Windows 7: Change Program Files default location?

Hi all,



This friday i plan to do a clean install of Windows 7 because im running the RC right now but bought the Retail version. Im going to plan out my partitions so that i have one pertition for the OS, and another for my personal files and Program Files.

So i just wanted to know, how would i change the location from my C partition of the program files to lets say the D drive (other partition)?

Am i supposed to do it manually by cutting the folder and pasting it, and whenever i install a program i change the directory, or is there an automatic way like changing a registry value?

Look forward to your answers!
Thanks

edit: after further research it looks like u can change a reg value, but it may cause problems with some Microsoft software. What do most of you people here do cause i've read that some people here have separate drives for program files?

The program files are a part of the OS .. I see no reason to put them in another partition.
A different partition for your personal data is a good idea if you plan on having a lot of data.

i want to have them on another partition because i want the OS partition to run optimally. Having a ton of programs there might bog it down

Having a ton of running programs would bog it down regardless of where they were located.

ok i think i'll leave them where they are. But another thing i'd like to know is how do i change the location for my Documents, Music, Videos, Pictures, and Downloads to another partition?

That can be done .. I don't remember how right now.
In my system .. I just do NOT use My Docs ..
I have a shortcut to my Data partition(s) and use it (them) instead.

My Docs would not help me since I have built in Backups.

My Windows 7 computer looks about the same.

I selectively install programs to another partition. Most installations give you the choice of location. Moving the entire contents of Program Files to another hard drive is not advisable. For example all of the programs installed in a fresh clean install of Windows is nothing more then a hardlink. Copying those to a second partition devours more space and hinders upgradability.

Any software that does not give me a choice on where to install, I use a junction point.

Yeh i was thinking of maybe just creating a directory on my program file partition and only manually choosing that folder when installing software. I'll still keep the original Prog files on C: for the programs where u cant specify install directory during install. How does that sound?

It sounds like you will run into problems when/if you backup your system by using Windows 7's Imaging or other system Imaging backup programs.

It's best if your System is all in one place (partition)
Personal Data is a different story.

ok then i think i'll leave it as default. Thanks for your input

edit: but what if i never want to make an image back up, could i run into any other problems?