Move user home folder... Safe?

Discussion in 'macOS' started by frogywill, Sep 3, 2009.

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  1. frogywill, Sep 3, 2009

    frogywill macrumors newbie

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2008
    #1
    I am going to install a SSD in my MacPro, probably will re-install SL from scratch.
    I will move my user folder to another drive, since the SSD is too small.

    Is moving the user folder 100% safe? Should I look out for any issues after/before I move it ?

    Thanks!
     
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  2. McGiord, Sep 3, 2009

    McGiord macrumors 601

    McGiord

    Joined:
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    #2
    Do a backup before doing anything.
    Use the Migration Assistant to copy your old HDD user to the new SSD.
     
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  3. richard.mac, Sep 3, 2009

    richard.mac macrumors 603

    richard.mac

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    #3
    yeh do a backup, then you can muck around!

    you can move the home folder by right clicking your username in Accounts preferences and choosing advanced. also make sure you put a symlink in /Users that points to your moved user folder.
     
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  4. adamk77, Sep 4, 2009

    adamk77 macrumors 6502

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    #4
    This is exactly what I do. There shouldn't be any issues. Just copy your user directory to the other drive.

    sudo ditto -rsrc /Users/user /Volumes/ExternalDrive/user

    Then go into prefs, accounts, control click on your user which brings up the advanced menu. Go into it and set it to the new location. Restart and all should be fine.
     
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  5. frogywill, Sep 4, 2009

    frogywill thread starter macrumors newbie

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    Feb 4, 2008
    #5
    Will Time Machine back up both drives?
    Also is it possible to move the entire "users" directory or is it just on a per user basis ?
     
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  6. adamk77, Sep 4, 2009

    adamk77 macrumors 6502

    Joined:
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    #6
    There is a way to move the entire users directory, but I haven't tried it so I'm sorry to say I can't help you.

    I have Time Machine back up to my internal HDD drive. As such, that drive is not backed up.
     
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