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Posted by: MickeM Nov 1 2008, 11:08 AM

When I installed a new HD i partitioned it in C: for the OS and F: for other software.

Now when installing anything it will always prompt me for "C:\Program Files\Line6" for example. I'd like it to be defaulted to "F:\Program Files\Line6"
Does anyone know how to do that?

Posted by: Muris Varajic Nov 1 2008, 11:19 AM

Program files is by default where OS is.
You can simply make another folder and name it like "programs" per example
and then install all you need there.
I don't know how to set it to works by default tho
bu even manualy it is not too much trouble,just few clicks.

Posted by: Emir Hot Nov 1 2008, 11:19 AM

That's not a good idea what you want. All programs should be on the system drive because Windows is designed to work that way much safer if you install software on your system drive. That's why it prompts you to install there. Use the other (usually much bigger) partition for storing your own data - audio files and project that you record etc...

Posted by: Muris Varajic Nov 1 2008, 11:24 AM

I have 2 HDs,2 windows and 3 partitions,
programs are installed all around and never had any problems.
Maybe I was just lucky.

Posted by: blindwillie Nov 1 2008, 11:28 AM

You need to change a key in the registry. (Start/Run, type regedit.exe)
Find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ProgramFilesDir in one of two ways.
Either browse down to it or press "F3" and search for ProgramFilesDir. Make sure yoy have found the right one. Check the full path to the key you found.

The default value of the key should be "C:\Program Files"
Change this to the directory you wish. "F:\Program Files" in your case.
If you are uncomfartable with changing the registry I'm sure there are tools to help you with it but I can't point you to any right now. Maybe XP Power Tools, I haven't looked into it.

The solution is not 100% though because still some stupid installers insist on installing hardcoded to C:
Hence the warning from Emir. There are lots of design flaws and bad default desicions in the design of Windows, unfortunatly. Changing default ProgDir *shouldn't* give you problems... If it does just reverse the change and set it to C: again. No big deal.

Disclaimer: This is out of memory and I haven't doublechecked if this is still a valid way to do it. Things change over time

Posted by: MickeM Nov 1 2008, 11:30 AM

I've only got 1 GB left on the C-drive so installing programs there and keep data on the F drive won't be possible.

Thought this was a great idea from the beginning but now I rather wish I had only made one drive

I've read instructions somewhere how to repartition, I think I will have to do that either way.

Posted by: Emir Hot Nov 1 2008, 11:31 AM

I have some plugins that have to be on the C drive strictly. That way you also make sure that your working drive is clean. It is also good if you want to take that drive and mix your song somewhere else, take just your working data with nothing else on the drive. It becomes like a backup drive, with nothing else on it but your working files. Also the defragmentation is much easier that way. System files may corrupt other drive letters if they clash with something unexpected because Windows is the worst system ever made. That's just my suggestion.

Posted by: MickeM Nov 1 2008, 11:40 AM

Couldn't find the ProgramFilesDir there but I'm searching for it.



I still have an option to get it that way, keeping all programs at C and data on F. I don't have that much yet on my HD so I could repartition and keep OS + programs on C: and data on F:

Posted by: blindwillie Nov 1 2008, 11:42 AM

Hmmm.... could I really remember something wrong? Nah can't be

/edit:
Oh, I get it.
It's not a "folder" or container. You have to click on "CurrentVersion" and you will see the key with the value in the right pane.

Posted by: MickeM Nov 1 2008, 11:51 AM

I found several entries of ProgramFilesDir
One in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Currentversion\
Must be this one?

others were in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Session manager\SFC
and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003\Control\Session manager\SFC
and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CUrrentControlSet\Control\Session manager\SFC
don't seem right...

Posted by: blindwillie Nov 1 2008, 12:00 PM

I wrote about partitioning in another thread awhile back. I never partition a drive anymore. Sooner or later you will end up with too little space on one partition, in desperate need for the space you allocated to the other partition.
You could get hold of "Partition Magic" or such. If you don't want to reinstall. It's a risk to repartition a live drive though.

Aslo, if you change the location of Program Files, I'll guess you need a reboot before it takes effect. Hold your thumbs and pray to your guitargod and reboot


You are right. It's the first one. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Currentversion\.
That's why I said make sure it's the right path so you change the right key

Before you do the change you can right click on the container for "CurrnetVersion" and choose "Export" and save that container as a .reg file. If you make something wrong under "CurrentVersion" you can doubleclick on the saved .reg-file and it will ask you to confirm if you want to import the saved settings for "CurrentVersion"

Posted by: MickeM Nov 1 2008, 01:12 PM

Thanks, done!!

Any good guidelines to how to repartition without losing any data?

Posted by: blindwillie Nov 1 2008, 05:06 PM

The only application I have any knowledge about is Partition Magic. It's easy to use and I have never had any problems with it, but I've only used it a couple of times and people have failed with it.

Posted by: MickeM Nov 1 2008, 05:58 PM

Via Partition Magic (that was expensive) I looked up some freeware and am running one right now. First I'm decreasing the F: partition 4GB which I later will add to partition C:

There's no telling how this will end...

Posted by: MickeM Nov 1 2008, 06:44 PM

So what I did was to free up 4GB on F: and then add these 4GB to the OS System partition.
Now I see the C: partition as 12GB and myother partition as 62GB so as far as I can judge all worked out well.

I used a freeware program called EASEUS Partition manager 2.1
And it was easy to use even a goofball like myself found it intuiative, just the way I like my programs since manuals aren't my thing.

And when I installed this prgram it defaulted F:\Program Files\ so that works now too.


Thanks everyone!

Posted by: blindwillie Nov 1 2008, 10:01 PM

Great you got it solved. Doing stuff like this can be painful, but as my doctor told me when I had gotten rid of my kidneystone: "Yes, maybe I forgot to tell you. I didn't want to make you nervous. It can be painful."
Thanks for the tip about the freeware proggie. I love freeware