Yes, you can move a user account folder.
Yes, you can move a user account folder.
In OSX you could simply move your saved games, app data, and account settings by dragging them from your Home folder to the desired location on another machine. You’d then create a new user with a matching short name to connect everything. This method works well for transferring files without using applications.
On Windows, similar steps exist but require more setup. You can copy files directly from one drive to another, though you’ll need to ensure the destination folder is empty or properly formatted. Creating a new user account with the same name as your source folder helps link the data.
Regarding the SSD upgrade and installing Windows, moving a C:\Users folder from an SSD is possible if it’s clean and formatted correctly. However, linking game and program data to the new installation depends on how you transfer the files—using tools like cloning software or ensuring proper file permissions. It’s not guaranteed by default, so you may need to verify the integrity of the copied data after installation.
For your son’s setup, make sure the copied files are placed in a location he can access and that Windows recognizes them correctly. If you need further guidance, let me know!
In short, you can proceed easily, though compatibility varies by game or program. The folders you need to transfer are located in your user profile and system settings. You’ll also discover all personal or single-user shortcuts on the Desktop. Public folders appear there as well. Some titles like Steam or Origin store their own settings and save files within the client directory. Steam also has its own apps and Origin games folders. For older titles, this method may not always restore saves after reloading.
Exactly. Under AppData there are three main areas: Roaming, Local, and LocalLow. You should focus on Roaming and Local. The key distinction lies in what each handles. Local is meant for temporary files, cache, and anything that shouldn’t affect user preferences. Roaming contains program settings. This structure exists because the system considers whether a machine is part of a domain. Files in Roaming sync with the server, ensuring user settings carry over when switching devices. Local remains isolated, not linked to the server. Developers decide where files go, but game creators often ignore this guidance. They place save data in Local or Documents, which is confusing since Windows actually has a SAVED GAMES folder. I’m puzzled why developers avoid it—perhaps due to outdated code from older versions like XP. This mess makes backups and account transfers much harder.