For Advanced Users Only

The following pages describe the steps necessary to separate major Windows 7 components into discreet drives/partitions in an existing Windows 7 installation to enhance the ability to backup and restore, to recover from system damage from malware, poorly written drivers, and other things that go bump in the night. In my experience it improves application load times and system response.

There are other methods available on the web that can be used during a clean install of Windows 7. The procedures I have outlined in these pages can effectively be used on a clean install of Windows 7 as well as a newly purchased OEM installation fresh out of the box. This method can move the Program Files folder to a separate partition and move the Users folder to another separate partition. These modifications can be made with no effects or changes on Windows functionality other than to make it a bit more responsive and stable. Each special folder move can be treated as a completely separate process. One may choose to move the Program Files folder, for example, and leave the other special folders right where they are on the C: drive. Or one may choose to move just the Users folder, and leave the other folders in the Windows default. The WinSxS folder can also be moved, and moving this folder does indeed affect Windows Update (only), but this move, like each of the other moves, does not have to be made, and can be skipped. It is your installation of Windows 7. Set it up your way.

These procedures are not for the inexperienced, nor for the intermediate-level user. For that reason I am intentially leaving out the more basic steps in preparing your system for this setup; if you don't know how to get there from here, you're probably not ready for this. These procedures can break some things in Windows 7 (moving Winsxs, for example, causes most, but not all, Windows Updates to fail), so you will also need to be prepared to deal with that (there is a workaround). Read through these instructions very carefully, and print them for reference. If you're confused by any of the instructions, don't attempt the procedures. If you're unfamiliar with the way junctions work, don't attempt the procedures. If you're uncomfortable working in the system registry, don't attempt the procedures. Don't attempt this if you don't fully understand what is being done, and where, and why.

Be advised that Microsoft does not support this configuration. Also, due to the nature of Junction Points and the way different processes traverse them, I advise against relying on any backup software to preserve your system and data. System Restore will not work correctly, if at all. If you wish to rely on System Restore (I've always turned it off when I first install Windows), then don't use these procedures. I strongly advise using only drive imaging for backup purposes, and frequent testing of those images to insure reliability. Remember, I said that this is for advanced users only. However, if you do understand how it can be done, and you have a desire to clean up and reorganize your machine, you don't have to stay inside Microsoft's box; you can configure Windows 7 to run the way you want it to run.

Before attempting any of these procedures, do a full-system backup, preferably drive image(s). As I said, System Restore will not work correctly.

That bears repeating:

Before attempting any of these procedures, do a full-system backup, preferably drive image(s).

After you have reduced the size of your C: partition to make room on the drive for the additional partitions, I advise that you make another image of your C: partition for a full-system backup of the reduced partition size.