How to know if a program needs C:?

[That guy]

I'm trying to keep a minimum of programs on C: so when Windows needs to be
re-installed I don't have to re-install as many programs. When I install
most programs, they usually let me install them on D: but often it still
needs to dump some files on C: drive. I found that when I re-installed my
OS a lot of my programs wouldn't work unless they were reinstalled. So now
I thought that if it needs to use C: drive for some files I might as well
install it in C: drive. Question: How do I know if some of the programs
that I'm about to install need to use C: drive for some files?

 

[Rick]

I'm trying to keep a minimum of programs on C: so when Windows needs to be
re-installed I don't have to re-install as many programs. When I install
most programs, they usually let me install them on D: but often it still
needs to dump some files on C: drive. I found that when I re-installed my
OS a lot of my programs wouldn't work unless they were reinstalled. So now
I thought that if it needs to use C: drive for some files I might as well
install it in C: drive. Question: How do I know if some of the programs
that I'm about to install need to use C: drive for some files?

You can use third-party registry and file monitors to see what
changes each app makes to the registry and file system during
installation. Search Google for "registry monitor" and "file
monitor".

Just FYI, almost all major apps (and even most not-so-major
apps) make changes to Windows' registry during installation,
and these apps expect to find this info in the registry when
they're run.

Rick

 

[DL]

If by reinstall win you mean clean install, as apposed to repair install,
you will have to reinstall yr Apps no matter what drive you origonally
installed them on.
Due to the fact that an App install adds entries to the registry as well as
any files it may install in win folders.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Placing data files on a partition separate from the operating
system and applications can greatly simplify system repairs/recoveries
and data back-up.

There's very little point, however, in having a separate partition
for just applications and/or games. Should you have to reinstall the
OS, you'll also have to reinstall each and every application and game
anyway, in order to recreate the hundreds (possibly thousands) of
registry entries and to replace the dozens (possibly hundreds) of
essential system files back into the appropriate Windows folders and
sub-folders.


Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. - RAH

 

[That guy]

Well that's strange....most of my programs are working fine. I had the OS
and things like IE, WMP, and antivirus programs on C: which of course needed
to be reinstalled after formatting C: dirve. But most of my programs on D:
are working fine.

There's very little point, however, in having a separate partition
for just applications and/or games. Should you have to reinstall the
OS, you'll also have to reinstall each and every application and game
anyway, in order to recreate the hundreds (possibly thousands) of
registry entries and to replace the dozens (possibly hundreds) of
essential system files back into the appropriate Windows folders and
sub-folders.

files?

 

[DL]

Then they must be very old programs/or v.simple apps