Default Install Path Change

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  1. Posts : 55
    Windows 7
       #1

    Default Install Path Change


    Is there any way I can change the default install path for programs away from my system drive? It's getting kind of annoying having to change it manually every single time I install something.
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  2. Posts : 47
    windows vista
       #2

    wrathloki said:
    Is there any way I can change the default install path for programs away from my system drive? It's getting kind of annoying having to change it manually every single time I install something.
    change your environment variables...
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  3. Posts : 55
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #3

    fgdn17 said:
    change your environment variables...
    Your link doesn't work...
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  4. Posts : 47
    windows vista
       #4

    wasn't intended to be a link...but if you need one go here

    Environment variable - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    and or google "windows enviornment variables"

    %SystemDrive%The %SystemDrive% variable is a special system-wide environment variable found on Microsoft Windows NT and its derivatives. Its value is the drive upon which the system folder was placed. Also see next item.
    The value of %SystemDrive% is in most cases C:
    Last edited by fgdn17; 05 May 2009 at 20:07. Reason: add systemdrive variable...
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  5. Posts : 55
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Well I followed this tutorial, but it didn't seem to work... Any advice?

    How to Change Default Windows Installation Path to Your Desired Path » My Digital Life
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  6. Posts : 4,364
    Windows 11 21H2 Current build
       #6

    It would help to know whether you're running a 32bit RC or a 64bit RC - b/c in the 64bit there is also %ProgramFiles(X86)% in addition to just the regular %ProgramFiles% variables....
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  7. ten
    Posts : 266
    XP / Windows 7 Pro RTM
       #7

    You shouldn't really change %ProgramFilesDir% variable. I'm pretty sure I read a page at MS that said some things like Office will fail when you do.

    Here's what I do. Do it once and you never have to do it again...

    I put most of my programs on D:\Programs and never have to reinstall them when I installing a new operating system. Most programs will work without running the installation routine.

    If they place files in system32 or write a lot of info to the registry, they yeah, keep them in Program Files. There's only 3 programs I install in Program Files...Kerio Firewall 2.1.4, Java and VirtualBox.
    I also change my default start menu locations to D: so my shortcuts stay between installs.
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  8. Posts : 4,364
    Windows 11 21H2 Current build
       #8

    He wants the Install path to be automatically set for the alternate location when installing - much like in XP you can do using nLite....
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  10. Posts : 4,364
    Windows 11 21H2 Current build
       #10

    Sorry, my last post was in response to the "Here's what I do" part - of course he can do it manually, he wants it done automatically.

    I didn't advocate changing the ProgramFiles variable itself, but I mentioned that there are 2 separate instances of a Program Files directory, the regular and the x86, on x64 OS. I should have not used the variable names to make it more clear.
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