user3996: I am installing Bitcoin-Qt and have been reading about Bitcoin basics, but I found very little information on the client. I have a few questions about the Bitcoin-Qt program (v0.8.1-beta under Windows 7), 

Where is the complete Bitcoin-Qt documentation? I can not find it.
How do I change the file locations for the block-chain storage?

Block chain is ~6 GB
The default appears to be MyDocuments\AppData\Roaming\
My C: system drive is small, and I have a second drive for such data.

Is the "Wallet" a separate file/entity from the block-chain?

How do I define the wallet's location?
Can I backup the wallet by simple copy/paste/tar.gz without carrying the entire block-chain?

Does the Bitcoin-Qt client currently have built-in mining/transaction-processing? I do not see the dialog-box to configure. I have a graphics card and ample wasted CPU-cycles.

Thanks for clarification. Links to proper documentation are welcome!

user19190: Just FYI, you can use Windows based solution, create reparse point that point to another directory, just like symlink in Linux

user14887: It seems several people are interested in how to create symbolic links in Windows. I know I was. This allows you to move your data directory to another hard drive without having to add the datadir flag.
It's actually not that much different.
To create a symbolic link (called a junction in Windows land) in Vista or later:
mklink /J <Link> <Target> 

Make sure the folder path that you use for the <Link> doesn't exist before creating. 
(c:\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Bitcoin by default.)
Reference: Wikipedia

user75001: How do I move my Bitcoin Core data file

Safely exit Bitcoin Core (bitcoin-qt|bitcoind).
Make a new secure backup copy of your wallet.dat.
Move you entire .bitcoin folder to the new location, except for bitcoin.conf which you must leave where it is in the existing .bitcoin folder.
Edit bitcoin.conf to add datadir={full path to new .bitcoin folder}.
Start Bitcoin Core and check properly that everything is alright, your wallet is accessible and, balances correct, etc.
Protect your USB disk and make regular secure backup copies of your wallet.dat.

The alternative if you also move your bitcoin.conf file is to find and edit every shortcut that starts any Bitcoin Core process wherever they may be (and any new ones you make) and add the following including every time you type it at the command line -datadir={full path to new .bitcoin folder}.
Note: If storage space is an issue you can also enable the prune option; enter prune={number=>551} in your bitcoin.conf. The number is in MB.

user2306: 
Here:

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Bitcoin-Qt
https://www.google.com/search?q=bitcoin-qt+documentation

Use the -datadir option.
Right-click on your bitcoin-qt shortcut, press properties, and add -datadir=D:\Bitcoin
Go make that directory, then run bitcoin. If a bunch of files show up in there, you've done it correctly.
Yep.  

-datadir
File > Backup Wallet

Yes, but not GPU mining. GUI miner is a nice option though.


3996: <p>I am installing Bitcoin-Qt and have been reading about Bitcoin basics, but I found very little information on the client. I have a few questions about the Bitcoin-Qt program (v0.8.1-beta under Windows 7), </p>

<ol>
<li>Where is the complete Bitcoin-Qt documentation? I can not find it.</li>
<li>How do I change the file locations for the block-chain storage?
<ul>
<li>Block chain is ~6&nbsp;GB</li>
<li>The default appears to be <code>MyDocuments\AppData\Roaming\</code></li>
<li>My C: system drive is small, and I have a second drive for such data.</li>
</ul></li>
<li>Is the "Wallet" a separate file/entity from the block-chain?
<ul>
<li>How do I define the wallet's location?</li>
<li>Can I backup the wallet by simple copy/paste/tar.gz without carrying the entire block-chain?</li>
</ul></li>
<li>Does the Bitcoin-Qt client currently have built-in mining/transaction-processing? I do not see the dialog-box to configure. I have a graphics card and ample wasted CPU-cycles.</li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks for clarification. Links to proper documentation are welcome!</p>
 19190: <p>Just FYI, you can use Windows based solution, create reparse point that point to another directory, just like symlink in Linux</p>
 14887: <p>It seems several people are interested in how to create symbolic links in Windows. I know I was. This allows you to move your data directory to another hard drive without having to add the datadir flag.</p>

<p>It's actually not that much different.</p>

<p>To create a symbolic link (called a junction in Windows land) in Vista or later:</p>

<pre><code>mklink /J &lt;Link&gt; &lt;Target&gt; 
</code></pre>

<p>Make sure the folder path that you use for the &lt;Link&gt; doesn't exist before creating. </p>

<p>(c:\&lt;user&gt;\AppData\Roaming\Bitcoin by default.)</p>

<p>Reference: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTFS_junction_point#Creating_or_deleting_a_junction_point" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia</a></p>
 75001: <h1>How do I move my Bitcoin Core data file</h1>

<ol>
<li>Safely exit Bitcoin Core (bitcoin-qt|bitcoind).</li>
<li>Make a new secure backup copy of your <code>wallet.dat</code>.</li>
<li>Move you entire .bitcoin folder to the new location, <strong><em>except</strong> for <code>bitcoin.conf</code> which you <strong>must</strong> leave where it is in the existing .bitcoin folder.</em></li>
<li>Edit <code>bitcoin.conf</code> to add <code>datadir={full path to new .bitcoin folder}</code>.</li>
<li>Start Bitcoin Core and check properly that everything is alright, your wallet is accessible and, balances correct, etc.</li>
<li>Protect your USB disk and make regular secure backup copies of your <code>wallet.dat</code>.</li>
</ol>

<p><em>The alternative if you also move your <code>bitcoin.conf</code> file is to find and edit every shortcut that starts any Bitcoin Core process wherever they may be (and any new ones you make) and add the following including every time you type it at the command line <code>-datadir={full path to new .bitcoin folder}</code>.</em></p>

<p>Note: If storage space is an issue you can also enable the prune option; enter <code>prune={number=&gt;551}</code> in your <code>bitcoin.conf</code>. The number is in MB.</p>
 2306: <ol>
<li><p>Here:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Bitcoin-Qt" rel="noreferrer">https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Bitcoin-Qt</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=bitcoin-qt+documentation" rel="noreferrer">https://www.google.com/search?q=bitcoin-qt+documentation</a></li>
</ul></li>
<li><p>Use the <code>-datadir</code> option.<br>
Right-click on your bitcoin-qt shortcut, press properties, and add <code>-datadir=D:\Bitcoin</code><br>
Go make that directory, then run bitcoin. If a bunch of files show up in there, you've done it correctly.</p></li>
<li><p>Yep.  </p>

<ul>
<li><code>-datadir</code></li>
<li>File > Backup Wallet</li>
</ul></li>
<li><p>Yes, but not GPU mining. <a href="https://bitcointalk.org/?topic=3878.0" rel="noreferrer">GUI miner is a nice option though.</a></p></li>
</ol>
