How do experts install freeware CutePDF Writer into "C:\My Programs"?

[Logan Shaw]

It illustrates another important point in file management which is to keep
the structure simple. Simple structure = regular backups. Complicated
structure = "oops, I haven't done a backup in 3 months."

Not necessarily true if you just back up all files on the system.
IMHO, this is the only way to go; anything else and when it comes
time to restore, you go, "Oh crap -- I never did add that to the
stuff I back up." And then you are missing some important file.

Yes, you can just make a rule that a certain directory gets backed
up and everything important must go in there, but as soon as you
do that, you've got some config file or (on Windows) registry tweak
that took you time to track down how to accomplish, and you can't
put that into your special backups folder.

But then, when they say "back up your work", my theory is that time
spent configuring the machine the way I need it to be counts as work,
so all that data should be backed up.

- Logan

 

[Sharon F]

Not necessarily true if you just back up all files on the system.
IMHO, this is the only way to go; anything else and when it comes
time to restore, you go, "Oh crap -- I never did add that to the
stuff I back up." And then you are missing some important file.

Yes, you can just make a rule that a certain directory gets backed
up and everything important must go in there, but as soon as you
do that, you've got some config file or (on Windows) registry tweak
that took you time to track down how to accomplish, and you can't
put that into your special backups folder.

But then, when they say "back up your work", my theory is that time
spent configuring the machine the way I need it to be counts as work,
so all that data should be backed up.

Logan, I agree with that too. I have multiple partitions. C: the main drive
with Windows, gets imaged in entirety. 5-10 minutes to make an image. 5-10
minutes to restore an image. Without imaging software, it can take days to
restore Windows and reinstall all of my programs. I prefer the shorter
route of minutes instead of days.

I think there's always an "oops" with data backups. They can happen an hour
after a complete backup is made. If you're more comfortable imaging or
copying data drives too - great! That's what works for you. The objective
is not to be 100% always up to date but to keep the "oops" factor as small
as possible and at a level you can live with comfortably.

 

[Susan Sharm]

I think there's always an "oops" with data backups.

Hi Logan and Sharon,

I understand and agree with what you say and do above. In fact, that's
why I re-use my shortcuts when I move from one system to another. All
that work is re-usable when you use the same file structure every time.

However, in the interests of full disclosure so others can learn
multiple methods of accomplishing a system restore or migration to a
new system, instead of backing up my registry, what I do is keep a log
of every change I make to the system.

It only takes a second to log each activity because I added an AppsPath
line to my Windows registry called "history" (actually it's history.exe
but that's a Microsofterism in that there is no history.exe on my
system). Whenever I change any registry setting or modify my system, I
log it simply by typing Start->Run->history->OK.

Typing "history" brings up my history.txt file to which I add a single
line (usually by cut and paste) for each action I perform to modify the
original system.

Then, when I go to the new system, I just re-read my history file (in
reverse order) so that I can quickly return the new system back to the
original.

There are advantages to your system (complete accuracy) and advantages
to mine (the new system starts cleaner), just as there are
disadvantages to your system (backup size) and disadvantages to mine
(incomplete accuracy).

I welcome other suggestions for more efficient system eimaging and
migration so we all learn from each other,

Susan

 

[Marco Kesseler]

http://www.sensationbot.com/chat-rodspeed.html

Bye, Rod

 

[Rod Speed]

Bye, Rod

Thanks for that completely superfluous proof that
you couldnt bullshit your way out of a wet paper bag
even if your pathetic excuse for a 'life' depended on it.

 

[Marco Kesseler]

Thanks for that completely superfluous proof that
you couldnt bullshit your way out of a wet paper bag
even if your pathetic excuse for a 'life' depended on it.

Oh Rod, how you hurt me! It is like you can see right through me.

You, in contrast, _can_ bullshit your way into anything because your
'life' depends on it.

Rest asured you all, I am going to stop now. I am getting
pretty bored with Rod, and I guess that holds for you too.

 

[Rod Speed]

Thanks for that completely superfluous proof that
you couldnt bullshit your way out of a wet paper bag
even if your pathetic excuse for a 'life' depended on it.

 

[John Fitzsimons]

On 10 Nov 2005 23:42:28 -0800, "Susan Sharm" <[email protected]>
wrote:

Five newsgroups ? A really good way to ensure that a thread becomes
"OT" in ACF.

Susan Sharm wrote:

Rather a tedious and unnecessary bit of work IMO.

One more point.

The organization of the application installation hierarchy needs to be
as hierarchical as it needs to be (as compared to the typical
"C:\Program Files" which is too flat and almost wholly unorganized
except by the inconsistent whims of each of the individual installation
program marketing groups).

I couldn't care less what's in my "C:\Program Files" directory. Most
programs want to go there....so I let them. Quick and easy.

However, in my use model, there is a rule that there shall NEVER be an
application installed directly into the C:\My Programs hierarchy. That
is, a flat file structure is strictly forbidden in my use model.
Everything belongs at least one subdirectory below the top level of the
My Programs hierarchy.

For example, for a simple set of applications such as "C:\My
Programs\My Mailers", one might expect to see only a few installed
applications only two levels deep, e.g.,
C:\My Programs\My Mailers\Blat
C:\My Programs\My Mailers\Eudora
C:\My Programs\My Mailers\Pegasus
C:\My Programs\My Mailers\Thunderbird
etc.

I just create a "My Mailers" item above my start menu. Then add
whatever shortcuts I want. The shortcut doesn't care where the program
is. Neither do I.

Likewise, I promote a simple two-level hierarchy for NNTP news readers,
e.g.,
C:\My Programs\My Readers\40tude Dialog
C:\My Programs\My Readers\Free Agent
C:\My Programs\My Readers\NewsXpress
C:\My Programs\My Readers\Xnews
etc.

I just create a "My Readers" item above my start menu. Then add
whatever shortcuts I want. The shortcut doesn't care where the program
is. Neither do I.

In stark contrast, some hierarchies require three or more levels, e.g.,

< snip >

Golly, you must spend all your day burrowing down through directories
and subdirectories !

Regards, John.

--
****************************************************
,-._|\ (A.C.F FAQ) http://clients.net2000.com.au/~johnf/faq.html
/ Oz \ John Fitzsimons - Melbourne, Australia.
\_,--.x/ http://www.vicnet.net.au/~johnf/welcome.htm
v http://clients.net2000.com.au/~johnf/

 

[Susan Sharm]

I just create a "My Readers" item above my start menu. Then add
whatever shortcuts I want. The shortcut doesn't care where the program
is. Neither do I.

Hi John Fitzsomons,

Thank you for your respectful insight. Very many people are just like
you, perhaps tens of millions of the Windows users out there. Not many
are like I, perhaps thousands or tens of thousands, in comparison.
Neither is right. Neither is wrong. In both cases, "the organization of
the application hierarchy needs to be as organized as it needs to be".

Both Windows organizational styles have their pros; both have their
cons. It's like the difference between planning every step of a long
trip down Windows Lane versus letting the travel agent do it all for
you. The pros and cons are similar.

In your case, the application hierarchy doesn't need to be organized by
you; it's organized by the creator of the application. You spend your
time and effort organizing your Start Menu shortcuts (I think). In my
case, not only do I spend initial setup time organizing my application
hierarchy, but I likewise organize my Start Menu (and three other
areas) similarly. Not right or wrong. Just different. Each has their
pros and cons.

I would guess the major pro of your style of organization is that it is
easier to let a program install where the marketing wanted it to go
than it is to install it elsewhere; the major pro of my style of
organization is I can find anything on my system in a flash because I
know where it will be even before I install it. No matter which of my
many PCs I use, I always have the applications in the same location on
all of them.

The original problem came about when a particular application installer
only allowed your method of organization; and not mine. That was the
original problem. All agreed that was not a well written installer.
Some of us (who organize our application hierarchy) decided NOT to use
the program for that sole reason. We therefore opted for the
competitive product (which I won't mention lest I be tagged a shill).

It's good to have insight from everyone - that's what makes us a
working community,
Susan

 

[Susan Sharm]

Golly, you must spend all your day burrowing down through directories & subdirectories!

Not really.

Like you, my similarly organized Start Menu shortcuts bring up the
applications in day to day activities; but I use a simple Windows trick
to be able to go to any directory in a flash:

For example, if I need to go to the Thunderbird application directory,
I can run:
- Start, Run, Mailers
This instantly takes me to the "C:\My Programs\My Mailers" directory.

Likewise if I need to go to the Skype application directory, I run:
- Start, Run, Phone
Which instantly takes me to the "C:\My Programs\My Hardware\My Phones"
directory.

I didn't mention it until now so I thank you for giving me the
opportunity to let folks in on yet another organizational secret. My
plan of record is that I save a shortcut to all the directories on my
BLUEPRINT CDROM and I copy over these shortcuts to any new PC's
C:\Windows directory.

Note: Windows XP doesn't handle spaces well so that's why these
shortcuts omit the leading "My". Otherwise, we'd have to use quotes and
that is a no no.

By doing so, I enable all these "jump to's" to work instantly!

I hope these tricks of the trade help many others,
Susan

 

[John Fitzsimons]

On 11 Nov 2005 21:35:56 -0800, "Susan Sharm" <[email protected]>
wrote:

I use a simple Windows trick to be able to go to any directory in a flash:

For example, if I need to go to the Thunderbird application directory,
I can run:
- Start, Run, Mailers
This instantly takes me to the "C:\My Programs\My Mailers" directory.

< snip >

That instantly gives me "Cannot find the file "Mailers"...." etc. On
my win98SE system.

Regards, John.

 

[Susan Sharm]

That instantly gives me "Cannot find the file "Mailers"...." etc. On
my win98SE system.

Hi John Fitzsimons,

You are in luck! On the older Windows systems, you could still use the
"App Paths" key. Only on the latest Windows operating systems does the
registry AppPaths key no longer work to open up a directory.

So, for the older Windows systems, navigate to this key:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths
And add a new Apps Paths key value pair for any desired folder:
folder.exe = C:\Path\Path\Path\Path\folder

This even works for files, for example:
filename.exe = C:\Path\Path\Path\file.doc
which many of use use for quick access to our contact lists, for
example.

Note the Microsoftism that you MUST use the "exe" extension for the key
name even though this has nothing to do with executables and there is
nothing on your system of that name.

Let us know how it works for you!
Susan

 

[Lou Franklin]

Susan--
There's a very simple workaround I've used for years. You install
where you're forced to, then use a Registry Search & Replace utility
to move all your program's Registry additions to your desired
directory; i.e., move form C:\My Programs to C:\My Freebie Programs,
or whatever. And of course, remember to create the desired folder in
the first place! Finally, cut and paste all the program's files into
the new folder.

You may be surprised to find that some of these little apps only have
a couple of Registry entries in the first place, and often you don't
even need to reboot for Windows to read the new Registry info. My
little program also shows you exactly what's being replaced.

This searcher is only a single 280K file; if you like this idea let me
know and I'll attach a copy to an email for you to try.
Lou

Replies: (e-mail address removed)

**************************************************

As to the searcher app,

 

[pjp]

I've read past where I'm hopping back in at as seems to me "who cares about
the apps themselves.". It's the data that's important, another pc can be
bought and the apps reinstalled.

My "style" still very much reflects starting back in the days of one (and if
lucky) two 360Kb drives under DOS 2. Organization of what was on which
floppy was critical to not going nuts First desktop had a 10Meg in it and
as I wrote software at the time, my organizational strategy became more of
....

Source
Souce\C
....
Source\Pascal

etc.

I still maintain that for software projects but I also have a

"Unprocessed Pics" folder and as pics are "processed" they get moved to a
"Photos" folder and as well the "Pics" folder under my "To Be Burned"
There's also a "Documents" folder. Downloads, rips, scans and pretty well
everything else go into "C:\Temp" until I decide what to do with them. I
pretty much totally ignore MS's design with my only real complaint being
stupid apps that always insist in opening in My Documents rather than last
used folder.

The key for me is ... I simply do not let it become cluttered and deal with
everything as it's created etc.