Best way to install programs?

Hey all! My first post here. Hopefully I can get some good answers!

I've been a long time XP user and avoided the move to Vista until very recently. I'm lucky enough to be able to use Windows 7 full version through Technet now, so I'm moving everything to that today.

My question is, when installing applications, it seems a lot of programs have trouble with the new Program Files and Program Files (x86) that Vista and 7 use. Because of the permissions, I suppose.

I installed World of Warcraft and it says to move the program somewhere else, because patches will not work properly if it's installed to the default "\Program Files (x86)\World of Warcraft" folder.

I would really like to use Defaults for everything, I don't want to install into seperate folders. Keeping things in \Program Files and \Program Files (x86) as they are by default is what I want to do.

If I install everything using "Run as Admin" fromt the right-click context menu, will I have problems down the road with permissions? Is it bad to do this? Should I always run the installer by just double-clicking on my current user (which is in the admin group anyway)?

I want to know the best installation practice to get the best security (use of UAC) but I don't want to gimp my programs so that I have to "Run as Admin" everytime I use them, or they need to patch, etc.

What's the best method of installing things on Vista and Windows 7 to get the best mix of security, but still use the default installation locations?

Currently as a safety, I just installed things to their own folders I made. For example:

\Games\World of Warcraft
\Games\Guild Wars

\Programs\Mozilla Firefox
\Programs\Sony Vegas

And so forth. This way I'm avoiding the "\Program Files" and "\Program Files (x86)" folders. Is it ok to do this? I feel I'm basically bypassing some of the Windows 7 security features by doing this, but wondering if I HAVE to so that my apps can get the proper permissions to freely update as needed.

Sorry for the long post, but I've been looking around on this and haven't really found definitive answers. I'm sure I'll have more questions for any responders as well.

xplaced

Hi and welcome to seven forums

Im confused.
You say I would really like to use Defaults for everything.
then I just installed things to their own folders I made.

Using default is by far the best bet. You can break alot of updates/upgrades by using non default locations.

Could you tell me again what you would rather do. default, or different.

Again welcome

Ken

TGS

Usually it isn't a problem but some updaters will break if they dont find things where they think it should be. I regularly move my doc's to a different drive, put pgms where I think they should be but the OP asked abt default or not default. thats the only reason I posted that.

Ken

Thanks for the responses so far.

@ZigZag3143: I WANT to install everything to the default of \Program Files or \Program Files (x86), however, Windows Vista and Windows 7 both have special security on those folders, preventing programs from self-updating, downloading patches, stuff like that. So to get around that, I've installed in custom folders, like \Games and \Programs.

For example: Warcraft's installer told me to install somewhere other than \Program Files (x86) intentionally, because it said it would have problems patching if the game was installed in that folder. It's because of Win 7's special restrictions on the \Program Files folders.

So, my point is, if it's going to be a problem to put things in Program Files now because of these special restrictions, should I just continue to put things in custom folders like \Games and \Programs?

I haven't had any problems doing this with any of my apps that I've tested so far. Currently I do the same on an XP machine that I use also and all works ok. I just would rather use the default if possible, it seems that I'm circumventing part of Windows 7 security by installing outside of \Program Files. At least, the way the permissions appear to be set by default.

Does installing programs with "Run as Admin" get around any future problems since it was elevated to Admin status? Or does that help at all? Create more problems, etc?

TGSoldier said:

IMO, I don't see it as any problem creating your own game folder and installing the games there...

Good, I don't see a problem doing this either. My experience has been good so far with it.

Why is Program Files so hard on programs now if they are installed there, and if so, why is it still the default for everything?

If I install things to Program Files, and choose "Install as Admin" or whatever, will I bypass any installation problems?

I don't want security hassles, so if something is going to keep itself from updating because it's in Program Files, I'd rather put it in it's own \Programs or \Games folder. If everything WILL work ok, I'd prefer to use the default Program Files location.

xplaced

when I said default I was infering their defualt. where-ever the app wants to put itself. That way whatever upgrade would know right where to find it. either way its not an important issue. More importantly the use-ability of the system is more dependent on the UAC setting.

My best advice pick a method and stick to it.

Ken

Thanks Zig. I appreciate the responses.

One more thing: Should I install all programs with "Run as Admin" or does simply double clicking them like the old XP intallations work fine?

PS - Posting on my freshly installed Win 7 work machine, woohoo!

Xplaced said:

Thanks Zig. I appreciate the responses.

One more thing: Should I install all programs with "Run as Admin" or does simply double clicking them like the old XP intallations work fine?

PS - Posting on my freshly installed Win 7 work machine, woohoo!

Use run as admin only when necessary. Also congrats on your install. When you get a chance could you fill in your system specs (in lower left corner).

Let us know if you need help

Ken