I can see Microsoft’s logic in trying to install everything to a Program Files folder, but I actually hate it. My preference is to install every software title in its own folder on a partition which is separate from the operating system. In any case, if you use the Program Files folder and let programs install themselves by default there, then you can at least change the location of your Program Files folder. By default, it is placed on the same drive as Windows. I like to keep Windows separate from my software so that I can make a backup image of Windows by itself. To place Program Files in a location of your choice, open up your registry editor and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion. You will see a key for “ProgramFilesDir”. You can edit that registry key to point to a directory of your choice. From then on, the installation wizards of most software will, by default, ask to install themselves to this location.
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