How do you change the location of the "C:\Program Files" directory?

Posted June 30, 200717 yr

I am interested in changing the location of the directory "C:\Program Files"

to a different drive. More generally, there are a number of parameters that

one can see by typing "set" at a DOS prompt. The parameter "C:\Program

Files" is one of them. Where are they defined? Changing them there doesn't

do a thing.

--

Don J

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote

Mark as Solution

June 30, 200717 yr

if you move that folder

"EVERYTHING IN IT WILL BECOME USELESS DATA...!

and

"YOUR SYSTEM WILL CRASH, LIKE A BROKEN WINDOW...!"

simple advice

for you to consider.

--

db ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>¸.

><)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

..

"Don J" <dej8801@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:kN2dnR8I0u0bLBvbnZ2dnUVZ_vmqnZ2d@comcast.com...

>I am interested in changing the location of the directory "C:\Program

>Files" to a different drive. More generally, there are a number of

>parameters that one can see by typing "set" at a DOS prompt. The

>parameter "C:\Program Files" is one of them. Where are they defined?

>Changing them there doesn't do a thing.

> --

>

> Don J

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

Quote

Mark as Solution

June 30, 200717 yr

Of course, I want to move it and change the system to find it. That is

why I want to find where the parameters are internally defined. Sorry if I

didn't make that clear.

Don J

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

" db ´¯`·.. ><)))º>` .. ." <databaseben.public.newsgroup.microsoft.com>

wrote in message news:e0T6xB1uHHA.1768@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> if you move that folder

>

> "EVERYTHING IN IT WILL BECOME USELESS DATA...!

>

> and

>

> "YOUR SYSTEM WILL CRASH, LIKE A BROKEN WINDOW...!"

>

> simple advice

> for you to consider.

>

> --

>

> db ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>¸.

>><)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

>

> .

>

> "Don J" <dej8801@comcast.net> wrote in message

> news:kN2dnR8I0u0bLBvbnZ2dnUVZ_vmqnZ2d@comcast.com...

>>I am interested in changing the location of the directory "C:\Program

>>Files" to a different drive. More generally, there are a number of

>>parameters that one can see by typing "set" at a DOS prompt. The

>>parameter "C:\Program Files" is one of them. Where are they defined?

>>Changing them there doesn't do a thing.

>> --

>>

>> Don J

>>

>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>>

>

Quote

Mark as Solution

June 30, 200717 yr

there are only two ways to

move the "Program Files" folder

to another locations / partition.

if you move the folder called

"Program Files", then you would

have to "re-install" every program

inside it in order to re-register

all of those programs with the

operating system.

so you can move it "Program Files"

but you will need to reinstall everything

into it's new location.

the other method i mentioned is

one provided by software called

system mechanic.

it has the ability to move programs

anywhere you want and make all

the modifications to the operating

system and the registry.

it works good, but it takes along

time to accomplish the task and would

be easier and faster to simply reinstall

any program from scratch.

if you are running out of room

on the c drive, then you should consider

alternatives.

--

db ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>¸.

><)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

..

"Don J" <dej8801@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:0vmdnVyPaY63JBvbnZ2dnUVZ_gGdnZ2d@comcast.com...

> Of course, I want to move it and change the system to find it. That

> is why I want to find where the parameters are internally defined.

> Sorry if I didn't make that clear.

>

> Don J

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> " db ´¯`·.. ><)))º>` .. ."

> <databaseben.public.newsgroup.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:e0T6xB1uHHA.1768@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>> if you move that folder

>>

>> "EVERYTHING IN IT WILL BECOME USELESS DATA...!

>>

>> and

>>

>> "YOUR SYSTEM WILL CRASH, LIKE A BROKEN WINDOW...!"

>>

>> simple advice

>> for you to consider.

>>

>> --

>>

>> db ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>¸.

>>><)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

>>

>> .

>>

>> "Don J" <dej8801@comcast.net> wrote in message

>> news:kN2dnR8I0u0bLBvbnZ2dnUVZ_vmqnZ2d@comcast.com...

>>>I am interested in changing the location of the directory "C:\Program

>>>Files" to a different drive. More generally, there are a number of

>>>parameters that one can see by typing "set" at a DOS prompt. The

>>>parameter "C:\Program Files" is one of them. Where are they defined?

>>>Changing them there doesn't do a thing.

>>> --

>>>

>>> Don J

>>>

>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>>>

>>

>

Quote

Mark as Solution

June 30, 200717 yr

Reread my post! I'm talking about moving the Folder and changing the

operating system so that all references to the folder are in the new place.

That would be the only change to the operating systam.

Don J

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

" db ´¯`·.. ><)))º>` .. ." <databaseben.public.newsgroup.microsoft.com>

wrote in message news:OQENfX1uHHA.1184@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> there are only two ways to

> move the "Program Files" folder

> to another locations / partition.

>

> if you move the folder called

> "Program Files", then you would

> have to "re-install" every program

> inside it in order to re-register

> all of those programs with the

> operating system.

>

> so you can move it "Program Files"

> but you will need to reinstall everything

> into it's new location.

>

> the other method i mentioned is

> one provided by software called

> system mechanic.

>

> it has the ability to move programs

> anywhere you want and make all

> the modifications to the operating

> system and the registry.

>

> it works good, but it takes along

> time to accomplish the task and would

> be easier and faster to simply reinstall

> any program from scratch.

>

> if you are running out of room

> on the c drive, then you should consider

> alternatives.

>

> --

>

> db ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>¸.

>><)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

>

> .

>

> "Don J" <dej8801@comcast.net> wrote in message

> news:0vmdnVyPaY63JBvbnZ2dnUVZ_gGdnZ2d@comcast.com...

>> Of course, I want to move it and change the system to find it. That is

>> why I want to find where the parameters are internally defined. Sorry if

>> I didn't make that clear.

>>

>> Don J

>>

>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>> " db ´¯`·.. ><)))º>` .. ." <databaseben.public.newsgroup.microsoft.com>

>> wrote in message news:e0T6xB1uHHA.1768@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>>> if you move that folder

>>>

>>> "EVERYTHING IN IT WILL BECOME USELESS DATA...!

>>>

>>> and

>>>

>>> "YOUR SYSTEM WILL CRASH, LIKE A BROKEN WINDOW...!"

>>>

>>> simple advice

>>> for you to consider.

>>>

>>> --

>>>

>>> db ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>¸.

>>>><)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

>>>

>>> .

>>>

>>> "Don J" <dej8801@comcast.net> wrote in message

>>> news:kN2dnR8I0u0bLBvbnZ2dnUVZ_vmqnZ2d@comcast.com...

>>>>I am interested in changing the location of the directory "C:\Program

>>>>Files" to a different drive. More generally, there are a number of

>>>>parameters that one can see by typing "set" at a DOS prompt. The

>>>>parameter "C:\Program Files" is one of them. Where are they defined?

>>>>Changing them there doesn't do a thing.

>>>> --

>>>>

>>>> Don J

>>>>

>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>>>>

>>>

>>

>

Quote

Mark as Solution

June 30, 200717 yr

There is no environment named "Program Files" or similar. The things you see

when you use SET at the Command Prompt are locations *within* Program Files,

at least some of them defaults from the original installation of Windows.

While it isn't impossible, it would be quite difficult and *very* time

consuming to track down all the references to C:\Program Files even on a

fresh installation. When you've already loaded a bunch of apps, the task

grows exponentially larger and I seriously doubt anyone could do a perfect

job.

The only way to decently do what you want to do is to uninstall what apps

you can and then reinstall them using Custom installation options to change

the location they are installed to (if the installer even bothers to let

you.)

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

"Don J" <dej8801@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:0vmdnVyPaY63JBvbnZ2dnUVZ_gGdnZ2d@comcast.com...

> Of course, I want to move it and change the system to find it. That is

> why I want to find where the parameters are internally defined. Sorry if

> I didn't make that clear.

>

> Don J

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> " db ´¯`·.. ><)))º>` .. ." <databaseben.public.newsgroup.microsoft.com>

> wrote in message news:e0T6xB1uHHA.1768@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>> if you move that folder

>>

>> "EVERYTHING IN IT WILL BECOME USELESS DATA...!

>>

>> and

>>

>> "YOUR SYSTEM WILL CRASH, LIKE A BROKEN WINDOW...!"

>>

>> simple advice

>> for you to consider.

>>

>> --

>>

>> db ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>¸.

>>><)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

>>

>> .

>>

>> "Don J" <dej8801@comcast.net> wrote in message

>> news:kN2dnR8I0u0bLBvbnZ2dnUVZ_vmqnZ2d@comcast.com...

>>>I am interested in changing the location of the directory "C:\Program

>>>Files" to a different drive. More generally, there are a number of

>>>parameters that one can see by typing "set" at a DOS prompt. The

>>>parameter "C:\Program Files" is one of them. Where are they defined?

>>>Changing them there doesn't do a thing.

>>> --

>>>

>>> Don J

>>>

>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>>>

>>

>

Quote

Mark as Solution

June 30, 200717 yr

On Sat, 30 Jun 2007 16:12:26 -0400, "Don J" <dej8801@comcast.net>

wrote:

> Of course, I want to move it and change the system to find it. That is

> why I want to find where the parameters are internally defined. Sorry if I

> didn't make that clear.

Although databaseben's statements "EVERYTHING IN IT WILL BECOME

USELESS DATA" and "YOUR SYSTEM WILL CRASH, LIKE A BROKEN WINDOW"

aren't correct, the problem, as you realize, is that all the many

references to where those programs are will be wrong (the references

are not all in one place--many are in the registry, but others are

elsewhere). So most of the programs (all but an occasional tiny

self-contained one) will no longer run. There is, however, software

available to search out, and find those references and change them

accordingly (one such program, for example, is called COA2). My

experience with such programs is that they find most of the

references, but not all of them.

For that reason, I recommend that you do *not* attempt to do this. The

proper way, and the best way, to accomplish what you want is to

uninstall the programs, then reinstall on the drive where you want

them.

By the way, many people recommend that programs be installed on a

drive other than the one Windows is on, because they think that if

they ever have to reinstall Windows, their programs will be safe if

they are on another drive. That is *not* correct, so if that's the

reason you want to do it, I urge you to reconsider. If Windows is

reinstalled, all the registry (and other) references to them are lost,

and the programs have to be reinstalled anyway. That's true of all

programs except a very occasional tiny self-contained one.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> " db ´¯`·.. ><)))º>` .. ." <databaseben.public.newsgroup.microsoft.com>

> wrote in message news:e0T6xB1uHHA.1768@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> > if you move that folder

> >

> > "EVERYTHING IN IT WILL BECOME USELESS DATA...!

> >

> > and

> >

> > "YOUR SYSTEM WILL CRASH, LIKE A BROKEN WINDOW...!"

> >

> > simple advice

> > for you to consider.

> >

> > --

> >

> > db ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>¸.

> >><)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

> >

> > .

> >

> > "Don J" <dej8801@comcast.net> wrote in message

> > news:kN2dnR8I0u0bLBvbnZ2dnUVZ_vmqnZ2d@comcast.com...

> >>I am interested in changing the location of the directory "C:\Program

> >>Files" to a different drive. More generally, there are a number of

> >>parameters that one can see by typing "set" at a DOS prompt. The

> >>parameter "C:\Program Files" is one of them. Where are they defined?

> >>Changing them there doesn't do a thing.

> >> --

> >>

> >> Don J

> >>

> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> >>

> >

>

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Quote

Mark as Solution

June 30, 200717 yr

"Don J" <dej8801@comcast.net> wrote

>I am interested in changing the location of the directory "C:\Program

>Files" to a different drive. More generally, there are a number of

>parameters that one can see by typing "set" at a DOS prompt. The parameter

>"C:\Program Files" is one of them. Where are they defined? Changing them

>there doesn't do a thing.

Why do you want to move it? There is no real value to having programs

installed in a volume other than the one where Windows is installed, except

for some urge for a particular type of organization. Some programs will

still insist on being installed to the C:\program files.

Installing apps on a different volume doesn't protect them in case of an OS

crash. If the OS needs to be reinstalled clean, for whatever reason, most

apps will need to be reinstalled too.

That said, if you still want to move apps elsewhere, maybe because of space

considerations on the C: volume - though there are better ways to address

that problem - the way to do this properly is as Gary and Ken stated.

Uninstall apps from C: and reinstall elsewhere. Leave C:\Program files

where it is.

--

Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

Quote

Mark as Solution

June 30, 200717 yr

"Don J" <dej8801@comcast.net> wrote:

>Reread my post! I'm talking about moving the Folder and changing the

>operating system so that all references to the folder are in the new place.

>That would be the only change to the operating systam.

Reread the answer, dickwad.

That "only change to the operating system" is a MAJOR change.

No matter how bad you want your wish to come true, your fairy

godmother is on vacation.

Quote

Mark as Solution

June 30, 200717 yr

One other problem is even if you redirect the Program Files tree to

an alternate partition many installs will automatically write/create on

the volume with Windows the Program Files\Common Files. This

tends to push back your redirect and split content between two

separate \Program Files destinations.

"Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

news:epG41y1uHHA.3424@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> There is no environment named "Program Files" or similar. The things you

> see when you use SET at the Command Prompt are locations *within* Program

> Files, at least some of them defaults from the original installation of

> Windows. While it isn't impossible, it would be quite difficult and *very*

> time consuming to track down all the references to C:\Program Files even

> on a fresh installation. When you've already loaded a bunch of apps, the

> task grows exponentially larger and I seriously doubt anyone could do a

> perfect job.

>

> The only way to decently do what you want to do is to uninstall what apps

> you can and then reinstall them using Custom installation options to

> change the location they are installed to (if the installer even bothers

> to let you.)

>

> --

> Gary S. Terhune

> MS-MVP Shell/User

> http://www.grystmill.com

>

> "Don J" <dej8801@comcast.net> wrote in message

> news:0vmdnVyPaY63JBvbnZ2dnUVZ_gGdnZ2d@comcast.com...

>> Of course, I want to move it and change the system to find it. That is

>> why I want to find where the parameters are internally defined. Sorry if

>> I didn't make that clear.

>>

>> Don J

>>

>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>> " db ´¯`·.. ><)))º>` .. ." <databaseben.public.newsgroup.microsoft.com>

>> wrote in message news:e0T6xB1uHHA.1768@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>>> if you move that folder

>>>

>>> "EVERYTHING IN IT WILL BECOME USELESS DATA...!

>>>

>>> and

>>>

>>> "YOUR SYSTEM WILL CRASH, LIKE A BROKEN WINDOW...!"

>>>

>>> simple advice

>>> for you to consider.

>>>

>>> --

>>>

>>> db ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>¸.

>>>><)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

>>>

>>> .

>>>

>>> "Don J" <dej8801@comcast.net> wrote in message

>>> news:kN2dnR8I0u0bLBvbnZ2dnUVZ_vmqnZ2d@comcast.com...

>>>>I am interested in changing the location of the directory "C:\Program

>>>>Files" to a different drive. More generally, there are a number of

>>>>parameters that one can see by typing "set" at a DOS prompt. The

>>>>parameter "C:\Program Files" is one of them. Where are they defined?

>>>>Changing them there doesn't do a thing.

>>>> --

>>>>

>>>> Don J

>>>>

>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>>>>

>>>

>>

>

Quote

Mark as Solution

June 30, 200717 yr

i don't think i am incorrect.

there is no point in sugar coating

or loosing the o.p. with immense

details.

anyone is welcomed to change

the location of the program files

folder and i doubt that anyone

will be able to boot into the

o.s., especially if they have Microsoft

Programs and others like the infamous NAV

--

db ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>¸.

><)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

..

"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.am.invalid.domain> wrote in message

news:11id83lg349fq9kk8m6d11tkrm0rmeafkq@4ax.com...

> On Sat, 30 Jun 2007 16:12:26 -0400, "Don J" <dej8801@comcast.net>

> wrote:

>

>> Of course, I want to move it and change the system to find it.

>> That is

>> why I want to find where the parameters are internally defined.

>> Sorry if I

>> didn't make that clear.

>

> Although databaseben's statements "EVERYTHING IN IT WILL BECOME

> USELESS DATA" and "YOUR SYSTEM WILL CRASH, LIKE A BROKEN WINDOW"

> aren't correct, the problem, as you realize, is that all the many

> references to where those programs are will be wrong (the references

> are not all in one place--many are in the registry, but others are

> elsewhere). So most of the programs (all but an occasional tiny

> self-contained one) will no longer run. There is, however, software

> available to search out, and find those references and change them

> accordingly (one such program, for example, is called COA2). My

> experience with such programs is that they find most of the

> references, but not all of them.

>

> For that reason, I recommend that you do *not* attempt to do this. The

> proper way, and the best way, to accomplish what you want is to

> uninstall the programs, then reinstall on the drive where you want

> them.

>

> By the way, many people recommend that programs be installed on a

> drive other than the one Windows is on, because they think that if

> they ever have to reinstall Windows, their programs will be safe if

> they are on another drive. That is *not* correct, so if that's the

> reason you want to do it, I urge you to reconsider. If Windows is

> reinstalled, all the registry (and other) references to them are lost,

> and the programs have to be reinstalled anyway. That's true of all

> programs except a very occasional tiny self-contained one.

>

>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>> " db ´¯`·.. ><)))º>` .. ."

>> <databaseben.public.newsgroup.microsoft.com>

>> wrote in message news:e0T6xB1uHHA.1768@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>> > if you move that folder

>> >

>> > "EVERYTHING IN IT WILL BECOME USELESS DATA...!

>> >

>> > and

>> >

>> > "YOUR SYSTEM WILL CRASH, LIKE A BROKEN WINDOW...!"

>> >

>> > simple advice

>> > for you to consider.

>> >

>> > --

>> >

>> > db ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>¸.

>> >><)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

>> >

>> > .

>> >

>> > "Don J" <dej8801@comcast.net> wrote in message

>> > news:kN2dnR8I0u0bLBvbnZ2dnUVZ_vmqnZ2d@comcast.com...

>> >>I am interested in changing the location of the directory

>> >>"C:\Program

>> >>Files" to a different drive. More generally, there are a number of

>> >>parameters that one can see by typing "set" at a DOS prompt. The

>> >>parameter "C:\Program Files" is one of them. Where are they

>> >>defined?

>> >>Changing them there doesn't do a thing.

>> >> --

>> >>

>> >> Don J

>> >>

>> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>> >>

>> >

>>

>

> --

> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User

> Please Reply to the Newsgroup