Mist: Enhancement: select data directory on an external HDD to save space on an SSD C drive

[jamesray1]

There was no option when I downloaded the zip file, extracted it and ran Mist to select where the data directory folder would be. Bitcoin Core had this option. It is very useful for me because I have a 128 GB SSD so need to limit what I store on that, instead putting stuff on an external HDD instead. I will create separate issue for this.

System information

Version: `0.8.10` OS & Version: windows 10 Home Node type: geth

Please check the already existing issues to keep duplicates at a minimum.

Furthermore several work-arounds have been collected in the Mist-Troubleshooting-Guide.

If possible add the following to your report:

• Screenshots

• Check the console, of Mist (CTRL/CMD + ALT + i) and take a screenshot
  
  

• Log files

  • go to menu -> accounts -> backup -> application data
  • zip and upload node.log and all other node.log.X files
    node.log.zip

[sathishvj]

I don't know if there is a way to do it from the wallet UI (Mist/Ethereum-Wallet). But you could start geth in the command line pointing to a different chaindata directory and then when you start Mist/Ethereum-Wallet, it will connect to that. geth options

[jamesray1]

OK, I s'pose to do that I'd need to uninstall Mist and download and extract it again, then do those steps that you suggest. But I would need to uninstall and reinstall Mist anyway to select the data directory.

[sathishvj]

You won't need to uninstall and reinstall Mist for that. When Mist/Ethereum-Wallet starts, it will check whether there is a running node. If it is, it will connect to that. If not, it will start the geth service. Therefore, if you ran geth first, it will connect to that instance. geth is run from the command line and it should already be there somewhere in your installation depending on your platform.

p.s. back up your keystore file first.

[charly37]

Also you can use the windows installer that offer this option and works fine

[jamesray1]

Too late, I already deleted Mist. Using the installer was much easier, I should've tried using that in the first place!