Windows10 - can I split off apps and user data?

[crossy]

In the lucky position to be able to upgrade my current W7 gaming machine to W10, but one thing's holding me back.

In my current W7 setup I have distinct "OS", "Apps" and "User data" drives. And I quite like that split because I can use a small (but quick) drive for OS, a larger (/slower) drive for apps and a large HDD for my user data.

I've done a couple of searches and it looks like W10 will not allow that split - sure I can override where music, photos and other docs go after initial install, but that's it.

Other driver for wanting to do this is that I'm considering moving from SATA SSD to m.2 SSD for OS, dual-booting with Ubuntu, so the last thing I want is my precious high-speed SSD filled up with a lot of "unecessary" content (ahem, especially all those Steam games!)

Any advice folks?

(PS, "upgrading" to W8 is NOT an option)

[GoNz0]

Same as windows 7 under the hood, I use a multiple drive setup, smaller SSD raid 0 for C drive containing windows, D is larger SSD for games, E is my remaining storage on a WD Red.


(not trying to point out the obvious below)
I install to C, move the docs, downloads, music, pictures, video (anything that shows in the file explorer) over to the existing "file"s drives identical location by right clicking the relevant folder in "This PC" > properties > location as that will copy any new strays over from the fresh install to the (in my case already existing before the format) location. Steam and Origin once installed on D will default most stuff there but origin has a game install path option in settings and steam will default to steam if that makes sense.

Apps seem to want to save to C no matter what but you always get to choose the default install location so it's no hardship for me as it isn't like you install lots of stuff on a regular basis?

Untitled by Gareth Holland, on Flickr

[directhex]

Were you using an unattended install file to force directories like USERDATA onto a different drive?

No, that doesn't work as of Windows 8.0 - only changing the Documents etc directories post-install works.

[crossy]

Were you using an unattended install file to force directories like USERDATA onto a different drive?
No, that doesn't work as of Windows 8.0 - only changing the Documents etc directories post-install works.

I honestly can't remember - mainly because my W7 box was built nearly five years ago. Although I'm pretty sure that it wasn't that involved - I seem to remember installing an "admin" account on C: and then doing something (registry hack?) to make sure that the default location for apps, and new user creation was elsewhere.

PS, thanks for that GoNz0 - my ole W7 box is very creaky now, so it's time for a refresh, so maybe a new W10 install is a necessity rather than an option. Downside is that I've regarded W8 and W8.1 with as much fondness as a box of rabid wolverines, so some of that W8 "tech" has passed me by - which is why these are maybe n00b questions.

[GoNz0]

it wasn't even a hack on W7, you just specify the default install location in advanced system settings.

Upgrade then clean install to get your free W10 licence