95% of the "Users" folder and half of the C: capacity.

My question is simple: can you move the "Users" folder from C: to D:?

If not, what other options would there be to free up space on C:?

(I should add that in "Properties", there is no "Location" for the folders "in my name" and "Public").

I hope I have been clear (I'm not a whiz with computers...).

Thank you in advance for your help.

Best regards,

Pierre


7 answers

  1.
    brucine Posted messages 25317 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   4 194
     

    Hello,

    It's asking for trouble to move system folders.

    Assuming that the Temp folder is regularly emptied, the user folder shouldn't have any significant weight: mine only weighs about 300 MB or so (and the public around 300 KB).

    It's the data that takes up space: you need to define the browser's downloads folder elsewhere and create themed folders on the storage drive where you will store documents, photos... then move the data from the system folders Images, Documents...

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  2. Castoramoi Posted messages 400 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   22
     

    Hello

    It is possible to move the Images, Music, Documents folders, etc. to another location, but I think that has already been done?

    Moving the User folder should be possible but might be risky!?

    By "playing" with environment variables, it is possible to move the file %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp, for example, to another location...

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    1. Castoramoi Posted messages 400 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   22
       

      However, it is possible to install/move programs elsewhere, on another drive; I do it regularly for games...

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      1. brucine Posted messages 25317 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   4 194 > Castoramoi Posted messages 400 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention  
         

        I do this systematically for reasons other than space, but that's not what we're told; the programs are not in the user folders; it is of course a way to save space if there are many, otherwise now it will be necessary to uninstall and reinstall.

        I don't see the point in moving the Temp folder, but I clear it out every day.

        I still believe it is unhealthy to move the user folder or its system subfolders; this often leads to bad surprises, and it's better to move the data into dedicated folders and get into the habit of placing them there for the future, but everyone does as they wish.

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  3. Pierr10 Posted messages 13863 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   5 860
     

    Hello,

    You cannot move Users and therefore cannot move AppData.

    I am in a situation similar to yours: a small 118 GB SSD and a large 1 TB hard drive. Let me explain how I manage.

    1) I have already moved all user folders containing data: My Documents, Pictures, Videos, Downloads, etc.
    Note: they must be moved using the designated functions. Simply copying them will not work.
    https://lecrabeinfo.net/deplacer-dossiers-utilisateur-vers-autre-emplacement-windows.html
     

    2) I install software as much as possible on D:.
    I have created identical folders to those on C: Program Files and Program Files (X86).
    When I install new software, I change the drive letter that will host the program from C to D.
    Again, this is not about copying: it needs to be reinstalled.
    For example: if you want to install LibreOffice on D, you must first uninstall it from C before reinstalling.
    Note: some software will not allow installation anywhere other than C; this is the case with Microsoft Office.
     

    3) Clean up by deleting temporary files and traces of old installations.
    You can use the storage management accessible in Windows Settings.
    You can also use software like CCleaner (to be used with caution).

    Another tool is this little software WinDirStat which provides a lot of information about SSD usage.
    https://windirstat.net/

    Normally, you should get below 100 GB, which becomes manageable.

    What is well conceived is clearly stated,
    And the words to say it come easily.
    (Boileau)

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    1. brucine Posted messages 25317 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   4 194
       

      Hello,

      By the way, my Windows 11 system partition takes up around 47 GB including security software, email, browser, and Office, with the rest being on program and data partitions.

      Even when programs are installed on a different partition, some of them still continue to save a small amount of data in the user and program folders on the system partition.

      Are you sure about Office or is it version-dependent? I have 2019 on the system partition, I can't remember if I questioned that, but I had 2007 on a program partition.

      In any case, this does not contradict your assertion overall, which is for example the case with Adobe software.

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      1. Pierr10 Posted messages 13863 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   5 860 > brucine Posted messages 25317 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention  
         

        Hello,

        For Microsoft Office, I am absolutely sure. The same goes for Adobe: I could only install Lightroom on C:.

        What surprises me the most is the size of AppData: 55 GB is monstrous. I am just over 13 GB and I have the possibility to reduce it.
        In AppData, Thunderbird takes up a lot of space with its data files on the junk emails.

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      2. brucine Posted messages 25317 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   4 194 > Pierr10 Posted messages 13863 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention  
         

        I don't know, I don't use Thunderbird and the attachments from my email software that I want to keep are stored by the software itself in my data partition, but it brings us back to the same question, we should be able to install Thunderbird like Firefox on another partition and, in general, specify the storage folder for most software somewhere other than the users folder if that's the default location.

        But it is indeed totally monstrous, aside from the unnecessarily kept attachments, there could be remnants of old software installations that definitely need a serious cleanup.

        We can also free up several GB by removing fast startup and thus the hibernation file hiberfil.sys.

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  4. fabul Posted messages 42300 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 093
     

    Hello,

    Delete everything in the folder C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

    In the search box, type Disk Cleanup and choose > C:

    You can choose to clean up "Previous Windows installations" system files if there are any

    Set your Internet browser to download to a folder on D:\ instead of C:\Users\Your name\Downloads

    You can organize what’s in your C:\Users\Your name\... folders elsewhere on D:\

    TreeSize Free can help you see what takes up the most space
    https://www.jam-software.com/treesize_free

    Then clean up with:

    Wise Disk Cleaner
    https://www.commentcamarche.net/telecharger/utilitaires/24193-wise-disk-cleaner/

    CCleaner (Portable)
    https://www.ccleaner.com/fr-fr/ccleaner/builds

    ATF-Cleaner
    https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/atf_cleaner.html

    Then right-click on This PC > Properties > System Protection

    Or search for systempropertiesprotection.exe

    Select C:\

    Configure > Delete

    Go back > Create

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  6. pierre8401 Posted messages 230 Status Member 13
     

    Thank you, brucine, Castoramoi, and Pierr10 for your responses.

    My documents, Images, Videos, Downloads, etc. have been on D: since the initial installation of the PC (~4 and a half years).

    If the ion cannot move users and thus cannot move AppData, that is clearer.

    Of the 55 GB of AppData, 40 GB are taken up by Roaming, the rest by Local and Local low.

    I also notice that of these 40 GB of Roaming, 38.5 GB are taken up by Thunderbird - It's an email client I used on the previous PC and reinstalled on the current PC in 2020 (with all the mail and contact history) but that I no longer use and have no need to keep the history.

    The ideal would be for me to delete Thunderbird - Or move it to D:

    What do you think?

    Sincerely

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    1. brucine Posted messages 25317 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   4 194
       

      It is likely that you have kept a bunch of attachments; it's up to you to decide whether to delete them or save them elsewhere.

      You’re answering the question yourself: if you no longer need certain attachments, messages, contacts: delete them.

      Otherwise, make an external copy of the Thunderbird profile, uninstall it, and reinstall it on the other drive.

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    2. Pierr10 Posted messages 13863 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   5 860
       

      To limit the space taken up by Thunderbird, only synchronize the most recent messages (6 months at most). (This should be done in the account settings).

      What takes up a lot of space is the Junk folder in ImapMail: it contains information about spam. It can be deleted with junk.msf. They will be recreated at the next launch.

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  7. pierre8401 Posted messages 230 Status Member 13
     

    Thank you, brucine, Castoramoi, Pierr10, and fabul for your help.

    At first, I just deleted Thunderbird from Roaming - I now have 44 GB of free space on C: - I can see things coming.

    I will read your recommendations to optimize my machine at my leisure.

    Thanks again and have a good evening,

    Pierre

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  8. Castoramoi Posted messages 400 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   22
     

    For Thunderbird, you can move the "Local Directory" to drive D:

    Account Settings -> Server Settings, at the bottom you have "Local Directory".

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