Software installing to wrong drive on Win7 64bit

Fanaticjam · 12 Dec 2012 at 19:25

Hi guys

I've been having an issue with Windows 7 64bit. It keeps installing software to my C drive even after I changed default to E.

I've just tried to install CS6 Masters suite and its installed all the 64bit programs to the right directory but it's trying to dump all the 32bit ones into my C drive which is now full due to this issue.

Anyone got an idea how to fix this as I can't force install them to it and I need space on the C drive for use as a scratch disk (it was planned to just be OS + Scratch on C drive, all software on E). I think I might have missed some settings but I have no idea what I need to do to fix it :/

zakblood · 12 Dec 2012 at 19:33

you have 2 default folders on c, a 32bit one and a 64bit one, some software will put bits in each, i'd make more space on C by moving anything you can off there, as not everything needs loading on it as you already know, add and remove stuff and reinstall anything you can that will install elsewhere, then this program will have the space.

or clone the drive onto a bigger one.

will check to see if it has any known errors with windows 7 64 bit

did you have it on C before or any other version? an older one etc? as it always defaults to C but a fresh install where none of the package has been on C before can be installed anywhere, or so it says in the read me and error section on there site

to fix it i'd uninstall the software and use a reg cleaner like ccleaner or same of, make sure all files/folders hidden from the install is removed by a manual search, look in the 2 folders 32/64 bit called program files and programs filesx86 and makes sure after it has been uninstalled that no files or folders are left in open / empty folders from the install, delete if there is any, making sure you also run ccleaner type program to double check for reg errors etc, also you may need to do a registry search for the program as well and delete links.

then re install, if it doesn't let you alter the default, then the system isn't clean and will default to the standard C drive installation, if you have a clean system, format and reinstall windows, then you can install it to your 2nd drive.

Addicted · 12 Dec 2012 at 19:33

Was it a registry change to default to E? If so you need to apply it in Wow6432Node and the normal registry as well

Fanaticjam · 12 Dec 2012 at 22:03

zakblood said:
you have 2 default folders on c, a 32bit one and a 64bit one, some software will put bits in each, i'd make more space on C by moving anything you can off there, as not everything needs loading on it as you already know, add and remove stuff and reinstall anything you can that will install elsewhere, then this program will have the space.

or clone the drive onto a bigger one.

will check to see if it has any known errors with windows 7 64 bit

did you have it on C before or any other version? an older one etc? as it always defaults to C but a fresh install where none of the package has been on C before can be installed anywhere, or so it says in the read me and error section on there site

My E 'Drive' is 2x 256GB SSD's in Raid, I have this especially for software like photoshop which I want to run as smoothly as possible. The C drive is a small SSD drive which I want to use for scratch, not for any software, once I have it figured out I will remove all the existing software from it.

The comp is a messy combination of old and new drives and data. I have several older versions of PS but intend to clean that up, that shouldn't be affecting a fresh /first installation of CS6 Master Suite.

Fanaticjam · 13 Dec 2012 at 17:16

Addicted said:
Was it a registry change to default to E? If so you need to apply it in Wow6432Node and the normal registry as well

What is this node malarky? Suddenly I feel like a total newb with computers D:

zakblood · 13 Dec 2012 at 19:52

The Wow6432 registry entry indicates that you're running a 64-bit version of Windows. The OS uses this key to present a separate view of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE for 32-bit applications that run on a 64-bit version of Windows. When a 32-bit application queries a value under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\<company>\<product> subkey, the application reads from the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\<company>\<product> subkey. The figure below shows the structure under Wow6432Node that 32-bit applications will see. A "registry reflector" copies certain values between the 32-bit and 64-bit registry views (e.g., mainly for COM registration) and resolves any conflicts using a last-writer-wins approach.

Fanaticjam · 13 Dec 2012 at 20:35

zakblood said:
The Wow6432 registry entry indicates that you're running a 64-bit version of Windows. The OS uses this key to present a separate view of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE for 32-bit applications that run on a 64-bit version of Windows. When a 32-bit application queries a value under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\<company>\<product> subkey, the application reads from the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\<company>\<product> subkey. The figure below shows the structure under Wow6432Node that 32-bit applications will see. A "registry reflector" copies certain values between the 32-bit and 64-bit registry views (e.g., mainly for COM registration) and resolves any conflicts using a last-writer-wins approach.

Okay, I think I understand the majority of that, so do I need to change a few values in the registry or get a 'registry reflector'?

zakblood · 13 Dec 2012 at 21:23

yes to first question