Windows programs won't run after changing default install path

Lilannacc1

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Hello.

I did a clean install of windows 7 pro using sysprep to move my user files and program data to other drives. This works well as I only have a 120gb SSD running W7 and a partition for Win 8 Pro that I haven't installed yet.

I changed the default installation path from c: to s: in both the 32/64 bit registry and now some of the programs (photoviewer, media player, defender) won't run. I've fixed the programs that I could, pointing those back to c: as I did not move any of the programs that comes with windows. How do I fix these?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Professional 64 biti5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHzKingston HyperX 16gb (4x4GB)GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi)
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Build
OS
Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
CPU
i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz
Motherboard
ASRock P67 Extreme4 (B3)
Memory
Kingston HyperX 16gb (4x4GB)
Graphics Card(s)
GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi)
Sound Card
N/A
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung SyncMaster 913v; HP S2031
Hard Drives
SSD 120G|OCZ VTX3-25SAT3-120G R
3 Segate 500Gb
1 Seagate 1TB
Hitachi 150GB
WD Ext USB 1TB
PSU
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 760W High Performance 8-PLUS
Case
Alienware
Cooling
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus
Keyboard
Microsoft Wireless Comfort 4000
Mouse
Logitech
When I did this, I just manually copied both Program Files folders to the root of the new installation directory. I think some system installed programs, like WMP, use the registry settings, and copying those folders fixed the problem for me. I didn't use any other tool or utility to move anything from C:.

I did this without pointing anything back to the C: drive, or changing anything else other than the registry settings. I also did this fairly soon after a fresh Win7 install. I think I had only two or three 3rd party programs installed at the time.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Win7 Pro 64-bit SP1Intel Core i5 2500KCorsair XMS3 DDR3 4x4GBNVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Shuttle SH67H3
OS
Win7 Pro 64-bit SP1
CPU
Intel Core i5 2500K
Motherboard
Shuttle FH67H
Memory
Corsair XMS3 DDR3 4x4GB
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung S23B550V
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
Crucial m4 2.5" SSD 256GB,
WD Caviar Black 1TB,
WD Scorpio Blue 320GB
PSU
Shuttle PC63J 500W
You can`t and shouldn`t change the drive letter of the windows partition. There is no reason to. All the programs were written to C and you changed it to S, now they`re all running around saying... where is C where is C ??
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 10 Pro x64Intel Core i7 6700KGSkill TridentZ RGB 16GB 3600 16-16-16-36EVGA GTX 980 Ti SC x2
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Skylake Special #666
OS
Windows 10 Pro x64
CPU
Intel Core i7 6700K
Motherboard
Asus Sabertooth Z170 Mark 1
Memory
GSkill TridentZ RGB 16GB 3600 16-16-16-36
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GTX 980 Ti SC x2
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition
Monitor(s) Displays
AOC G2460PG
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080 144Hz
Hard Drives
Samsung 860 Pro 256GB, Seagate Barracuda 4TB x2
PSU
EVGA 1000 P2, EVGA White Custom Braided Cables
Case
Corsair Vengeance C70 Gunmetal Black
Cooling
Corsair H100i v2, Corsair ML120 x2, Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut
Keyboard
Logitech G910 Orion Spectrum
Mouse
Logitech G700s
Internet Speed
Verizon Fios Quantum Gateway 75/75
Antivirus
Windows Defender, Malwarebytes Free 3.8.3
Browser
Chrome
Other Info
Corsair SP120 x4, LG Blu-ray Drive, Durabrand HT-395 100 Watt Dolby Digital Amp, Corsair H2100 Wireless 7.1 Headset
I didn't actually change the C. I changed the default installation path from c to s. It used to be so easy with Windows XP.

Thank you pseudoware. I'll do this.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Professional 64 biti5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHzKingston HyperX 16gb (4x4GB)GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi)
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Build
OS
Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
CPU
i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz
Motherboard
ASRock P67 Extreme4 (B3)
Memory
Kingston HyperX 16gb (4x4GB)
Graphics Card(s)
GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi)
Sound Card
N/A
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung SyncMaster 913v; HP S2031
Hard Drives
SSD 120G|OCZ VTX3-25SAT3-120G R
3 Segate 500Gb
1 Seagate 1TB
Hitachi 150GB
WD Ext USB 1TB
PSU
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 760W High Performance 8-PLUS
Case
Alienware
Cooling
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus
Keyboard
Microsoft Wireless Comfort 4000
Mouse
Logitech
You can change the letter when installing programs, that`s not a problem, but you shouldn`t touch anything that`s already been done. Which is what you did.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 10 Pro x64Intel Core i7 6700KGSkill TridentZ RGB 16GB 3600 16-16-16-36EVGA GTX 980 Ti SC x2
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Skylake Special #666
OS
Windows 10 Pro x64
CPU
Intel Core i7 6700K
Motherboard
Asus Sabertooth Z170 Mark 1
Memory
GSkill TridentZ RGB 16GB 3600 16-16-16-36
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GTX 980 Ti SC x2
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition
Monitor(s) Displays
AOC G2460PG
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080 144Hz
Hard Drives
Samsung 860 Pro 256GB, Seagate Barracuda 4TB x2
PSU
EVGA 1000 P2, EVGA White Custom Braided Cables
Case
Corsair Vengeance C70 Gunmetal Black
Cooling
Corsair H100i v2, Corsair ML120 x2, Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut
Keyboard
Logitech G910 Orion Spectrum
Mouse
Logitech G700s
Internet Speed
Verizon Fios Quantum Gateway 75/75
Antivirus
Windows Defender, Malwarebytes Free 3.8.3
Browser
Chrome
Other Info
Corsair SP120 x4, LG Blu-ray Drive, Durabrand HT-395 100 Watt Dolby Digital Amp, Corsair H2100 Wireless 7.1 Headset
Thank you for your reply, and you're right. Because it was a fresh install and I only had a few 3rd party programs, I restored my system back to before I changed the registry. I have an app mover and will move only those programs that I install where they do not give me an option to install to a different drive. While most programs do allow this, there are some programs that I need/use that will not give me that option.

Again, thank you for your help and know that I really appreciate it.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Professional 64 biti5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHzKingston HyperX 16gb (4x4GB)GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi)
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Build
OS
Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
CPU
i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz
Motherboard
ASRock P67 Extreme4 (B3)
Memory
Kingston HyperX 16gb (4x4GB)
Graphics Card(s)
GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi)
Sound Card
N/A
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung SyncMaster 913v; HP S2031
Hard Drives
SSD 120G|OCZ VTX3-25SAT3-120G R
3 Segate 500Gb
1 Seagate 1TB
Hitachi 150GB
WD Ext USB 1TB
PSU
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 760W High Performance 8-PLUS
Case
Alienware
Cooling
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus
Keyboard
Microsoft Wireless Comfort 4000
Mouse
Logitech
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