Vista - Changing Program Files Folder to D:

Hello,
i want to set D:\Program files instead of C:\program files as standard
folder where programs install themself. (many do not have an option to change
it, they get the path from windows)
So i have a clean C: for Windows to defragmentate and backup.

With XP MS Powertoys hat a setting to change the path for program filles.
How to do it in Vista? Many people want to seperate System and Programs!

Hi MC--

You don't have to do anything elaborate ,nor do you need any Powertoysesque
backdrop.

I have Vista on one drive, and I simply direct all my program installs to
another drive where I have created a program files folder. In my
experience the vast majority of applications you install have a "browse" or
"advanced" button in the setup, or you can type in a substitute for the
default drive directly, and it will install to the other drive and the
application will run normally.

As you probably know, there are some applications, (Nero and Office,
antivirus programs for example), that will insiston installing a few files
to the System Drive in addition to the majority on the drive you designate.

I direct my program files to another drive to save space on my Vista drive.
There may be a regedit to change a default install path, but I've never seen
the necessity to do one. Many times the regedit offered is:

In run type regedit:

Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion


On the right side, find the string called ProgramFilesDir and modify it to
the desired
path.

This value is present in Vista. You can try it and of course, backup by

1) Setting a restore point
2) In the reg: File>Export>Entire Reg or Key in this case
3) Save to location of your choice.

Good luck,

CH





"MC" <MC@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0398B89E-02C9-4B7D-8AE8-97D339A30652@microsoft.com...
> Hello,
> i want to set D:\Program files instead of C:\program files as standard
> folder where programs install themself. (many do not have an option to
> change
> it, they get the path from windows)
> So i have a clean C: for Windows to defragmentate and backup.
>
> With XP MS Powertoys hat a setting to change the path for program filles.
> How to do it in Vista? Many people want to seperate System and Programs!

Thanks Chad,
that Reg Key was what i was looking for.
Sadly, i got some error after changing it.
For example the windows sidebar did not work or thumb previews of videos.
(All MS Vista progs and errors nit 3. Party)
So some programs or windows may not save the path of a program, to work but
look into the registry to see where they are stored?!?!
So i changed it back.
Many programs like my Nero do not allow to chosea path.
Also i installed a test version of Office 2007 and it did not ask fora path.
So my C: Folder grows and grows and its not possible to backup it one a DVD.

My goal would be, to tell future programs by registry to store at D:\programs,
while the Programs that are at C:\programs get no problems.


"Chad Harris" wrote:

> Hi MC--
>
> You don't have to do anything elaborate ,nor do you need any Powertoysesque
> backdrop.
>
> I have Vista on one drive, and I simply direct all my program installs to
> another drive where I have created a program files folder. In my
> experience the vast majority of applications you install have a "browse" or
> "advanced" button in the setup, or you can type in a substitute for the
> default drive directly, and it will install to the other drive and the
> application will run normally.
>
> As you probably know, there are some applications, (Nero and Office,
> antivirus programs for example), that will insiston installing a few files
> to the System Drive in addition to the majority on the drive you designate.
>
> I direct my program files to another drive to save space on my Vista drive.
> There may be a regedit to change a default install path, but I've never seen
> the necessity to do one. Many times the regedit offered is:
>
> In run type regedit:
>
> Navigate to:
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
>
>
> On the right side, find the string called ProgramFilesDir and modify it to
> the desired
> path.
>
> This value is present in Vista. You can try it and of course, backup by
>
> 1) Setting a restore point
> 2) In the reg: File>Export>Entire Reg or Key in this case
> 3) Save to location of your choice.
>
> Good luck,
>
> CH
>
>
>
>
>
> "MC" <MC@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:0398B89E-02C9-4B7D-8AE8-97D339A30652@microsoft.com...
> > Hello,
> > i want to set D:\Program files instead of C:\program files as standard
> > folder where programs install themself. (many do not have an option to
> > change
> > it, they get the path from windows)
> > So i have a clean C: for Windows to defragmentate and backup.
> >
> > With XP MS Powertoys hat a setting to change the path for program filles.
> > How to do it in Vista? Many people want to seperate System and Programs!
>
>