Moving Program Files

[mjwilson94]

Hi people basically, I want to move my folder "Program Files", to a different partition on my hard drive. BUT I also want these programs to be working as normal after they have been used. I would like to move these without reinstalling them if possible and use this as a Very last resort. Does anybody have any suggestions??

 

[Grimmjow]

There isn't any easy way to do that, and I wouldn't recommended it if you are not familiar with the registry, you may want to read this:
....you need also better registry editor which serves massive keys changing.You have to correct all paths not only for CommonFilesDir and ProgramFilesDir otherwise many system functions and applications will stop work - I used RegAlyzer to do that,although manulaly correct path in build-in system regedit is also necessary because I don't know why automatons can't detect all incorrect paths in registry.Please also note to correct paths for some keys changing permissions is required as well
For Windows 7 if you don't fix all paths in registry then you crash UAC and practically you loose a part of admin rights even in safe mode,neglect other errors.So this procedure is only for experts.Moving Users and ProgramData is more dangerous...
How to move Program Files to new partition? - Vista Forums
cheers

 

[Staple Head]

the best way to do this is right after a clean install before you install anything else. now you will still endup with some program files on c though. after you make the change you will still run into programs that want to install to c and you will have to point them to the other partition. from what i have seen online though in 7 i would recommend against it. from what i have read in 7 there is really no benefit unlike with vista and earlier.

 

[logicearth]

The only programs you should move to another partition...is when you are installing them. But do not move any programs that are installed by default on Windows, Internet Explorer, Media Player, etc. Those default programs are hardlinks moving them breaks that connection and hampers serviceability (aka., updating).

 

[Staple Head]

The only programs you should move to another partition...is when you are installing them. But do not move any programs that are installed by default on Windows, Internet Explorer, Media Player, etc. Those default programs are hardlinks moving them breaks that connection and hampers serviceability (aka., updating).

yes all programs that windows installs during the install of windows should not be moved. if you want an easy way to do the other programs just create you programs file folder on the other partition, and when you install a new program and get asked to to place the files point it at the other partition. doing the registry tweaks to move everything is not necessary. though as i said from what i read in 7 you really do not gain anything by doing this.

 

[MilesAhead]

Kinda' hairy

If you search for utilities that do this, the articles/reviews tend to be back in 2003 or so. Likely because they don't work well enough to keep selling. The more portable apps the better since you can just move them and make a shortcut. Then reset the Open With if there's a registered file extension. Before attempting to move the whole thing en masse I'd be sure to have a backup image so I could get back where I started.

Googling I've seen a few detailed descriptions of how to mass copy stuff over and use links to get the Registry info to work, but most noted that things like Windows Update gets hosed.

If you try it, I'd have a way to back out of it. If you succeed it probably won't be on the first attempt.

 

[Staple Head]

i would not recommend any program that says it will relocate all the files / programs in a certain folder and update the registry as well. there was only one program that ever could do this and that was 10 plus years back.

 

[hybridfan]

i would not recommend any program that says it will relocate all the files / programs in a certain folder and update the registry as well. there was only one program that ever could do this and that was 10 plus years back.

Please enlighten me what was the name of the program if you know? :huh:

 

[Staple Head]

i would not recommend any program that says it will relocate all the files / programs in a certain folder and update the registry as well. there was only one program that ever could do this and that was 10 plus years back.

Please enlighten me what was the name of the program if you know? :huh:

if i remember right it was by norton. the name i do not remember. unfortunately like the norton uninstaller program that put revo uninstaller, total uninstaller, and your uninstall to shame norton eventually dropped support for it. norton is like roxio they buy up a company for the program they offer and let it waste away.

 

[MilesAhead]

I posted this:
Moves installed programs to another partition - Gizmo's Freeware Forum

See if anything happens.

 

[Staple Head]

I posted this:
Moves installed programs to another partition - Gizmo's Freeware Forum

See if anything happens.

if you decide to try this make sure you search for reviews from sites you trust. if you cannot find more than two besides cnet then i would not take the chance except in a test enviroment. even download.com has had their share of questionable programs.

 

[MilesAhead]

I posted this:
Moves installed programs to another partition - Gizmo's Freeware Forum

See if anything happens.

if you decide to try this make sure you search for reviews from sites you trust. if you cannot find more than two besides cnet then i would not take the chance except in a test enviroment. even download.com has had their share of questionable programs.

Even legit stuff that's trying to do the job is likely to scramble things in this case. That's why I suggested having an image backup before messing with it.