Installing old programs without an installer

I have some software that does not use an Installer.

In XP, all I needed to do was create a folder in C:\Program Files and copy the software files into the folder and create a desktop shortcut to the program.

The program itself writes into that home folder (various .dat files) and into C:\WINDOWS (a .ini file).

I understand that, in Windows 7, installers wanting wanting to write to \Program Files (x86)\foldername are redirected to write to \Users\username\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\foldername. And that the program would write its files into that folder and into a \Windows folder alongside.

To keep things organised:
-- how would I install this program?
-- can I copy its files into the \Users\username\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\foldername folder and create the shortcut?
-- anything-else needed?
-- I don't really want to create another "Program Files" folder (in, say, \Users\username\Documents).

[Useful thread: User Account Control Data Redirection ]

I have many programs that only require unzipping to a folder and they create an .ini file in the same folder as the .exe. They work on Vista64 and Windows 7. Not everything gets redirected. If the program uses environment variables or CLSID to determine where to put stuff then it may vary. My programs just get the exe folder location and create the .ini file there.

Ok, but I do not wish to create a third area for programs, so could I just put the files in \Users\username\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\foldername myself? Or would Windows 7 object?

^^^^
I understand that; I am not suggesting doing anything to the Program Files directory at all.

Bill2 said:

Logically, \Program Files\ should contain only executables, \Program Data\ only generic supporting files, and Users\username\AppData\ the data created for the specific user of the program.

I would certainly agree with this, but it all depends on the authors of the software applications writing / updating their software to conform to these principles.

DarkStar GT said:

^^^^
I understand that; I am not suggesting doing anything to the Program Files directory at all.

Since you are the one with the program I think you are the only one(other than maybe the author of the software) who can answer the question. Try it and see what happens. If the program writes to Windows.ini for settings the OS should redirect it. I use a folder C:\Utils for all my non-install or portable stuff. If I custom install a new OS it does not grab it and stick it in Windows.old. By just making new shortcuts I have programs that still work in the new OS right away. By sticking stuff manually in the system folders you are likely just creating problems for yourself.

edit: the other thing you can do is use Sandboxie. That will make it much easier to see all the changes after running the program sandboxed.

http://www.sandboxie.com/index.php?DownloadSandboxie

Thank you for the replies.

As I'm too new to Windows 7 and no-one has mentioned copying the files into a sub-folder in VirtualStore I'll pass on that and just use a sub-folder elsewhere (something like C:\Classic Applications\appname).