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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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]

"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.

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