Default Install Path Change

[wrathloki]

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.

 

[fgdn17]

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...

 

[wrathloki]

change your environment variables...

Your link doesn't work...

 

[fgdn17]

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:

 

[wrathloki]

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

 

[johngalt]

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....

 

[ten]

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.

 

[johngalt]

He wants the Install path to be automatically set for the alternate location when installing - much like in XP you can do using nLite....

 

[ten]

Here's the KB article...
Microsoft does not support changing the location of the Program Files folder by modifying the ProgramFilesDir registry value

 

[johngalt]

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.

 

[jean13]

Default Path name

When changing the path name I accidentally deleted all of it. Can anyone tell me the defaults so I can add them back to my Windows 7 path

 

[JamesR404]

Recommend not to change the default path.

You know, Microsoft does not support changing the location of the Program Files folder by modifying the ProgramFilesDir registry value may even explain why I have so many issues installing security hot fixes....

Thanks for pointing that out. It's a bit annoying then that we can't just set a default installation path during the initial set up of Windows, where this would avoid the impact described in KB article 933700.

For now I'll avoid changing my default directory and manually change it during every installation.... *sigh*

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello JamesR404, welcome to Seven Forums!



Sounds like the right thing to do.

 

[SKJoy2001]

Ok, my case is a little complicated.

I have a stable Windows 7 Ultimate system running for more than 6 months and a lot of applications are already installed on "C:\Program Files (x86)\" path. Now I want to change the default installation path to "F:\" without harming the already installed applications.

What I mean is, I want the new installations to occur at "F:\" path, while I don't want the links to "C:\Program Files (x86)\" path broken, or already installed applications to stop working.

Is this possible?

My system is Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64 and I am using Windows Update all the way.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Euph0ria]

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...

Another reason to avoid windows 7?

 

[darkstarsinner]

I would just like to add here that if you have done this and are experiancing issues with certain programs running then you can fix this by going to "CMD" and entering "sfc /scannow" I had to do this and everything ran fine afterwards.

 

[Scenarious]

Ya, you are better off just browsing to the location you want new programs installed to. You can safely personalize the default location of some important files though. You can customize the save paths to your documents, desktop, pictures, save games, music etc, by going into the "C:\Users\Username" folder, right clicking on the one you want to customize, and under properties change the location of them to wherever you'd like. If you use Outlook, it's also a good idea to keep the .pst file on a different drive as well.

 

[Lukas123]

I had that fix for ages with XP (the registry fix that is), and it was working just fine ... I'm pretty sure it's just still there.