Use D: for Windows installations on Azure

conda_smithy/data/conda-forge.yml

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ azure:
     timeoutInMinutes: 360
     variables:
       CONDA_BLD_PATH: D:\\bld\\
+      MINIFORGE_HOME: D:\Miniforge
       UPLOAD_TEMP: D:\\tmp
   store_build_artifacts: false
   timeout_minutes: null

conda_smithy/schema.py

@@ -211,11 +211,25 @@ class AzureConfig(BaseModel):
         default_factory=lambda: AzureRunnerSettings(
             pool={"vmImage": "windows-2022"},
             variables={
+                "MINIFORGE_HOME": "D:\\Miniforge",
                 "CONDA_BLD_PATH": "D:\\\\bld\\\\",
                 "UPLOAD_TEMP": "D:\\\\tmp",
             },
         ),
-        description="Windows-specific settings for runners",
+        description=cleandoc(
+            """
+            Windows-specific settings for runners. Some important variables you can set are:
+
+            - `CONDA_BLD_PATH`: Location of the conda-build workspace. Defaults to `D:\\bld`
+            - `MINIFORGE_HOME`: Location of the base environment installation. Defaults to
+              `D:\\Miniforge`.
+            - `SET_PAGEFILE`: `"True"` to increase the pagefile size via conda-forge-ci-setup.
+
+            If you are running out of space in `D:`, consider changing to `C:`.
+            It's a slower drive but has more space available. We recommend you keep
+            both `CONDA_BLD_PATH` and `MINIFORGE_HOME` in the same drive for performance.
+            """
+        ),
     )
 
     user_or_org: Optional[Union[str, Nullable]] = Field(

conda_smithy/templates/azure-pipelines-win.yml.tmpl

@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ jobs:
           urllib.request.urlretrieve(url, path)
 
     - script: |
-        start /wait "" %BUILD_ARTIFACTSTAGINGDIRECTORY%\Miniforge.exe /InstallationType=JustMe /RegisterPython=0 /S /D=C:\Miniforge
+        start /wait "" %BUILD_ARTIFACTSTAGINGDIRECTORY%\Miniforge.exe /InstallationType=JustMe /RegisterPython=0 /S /D=$(MINIFORGE_HOME)
       displayName: Install Miniforge
 
-    - powershell: Write-Host "##vso[task.prependpath]C:\Miniforge\Scripts"
+    - powershell: Write-Host "##vso[task.prependpath]$(MINIFORGE_HOME)\Scripts"
       displayName: Add conda to PATH
 
     - script: |

news/2076-install-to-D.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+**Added:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Changed:**
+
+* Use the faster ``D:\`` drive for Miniforge installations on Windows. (#2076)
+
+**Deprecated:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Removed:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Fixed:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Security:**
+
+* <news item>