Change Program Files default location?

[DaRonRon]

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?

 

[noyb]

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.

 

[DaRonRon]

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

 

[noyb]

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

 

[DaRonRon]

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?

 

[noyb]

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 W7 computer looks about the same.

 

[logicearth]

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.

 

[DaRonRon]

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?

 

[noyb]

... 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 W7'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.

 

[DaRonRon]

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?

 

[DaRonRon]

please can someone confirm this

 

[severedsolo]

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?

navigate to C:\Users\<your username> and bring up the properties for the folder, click "Location" and change the path to the folders on the new partition, (for instance in my case, C:\Users\Martin\My Documents becomes D:\Documents) it will ask if you want to merge the two folders, click yes, this will also make your Librarys point to the right place, (as C:\Users\<user>\My Documents still exists it just now directs you to the correct place when you open it)

also there is absolutely no reason at all to install programs to a seperate partition, as they have to be reinstalled if you reinstall windows anyway due to registry keys, at least if they are on the C:\ Drive you dont get remnants if you reinstall and can start from scratch, but your data will be in tact

 

[noyb]

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

While waiting on confirmation regarding splitting the system partition .....

There are only two types of computers made nowadays ..
Those that have crashed or got corrupted .. And those that will.

Depending on which one you have ... One day, You will wish you had a Backup Image.
A reinstall of my system partition, even on a new HDD .. only takes me about 20 minutes.

 

[DaRonRon]

yeah i understand that i will have to reinstall them, but i prefer to have them on another partition because i want the OS partition to be small in size, i will have the other for data and prog files and that partition will be expanding, but the OS partition i want to remain the same. I know its a little pointless yeh but i just wanted to know if its possible to do that? Like i said i wont be migrating the entire program files to the other partition, just the ones that give the option during install.

If i were to format my computer at some point, i would also delete the program files directory in the other partition and start fresh.

Would this work?

 

[severedsolo]

If i were to format my computer at some point, i would also delete the program files directory in the other partition and start fresh.

Would this work?

ill answer your question first, yes it will work,

however, surely, your just giving yourself more work? at the end of the day your going to do it regardless of what i or others say if you really want to, but just think about it, if your installing some programs to your program partition (lets call it P) and some to the windows partition (lets call that one C) its going to cause you all sorts of headaches with organisation,

lets say you need (for whatever reason) to get into program files, and edit an application directly, (for instance an update messes up and you need to copy a file into the program directory) are you going to remember which is on C and which is on P?

also when you reinstall, your going to have to delete everything in P, whereas with a C only program files it will do it for you, my set up works as follows, i have a small partition of 40GB for my OS and all of my programs, which is nowhere near being filled! and i have alot of prgrams installed, (im a bit lazy wwith uninstalling things i dont use any more) your hard drive is twice as big as mine, so if you did the same, i see no reason why the OS partition would have to expand.... hence it would stay the same size, and that would solve your problem,

as i said, your method will work, if you dont ghost it, and if you really want to do it, then you will.... but im just trying to save you a little bit of hassle

 

[DaRonRon]

having a separate partition for prog files probably will waste some time and be a little bit of a hassle, but i really dont mind. Im also a little bit of a gamer, and i find that they take up a large amount of space too so having it on the other partition makes me feel better.

But anyway thanks for your answers mate!

 

[severedsolo]

i found this for you: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/39689-program-files-directory-change-default-installs.html thought it would help you, as you wont have to manually select your seperate partition each time

 

[ickymay]

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?

I have been doing this separation of my personal documents from the OS drive for near 8 years now, I got sick of backing up to disk and losing critical stuff if i had a virus or OS crash and burn

I never interfere with the main part of the operating system so the only thing I might move would be the page file but rarely bother, so program files etc I always leave well alone as it can and will cause a world of pain at an install or recovery point, also due to the levels of security which windows 7 now uses , access to the OS folders and files is limited and difficult at best

I personally prefer to install my latest OS onto the drive then I add a partition in windows and copy my data across from my old drive or backup. I then goto my user folder and right click properties then location tab and using "move" point them into my documents partition.

If i reinstall my OS then i can leave that partition intact and simply install to primary C: then do the "move" action again once the OS is installed

N.B. for gaming purposes I also have another partition which I call "shared installs" (for dual boot purposes) and any game that will run from there is installed there , such as WOW, Steam , and a couple of mmorpgs I play, all I need to do is drag a shortcut into windows taskbar or start menu and saves on large download and reinstalls

 

[Euph0ria]

Seperate partition for program installation is best practice.

It is most definitely best practice to install programs separate from your operating/system files. I don't know why windows 7 insists on locking the default install directory. The reasons for installing programs on a separate partition are numerous. Everything from streamlining optimization, reducing disk defragmentation, to better organization and management and easier system backups or better compatibility with dual booting operating systems that utilize the same programs, to simply wanting to name it "Programs" instead of "Program Files" to simplify and eliminate the unnecessary need for a space in a sub-directory name...

 

[severedsolo]

It is most definitely best practice to install programs separate from your operating/system files. I don't know why windows 7 insists on locking the default install directory. The reasons for installing programs on a separate partition are numerous. Everything from streamlining optimization, reducing disk defragmentation, to better organization and management and easier system backups or better compatibility with dual booting operating systems that utilize the same programs, to simply wanting to name it "Programs" instead of "Program Files" to simplify and eliminate the unnecessary need for a space in a sub-directory name...

Because there is absolutely NO need to install your Program Files on a seperate partition. You have to reinstall the programs anyway when you reinstall the OS, so they may as well stay on C.

The only point you made there that actually makes sense is reducing disk fragmentation. Frankly though, the only way that's going to happen is if you happen to be uninstalling/installing programs every day. Well fragmentation is going to happen anyway, it just won't effect your OS drive.

I don't get what you mean about better compatibility with dual boot systems. I am assuming that you are referring to user stored configurations and such. Those are usually stored in the User Profile, usually under My Documents. I cannot honestly think of one program that stores User configs in Program Files. You can't be referring to the program itself, because you would still have to install the program anyway, for registry reasons.

Having a seperate User Profile partition IS a good idea. Frankly, everyone should do it IMO, although having your stuff on a seperate HDD is a better idea.