How To Move The Windows Folder To A Different Drive?

Solution 1:

The mklink /J creates a junction, but it is unwise to junction the Windows folder. You could junction Program Files and/or Program Files (x86). You can also junction your My Documents/My Music/ and etc.

You can also move the swap file.

Although it might be physically possible to junction Windows it could easily have unexpected consequences. Programs not running correct, updates not installing, system crashing unexpectedly.

Solution 2:

These special directories are called symbolic links. It's possible in theory to move the Windows directory to another drive and replace it with a symbolic link, but one of many reasons the OS would not run from it is that support for symbolic links is part of the OS. The support would have to be implemented at a higher level for this to work.

Moreover, Windows will not allow you to move this directory, even if it doesn't contain a running OS, for example when booting from an install medium. Attempts to move the directory through an operating system that doesn't offer this protection will cause Windows to think the file system is corrupt.

The only practical way to move this directory is to reinstall Windows.