Can I move Windows 8 C:\ESD folder?

I'm preparing to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8, and I am tight for space on my C:\ drive, which is an SSD displaying its total size as 111 GB.

I want to maximise the free space, as I know that I'll end up with a C:\Windows.old folder for some time.

Having already purchased the Windows 8 upgrade, I have a C:\ESD folder which occupies 2.6 GB.

I see from Can I delete Windows 8 ESD file? that I won't be able to delete this folder, even after the upgrade, as Windows uses those files for the new Refresh and Reset options.

But is it OK to move this folder from C:\ESD to D:\ESD?

By "OK", I mean:

• Will I be able to install the Windows 8 upgrade successfully, if I have moved it to D:
• Will Refresh and Reset work OK, in Windows 8, if the ESD folder is in a location other than C:\ESD?

Solution 1:

Microsoft probably didn't design the ESD folder to be moved however:

You can move the folder to your other Partition/Drive and create a shortcut to the folder in the place the ESD folder was.

Example:

1. Move the C:\ESD to D:\ESD

2. Create a shortcurt in C:\ named ESD and point it to D:\ESD:

   mklink /j C:\ESD D:\ESD

That should work.