BleepingComputer.com: Associating Vista Explorer Icons with different locations?

Hi Anyone,

I am looking to finally get my PC in the best working order that I can.

I need to do a total re-install of my Vista OS an hope to re-organize all my partitions to accommodate this.

I've recently discovered that Vista's backup tools are very good and because of this I want to use backup a bit more than different partitions for different categories of programs.

However, if there is a way to re-associate Explorer browser links-icons with different partitions I would still like to keep certain files like "Documents" and "Paid for software" on separate partitions to facilitate easier re-instillation of the OS.

Does anyone know if and how this may be done? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

John

This post has been edited by Johnz414: 06 February 2009 - 09:06 PM

If you navigate to the folder, right click, and select "Properties" there will be a tab (for those system folders) that's labelled "Move".
For folders without the Move tab, you'll have to manually relocate them to the other partition.
Be careful not to do this with installed programs as they may not work afterwards.

"usasma!" you wonderful bleepingcomputer.com geek !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been trying to figure out how to do that for years and you just Lolly dog point it out to me, RIGHT ON you wonderful PC expert !!!!!!!!!!!

I've always wanted to find a way not to have to keep re-installing "those" files that don't need re-installing ever time I have to do a total OS re-instillation.

Boy it's nice to have someone on here that knows (a lot) more than I do.

It makes me think of those movies where they try to bottle peoples gifts so that others can acquire them by just drinking the potion.

Well, they should bottle yours cause I need it!

You're the best!

John

PS Microsoft must of finally heard us!

This post has been edited by Johnz414: 07 February 2009 - 10:02 AM

Thanks! I've worked this issue a lot - and that's how I found that out.

I've got all my data and documents saved on a separate drive. That drive also includes the profile for my Firefox and Thunderbird installations.
Once that's all done, I create a disk image of my system. That way the system image already points to those locations - so when I restore that image, I'm able to access my stuff immediately.

The only issue that I've got right now is from laziness. I'm too lazy to figure out how to redirect my email checker (PopPeeper) so that it works that way also. Because of that, I've included my PopPeeper folder in my backup routine - so at least all of the settings are saved to another drive.

I don't know if this is close to what you're talking about, but this is something I do.

I have no partitions on my main machine, so I have my most important stuff in different folders. I do have a system backup on an external drive, tho.


These folders can all be put on a DVD or CD and I can then take them to my two other computers. I just drag them onto the desktop and move them to where I want from there.

I thought of doing that and was going to before "usasma!" Enlightened me about the "Move" option found in "Properties" by right clicking on the "Start" menu links and "Explorer" links.

With the "Move" option I won't ever have to bother with (all the time involved in) restoring all those "My Documents" including the ton of photos, music, videos and application.exe files that I've accumulated over the years.

I'll be able to keep the OS restore short and sweet.

I'll still backup everything else that needs to be, "My Documents", etc. to an external HD but ---

The "Move" thing really sounds like a fun & exciting way to save a lot of time and make things a whole lot safer if not just easier.

If it's not then I guess your way will be my next choice.

Actually, I think my way works best for me, with all the different OS's that I have ... Vista Business Vista Ultimate, XP Pro and XP home ... plus Win 7 Beta