Program Files/Program Files(x86)

SilverTongue · 26 Mar 2011 at 16:23

Hi guys,

Was wondering whether an idea of mine would work or not, basically trying to set up multiple partitions on my drive for various purposes, e.g a partition for just Windows, one for games and hopefully another for Programs.

I've just read that is possible to changes the default location of the Program Files folder by using regedit to change

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ProgramFilesDir

and

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ProgramFilesDir (x86)

to whatever you want.

My question is though if I was to set up 2 folders on this partition named 32 and 64(or another meaningful name) and set them as the default locations respectively would this work in the same manner as the defaults that Windows sets at install?

Hope this makes sense?

TIA

marc2003 · 26 Mar 2011 at 16:39

i'd leave the registry and default locations well alone. you can always choose where to install programs by picking a custom folder location during setup.

installing games on another partition is a good enough idea but i can't really see the point for normal windows applications. if you ever re-install windows, the applications will still need re-installing to work properly.

PhillyDee · 26 Mar 2011 at 16:41

I gave up using partitions like this years ago, theres just no need. Apart from one for documents so they are always there for reformatting, but I just use my WHS drives for that now!

SilverTongue · 26 Mar 2011 at 16:47

OK thanks for the help guys

Snograt · 26 Mar 2011 at 17:22

As a rule of thumb, I always let Windows programs install in the default location (Prog Files/x86) and never let games install there.

I can't explain exactly why I do this, it's just that Win7 is very protective over its Program Files folders and I keep coming up against permission problems with games where I need to access certain bits and pieces - config files, data files etc.

I'm not very techy, so I don't know why this is - it just is

UnworthyBean · 26 Mar 2011 at 17:58

I once tried editing the registry to install everything onto a second drive and it just ended in tears. They would install fine but then files would move back to the c drive and just break the application.

No harm in just changing the install directory during install though as people have said.