Relocated Home directory to exFAT partition => Skype freezes

skypesymlink

Do you have a fix for this particular scenario:

1) Two partitions boot drive, the second one formatted exFAT
2) Relocate Home directory to Partition2 using the default way:

System Preferences -> Users & Groups -> Advanced Options -> Home directory

3) Install Skype
4) At first launch Skype will freeze / not connect / CMD + Q will also freeze Skype
5) Any other app except Skype works fine

I've tried installing Skype on two different systems (El Capitan & Mavericks) with Home directory relocated to another partition and the problem persist.

If you want to experience this and hopefully find a solution you can create a small partition of a few GBs and another OS user and move its Home directory to new partition created then try to install Skype.

UPDATE: I've just learned that the issue is related to how the second partition is formatted. Skype freezes while partition2 is formatted as ExFAT but if I format it as Mac OS Extended, Skype works fine.

I am ready to any kind of solution but is very very relevant for my that Desktop + Documents + Downloads folders to remain on partition2 formatted as ExFAT.

Thank you

Best Answer

The best way of resolving this would be to create a partition to hold just your Home folder and then use /etc/fstab to mount the partition at /Users/<username>.

Otherwise a symbolic link between the new location of your Home and /Users/<username>is the best way to go. ln -s <new_home> /Users/<username>. Of course this replaces the current /Users/<newname>.

Frankly, I find this too much trouble and usually just trim my Home folder by moving such things as my iTunes library, which is easy and well supported by iTunes.