@Barry
>”I do not want to install on C drive. How do I change install drive?”
I understand wholeheartedly. Your appdata does not have to be on the C drive. You can move it to a different drive if you wish.
To help those that wish to have appdata and associated files on another drive, I asked Gemini, and received an excellent full answer:
In Windows OS, how does one change C:\user\…appdata….\ and associated files to a different drive? This is important for users that wish to keep their C drive minimalistic, with the main install being the OS only.
There are a few ways to change the location of the AppData folder in Windows:
1. Using a symbolic link:
Create a new folder on the desired drive (e.g., D:\AppData).
Open a command prompt as an administrator.
Type the following command, replacing D:\AppData with the actual path to your new folder:
mklink /j “C:\Users\<your_username>\AppData” “D:\AppData”
This will create a symbolic link that points to the new location.
2. Using a junction point:
Create a new folder on the desired drive (e.g., D:\AppData).
Open a command prompt as an administrator.
Type the following command, replacing D:\AppData with the actual path to your new folder:
junction “C:\Users\<your_username>\AppData” “D:\AppData”
This will create a junction point that links the AppData folder to the new location.
3. Moving the folder manually:
Close all programs that might be accessing the AppData folder.
Open File Explorer and navigate to the AppData folder.
Cut and paste the folder to the desired location on the new drive.
You might need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Note:
Symbolic links and junction points: These methods are generally preferred as they allow you to keep the original AppData folder structure in place.
Moving the folder manually: This method is less recommended as it can break shortcuts and references to files within the AppData folder.
Additional considerations:
Some applications might have specific settings to change the location of their AppData folder. Check the application’s documentation for more information.
If you’re using a cloud storage service like OneDrive, you might need to configure it to sync the AppData folder to your new location.
Be cautious when moving system files. Incorrectly moving or modifying system files can cause instability or even prevent your computer from booting.
By following these steps, you can successfully move the AppData folder and associated files to a different drive, helping to keep your C drive clean and organized.
I hope this is beneficial for many others in the same situation.