Vista : Change Default Install Directory, how to?

How do I change the default installation directory in Windows Vista? In Windows XP, I used System Mechanic to do it. I've found the regsitry key, and changed it successfully to "E:\Softwares", but now Windows Media Player and Movie Maker and Gadgets etc don't work, as they are installed in "C:\Program Files". If I copy them to "E:\Softwares", they do.

How do I do is in a safe way, without screwing anything up? Thank you!

 

Ok, I found out the soution to it a long time ago, but I've gone on to install x64 now, and have a new question.

I had to modify a registry key in x86, and I got what I wanted (softwares were installed in a path set by me, by default). But in x64, there are two directories, Program Files (for 64 bit programs), and Program Files (x86) (for 32 bit programs). If I go to the same registry entry in x64, the one that has the key which has to be changed in x86 to make it work my way, I find two keys there instead, one for x64 softwares, and one for x86 softwares. I changed both to my liking, but here's the problem, only the x64 based softwares go to the desired path, the path I set in the registry, but not the x86 softwares.

How do I change my default installation directory for the 32 bit softwares?


Thanks!

 

Ok, I have found the solution to this problem as well!

To change the installation directory for x86 softwares, open the 32 bit registry. To do this, go to Run, and type this -

This will open the 32 bit registry, now you can change the default directory!

 

It`s the first thread in which the one asking the question gives the sollution lol.
I was about to suggest registry editing, but you`ve already done that. I had to do that for an older game, since I was dual booting and the system refused to install in any other place that (drive letter):/program files ...

 

No, I've known the registry trick for years. But in Vista x 64, the 32 bit programs weren't installing in the directory which I had set in the registry. Now I've found the solution for that as well and posted it in case someone else is looking for it.

 

Was looking for this. Reps to you. Thanks!

 

Just to further clarify, this is the string value to be modified -

Select it (ProgramFilesDir), right click it, and click on Modify, and put in the new directory's path (where you want your programs to automatically install themselves).

If you have 32-bit Windows Vista installed, your work is done. If you have 64-bit Windows Vista installed you have to edit one more string value. You might have noticed, your 64-bit softwares and 32-bit softwares are installed in different directories (Program Files and Program Files (x86)). I don't know what purpose it serves, but I'd rather have it the same way as intended and play safe. The change mentioned above will set the path only for your 64-bit softwares.

For the 32-bit softwares, go to the following key -

Select it (ProgramFilesDir), right click it, and click on Modify, and put in the new directory's path (where you want your 32-bit programs to automatically install themselves). You're done.

I've set it so that -
My 64-bit softwares go to - E:\Softwares\
My 32-bit softwares go to - E:\Softwares (x86)\

Last I checked, it worked great on Windows XP as well. Post here if you need any help.

 

When i go to both of those locations in the registry i have two entries for each one.

2 in x64 registry and 3 in x86 registry they are both listed the same, does it matter which one i choose?

 

In the 64-bit registry, set both the fields to where you want your 64-bit softwares to go, and in the 32-bit registry, set both the fields to where you want your 32-bit softwares to go!

Actually, in the 64-bit registry, it doesn't matter what's there in the ProgramFilesDir (x86) string, just edit the ProgramFilesDir string and leave the other be, and in the 32-bit registry, edit the ProgramFilesDir (86) and leave the 64-bit one be. It works fine. I edit both of them for just in case.

 

ill give it a try, thanks

 

I think I should jump in here, since I have quite a few years of experience with such an approach, first on Win2K, then XP, and now on Vista. Unfortunately, it turns out that Vista, in contrast to the others, does not support relocating ProgramFilesDir. Yes, you can make this work superficially, but once you look underneath the surface it turns out that you'll break a number of features, such as filesystem virtualization, some of the VSS functionality, and probably some others I may not know about. Interestingly, VSS will be broken only after certain Windows Updates are installed, resulting in the System Writer not being available anymore. I have tried all sorts of tricks in order to get this to work, but I have given up by now. As a historical note, during some of the early betas, Vista's installation configuration tool did allow relocation of ProgramFilesDir, but this capability was removed in the RCs. I assume this is because Microsoft found out that they could not make this work.

As a more specific example, one of the issues is the way Windows Update implements updating the WinSxS tree, which is done via hardlinks. Since hardlinks cannot bridge volumes this approach doesn't work anymore once ProgramFilesDir is on a different partition. While Windows Update tries to work around this by substituting copy operations for the links, this will lead to duplicate files and, apparently, damage to Volume Shadowcopy Services. Which can ultimately lead to failed system restores, etc., etc.

P.S.: For anybody interested in serious registry editing, take a look at Resplendent's Registrar Registry Manager. To my knowledge, this is by far the most powerfull tool to work with the registry. It's not free, however, and it's really not a tool for amateurs. You better either know what you are doing, or have good system backups handy...

 

^^English please!

Well, it's been working fine for me, no restores (I've disabled this service anyways) or anything!

 

In simple words, if you relocate ProgramFilesDir to a place other than "C:\Program Files" some features of Vista will not work anymore. If you don't care for these, you'll be fine, and I should say that I have been running two systems like that for a year now, without any major incident (other than the issues I have mentioned).

You need to be aware, however, that there is a chance that some future Windows Update may break your system in ways that you may not like. If that happens, you can't complain to Microsoft, because they will simply tell you that your Vista configuration is not supported, and that's all there will be to it from their side. I really wish that things were different, but that's the way they are right now, and I have no hope at all that this situation will change, at least not for Vista. There may be a chance that Windows 7 will support such configurations, but I highly doubt it...