Change default directory for Program Files XP SP2

[catatoniatoday]

Hi and good morning,

I have just completed a fresh install of Windows XP SP2 and partitioned the drive into various pieces, one volume of which I would like to have dedicated to Program Files. I can't figure out how to change the default in Windows to point there.

I have Tweak UI, but it isn't offering the folder as one to be changed under special folders, and in another thread, changing a registry key called ProgramFilesDir or something was mentioned, but the key doesn't exist on either of my computer's registries.

Can anybody help? Thanks.

[mikeL]

You can find it at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion The ProgramFilesDir is in the current version folder.

Welcome to PC-Mechanic, also

[catatoniatoday]

hi mike. thanks for your reply and the welcome.

the key isn't in there, i promise. current version lists OptimalLayout, then policies, then to Reliability. no ProgramFilesDir. desktop is running xp pro sp2 clean installation from last night, laptop running xp home doesn't have the key either.

*scratches head* *has 5 million tab searches for this open*

[catatoniatoday]

ok, so i just got a flash, and i searched the registry for programfilesdir. i did find a key, but it's in hkey local machine -> system -> controlset001 -> control -> session manager -> sfc.

there are two keys there, one is programfilesdir, set as c:\program files, the other is commonfilesdir c:\program files\common files

i don't have a whole lot of experience editing the registry...are these the keys that i need to edit/should i edit both/anything? it's a clean install of windows, and all of my files and so forth are on the slave drive.

[Panama Red]

Just a side comment here if I might. I used to set up my personal machines with the Program installs on a separate partition with the idea that an OS crash/reinstall/repair would leave them undamaged. Turned out to be a big waste of time. Most programs have registry entries that are destroyed when you do a reformat install of the primary partition. And a repair install leaves them intact when done properly. I've changed my partitioning method to using 2 partitions, one smaller for the os and programs and one larger one for file storage. I just Move the My Documents folder to the larger partiton and all Saved files will go there by default. Then you can just install all the programs with the default C: drive location and not have to worry about installing them in an alternate location every time.

[glc]

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=177216

[catatoniatoday]

thanks guys.

panama red, about the programs partition: can't i solve that one if i have a registry backup and merge the file suppose i had to reinstall windows?

this is not working out so well at the moment; i'm a bit of an intermediate level novice, so i didn't realize that the programfilesdir key wasn't in a subfolder, but was in the current version folder itself. i have now changed the following keys, but the standard windows programs aren't working now (i.e. internet explorer):

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ProgramFilesDir

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CommonFilesDir

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\SessionManager\SFC\CommonFilesDir

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\SessionManager\SFC\ProgramFilesDir

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders\Common App Data

and i have moved the following to E:\Programs:

Program Files
Application Data

what am i doing wrong? should i *only* have changed the programfilesdir key? is there something else that i should move in there?

i'm working from these two online tutorials, but it seems their authors were working mainly with windows 2000, and the latter link seems to be missing a lot of info:

http://aumha.org/a/parts.htm
http://thegoldenear.org/toolbox/wind...nt-config.html