Windows 7 start menu and shortcuts point to wrong location and are unchangable?!?

[justJuhTai]

Hi.

Hopefully someone is able to help. I recently purchased a new PC that I've decided to run Windows 7 on once again, having a personal dislike of Windows 8.

Currently the system is running 1 SSD for the operating system and 1 HDD for programs and other files. Wanting to seperate my OS from my HDD as much as possible, I searched these forums for a solution to allow me to place my Program Files and Program Files (x86) on the HDD.

In doing so - I found a Regedit solution that involved editing 2 Reg keys under %systemroot%\syswow64\regedit - I changed the ProgramFilesDir and ProgramFilesDir (x86) values so that they now point to my F drive over my C drive.

However, in doing so I have found that although the programs install okay - when a shortcut is generated on the desktop and in the start menu, the Path does not match with the files location and instead points towards the C drive. I have tried going into the properties of the file itself and editing the shortcuts so that they point towards the F drive - however upon pressing Apply and Ok - the path reverts back to it's previous C drive state, despite clearly editing it moments ago.

Has anyone had similar? Is there a solution I am missing at this point? I would love to hear it!

 

[Hellsmk2]

Why would you change anything to do with the core location of program files? There is nothing stopping you simply choosing to install applications on another drive during the app install.

Bizzare configuration choice is bizzare!

 

[skyripper]

Annother way to achieve what you want is to leave the regkey setings pointing at C:, copy the Program Files directories on C: over to F:, and make a hardlink between them.

So for example;
Install AcmeBogDesigner into C:\Program Files\Acme\Bog Designer
Move that over to F:\Program Files\Acme\Bog Designer
Make a link in C:\Program Files\Acme\Bog Designer that points to the F: version

I tend to do this with big Steam games and things I'll only use now and again.

 

[justJuhTai]

Why play with regedit? The reason is quite simple.

Most programs are set to automatically write to the C drive (or the name of the drive where your operating system is situated).

In some cases, there is no option to install on any other hard drive, an oversite I feel in a lot of cases. For example, installing the Nvidia 380.20 drivers via the Nvidia Experience system - it simply installs. no file location options. no playing around. Just straight up installs.

The regedit itself allows you to ensure that these programs install *only* on the drive of your choice automatically.

Not to mention it's also a slight convenience when given the option to where a program puts its files - as I can simply zip through the installer without having to edit the location Lazyness on that front for certain.

 

[t31os]

I've always put drivers on the OS drive myself, programs and games go to another though.

D for programs, G for games, J, X, M or some of random letter for storage. Usually leave the drivers alongside the OS though, i can't see there's much to be gained by moving the drivers away from the OS drive(plus if your OS drive is the fastest drive you have, it's a good place for them - in my mind at least), and they usually require only a small amount of space(compared to say, Photoshop or a game).