Why is Windows using another partition to save its installation files?
I was just downloading System Sweeper from Microsoft and it started to use my external drive which is not always connected.
Is there any way to change this?
I ran the program directly by choosing "run" from IE.
It was creating a bootable media in I:\ which is a USB Flash.
It created a folder in J:\ named as "fgnbjsflkdgjsdfkfdgdg" something like that.
J:\ is a USB External disk.
It did this before too.
When no external drive is connected, my last disk partition (excluding DVD-ROM and virtual DVD-ROM) is F:\ and it was creating folders in F:\ too; again named as something like "fsdgnjlskghjsflkdgsdf".
So, I guess, for some reason it is creating those folders in the last disk partition (not CD/DVDs), because this time J:\ was my last partition.
I think you'll find the folders in question are temporary folders that are used as a cache for the downloaded program while you install it.
Once the download has been installed you can delete the temporary folder.
You are right in assuming that a new download will default to the location for the previous one unless you point the download to a new folder.
Whenever I download anything I always go to the option bar at the bottom of the screen and choose Save As, and then point the download to a download folder on my backup drive.
If ever I need the same download again I can just go to my download folder and install it from there.
It is temporary, I understand it.
The thing is I am dealing with several external disks. While a program is installing, and using the temporary folder, I can't unplug the external disk in use (at least safely and not interrupting the installation). I have to wait, and that is very inconvenient if you are working with more than one machine and several external disks. Also, it creates unnecessary folders in syncronization also.
As I mentioned in a previous post, Windows is always choosing the last partition on the machine for some reason. It doesn't matter if the Windows is a fresh install or not.
I both wanted to know the reason for this (It can be a technical reason, I just wanted to know as someone working with computers) and if there is anything to change this.
My last partition is F:\ and Windows Downloads (regularly \User\Downloads) is downloading the files there (for example, when you click save in IE). But why it is going to the external partitions? I couldn't figure it out and actually I couldn't find any information on the Internet either.
Thanks for your reply though, because it made me think that since the Downloads folder is in F:\, and F:\ is the last internal partition; Windows may try to create the temporary installation folders in the last partition. When I connect an external device, it may try to save it on the last partition.
So far, the best reply I can give myself is that Windows is creating the temporary installation folders in a partition which has the greatest space. I will mark this as solved, but I will still be glad if a Windows guru can confirm this.
That is right. I forgot to mention that this only happens with Microsoft products.
Quote