How can I get ITunes to install on my D drive

iTunes itself can only be installed on the boot drive. If you've already moved your iTunes Media folder to another volume, then other than deleting old backup files for your iOS devices - where they're located will depend on your version of Windows - there's nothing else I can think of that you can do to reduce iTunes' footprint on your C: drive.

Regards.

Relocate iOS device backups

Assuming you're running Windows Vista or later you can use the following steps:

1. Open a command prompt by hitting the start button and typing CMD<Enter> in the search box that opens up.
2. To move the current backup folder from C: to D: type in this command and press <Enter>
   Move "C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "D:\Backup"
   Where <User> is your Windows user name.
3. To make iTunes look for the data in the new location type in this command and press <Enter>
   MkLink /J "C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "D:\Backup"

If your target drive has a different letter or you already have a folder called "Backup" then edit "D:\Backup" accordingly in both commands.

If you're still running Windows XP you can use Junction (cmd line tool) or NTFSLink (shell ext). In both cases you move the existing folder to a new location, create an empty folder where the old one used to be, then use the tools to get the operating system to link the two together and silently redirect any file operation on the old location through to the new one.

Note that while this method works for iOS device backups it cannot be used to redirect sections of the media library.

tt2

I have Windows 7 Pro. I follwed your instructions and modified them to change the drive letters. Below is what I used and the responses received in the CMD prompt.

Move "C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "E:\Apple\Backup"

Response: "Access is denied".

MkLink /J "C:\Users\jwm\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "E:\Apple\Backup"

Response: "Cannot create a file when that file already exists" Please note that an empty Backup folder did exist, but even after I deleted it I got the same response. I even tried this with a different folder name that never existed and I got the same response.

Any thoughts?

In the first one you've shown <USER> instead of the text you would have replaced it with, which I assume is jwm.

The second command only makes sense if the first one has been actioned, or implemented in using Windows Explorer to cut and paste the folder in a similar fashion.

I believe variations in Windows builds and iTunes versions might possibly cause the folder of interest to be in Local rather than Roaming.

tt2

I replaced the <USER> with my actual user name so that was not the issue.

The Roaming folder is correct as it is where the backups are currently being stored.

Not sure what you mean by "The second command only makes sense if the first one has been actioned, or implemented in using Windows Explorer to cut and paste the folder in a similar fashion."

If the MOVE didn't happen, you can't do the MKLINK. You can try cutting and pasting the folder by hand using Windows Explorer as an alternative to the command line instruction. You might get a more meaningful message if Windows still thinks you should not move the folder, or you may be able to confirm that you really want it to be done.

tt2

Do I need to copy just the Backup folder, or create the entire directory on the E drive?

Aha, I see it now! You can't move a folder from one folder to a non-existent folder. You need to create E:\Apple before you can move Backup inside it. Doesn't matter whether you use the command line or Explorer the same applies. You don't need all the other nested layers (unless you want them).

This should work:

MD E:\Apple

Move "C:\Users\jwm\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "E:\Apple\Backup"

MkLink /J "C:\Users\jwm\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "E:\Apple\Backup"

tt2

I had already created that Apple folder on the E drive so that is not the issue either.

Oh well, drag the Backup folder into it, then use the last command to make the junction.

tt2

I used the CMD

MkLink /J "C:\Users\jwm\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "E:\Apple\Backup", but just get the same message that I cannot create a folder that already exists.

Did you copy the folder or move it. If the original folder still exists inside:

C:\Users\jwm\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\

then the MkLink command will fail.

tt2

OK. I dragged it over and ropped it, but it left the original folder in the original location for some reason. I just deleted the original folder and now the Junction command worked. Does this mean that the next time I use iTunes it will store my backup files on the E drive now, or I need to do something else?

No that's it. You can empty the recycle bin to reclaim the space now.

tt2