Moving ClientApps Folder

If you are in a situation on a Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2003 system where you are running out of disk space on the system drive, there are a number of steps you can take to free disk space. You can take steps listed in Freeing Disk Space

You can compress the ClientApps folder, which has a default location of C:\ClientApps using the steps at Compressing ClientApps Folder on an SBS 2003 Server. That step can give you around 300 MB of additional space, typically compressing the folder down from about 1 GB down to about 700 MB. You may be able to save even more space by compressing that folder, if you have placed some of your own applications in that folder.

Microsoft provides a Word document at Moving Data Folders for Windows Small Business Server 2003, which lists additional steps you can take that entail moving folders to another volume, which is an option if you have additional partitions on the same drive that holds your system partition or have other drives in the system.

If you move the ClientApps folder you may be able to save 1 GB, if the folder is uncompressed, or 750 MB, if the folder has been compressed. Since that folder is shared to domain users by default, you need to take some additional steps other than just moving it elsewhere. The steps are listed below.

  1. Stop sharing the folder
    1. Right-click on the ClientApps folder.
    2. selectProperties.
    3. Click on the Sharing tab.
    4. Select Do not share this folder.
    5. Click on OK
  2. Move the folder to a new location.
  3. Share the folder from the new location.
    1. Right-click on the folder and choose Properties.
    2. Click on the Sharing tab.
    3. Click on Share this folder.
    4. Leave the default value of ClientApps for the Share name and put Windows Small Business Server Client Applications in the Description field.
    5. Click on the Permissions button.
    6. Microsoft's Knowledge Base 830254 article advises giving the Everyone group Full Control. However, the original permissions on the folder are Full Control for the Domain Users group and I would recommend setting the permissions with that value. You can do so by selecting the Everyone group and clicking on the Remove button. Then click on the Add button, put Domain Users in the Object names field, then click on the OK field.
    7. Click on the OK button to close the Permissions for ClientApps window.
    8. Click on the Security tab to verify the settings. They should be set so that Domain Administrators and System have full control. The Users group should have "Read & Execute", "List Folder Contents" and "Read" permissions. The Creator Owner will have "Special Permissions" set and you can leave that setting.
    9. Click on the OK button to close the ClientApps Properties window.
  4. Now run the Registry Editor by clicking on Start, then Run and typing regedit in the Open field. Then click on OK or hit enter to open the Registry Editor.
  5. Navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SmallBusinessServer\clientsetup key.
  6. In the right pane of the Registry Editor window, double-click on ClientAppsRoot.
  7. Change the ValueData field to reflect the new location of the ClientApps folder.
  8. Click on OK.
  9. Close the Registry Editor

References:

  1. How to move the client programs folder to another location in Windows Small Business Server 2003
  2. Moving Data Folders for Windows Small Business Server 2003