Partitions and Start Menu issue

[ep0ch_post]

i was fooling around with some partitioning scheme's of one of my
Windows XP SP2 boxes trying to keep C: and the windows structure as
clean as possible and putting the Program Files directory onto a
seperate partition and drive. [System configurations is 2- SATA
3.0Gb/sec drives an 80GB and 250GB]

C: drive 0 15GB boot/system partition
Z: drive 1 4GB Pagefile partition
D: drive 1 15GB Program Files partition
E: drive 1 30GB Data
rest of Drive 0 = Disk ISO partitions, VmWare ISOs, and the like.

After installing a few programs, diskkeeper 10, firefox, thunderbird
to the D:\Program Files (Programs file partition) I noticed that the
start menu>All Programs listing for each of the above programs lists
the entire contents of the directory as opposed to the usual program
shortcut. If you delete this listings in the start menu it deletes
the entire directoryfrom the D: drive. The shortcuts for each are
found in the respective directories, All Users, Default Users, and
the particular user. I can't seem to find the reference as to why the
start menu>All Programs is listing the entire directory contents
instead of the shortcuts as it does when installing the programs to
C:.

I used Tweak UI (2.10) Special Folders option to change the "Program"
location. (Didn't seem to do anything, programs still try to install
to C:\Program Files)

I recently ran Regedit and changed the Common File and Program Path
from C:\Program Files to D:\Program Files hoping blindly that it
might remedy the problem. (so much for tweak UI adjusting those
settings) Now the start menu lists the contents of D:\Program Files as
All Program menu options,listing= Common files dir, Uninstall
Information dir, Xerox dir, and any other program directory listed.

I did a google search to see if people that have moved their Program
Files Directories to a separate partition have had the same issue or
any similar issue with the start menu, but none to be found. Anyone
have any ideas or similar situations. I'm assuming its a REG key
somewhere.

Looks like a quirk from moving Program Files to a seperate partition,
yet haven't heard anything from the folks who do the same. perhaps
the live with the quirk?

 

[Lindsay]

When you "moved" Program Files to the D: drive, did you inform Windows? When
you install programs, do they default to C:\Program Files? Start Menu will
try to get it's info from the default location and may be getting confused.

If you haven't already got it, get TweakUI by Microsoft. Under My
Computer -> Special Folders, you can change the default location of Program
Files. This might solve your problem.

 

[Lindsay]

Sorry. I missed that bit on you using TweakUI. There is no reason why that
shouldn't work. I've done the same thing before with the My Documents folder
with no problems. Incidentally, have you tried using TweakUI again now the
D:\Program Files folder exists?

 

[ep0ch_post]

Sorry. I missed that bit on you using TweakUI. There is no reason why that
shouldn't work. I've done the same thing before with the My Documents folder
with no problems. Incidentally, have you tried using TweakUI again now the
D:\Program Files folder exists?

thanks for responding. I still haven't come across any MS KB articles
on this situation yet.

Yes, I had created the partitions and directories before using Tweak
UI ver 2.10. The My Document moved worked without a hitch. (Xp is
more forgiving with that directory, also having the "move folder"
option built in)

Moving the Program Files was another story. Tweak UI>Special
Folders>Programs shows the correct path to D:\Program Files but
installing Apps still defaulted to C:\Program Files. I custom
installed by just replacing the C: with D: and keeping the rest of the
install directory structure the same.

Within the registry the ProgramFilesPath key was still pointing to
C:\Program Files. I've manually changed both the Program Files Path
and Common Files Path keys to D: Now the Start Menu>All Programs
lists the entire contents of the D:\Program Files directory as a
direct directory*. (before the manual change it displayed the usual
listings EXCEPT for the Apps I installed, it would list the entire
contents of each installed app and be a direct directory* off the
start menu and not a shortcut.)

**Direct directory meaning, if I delete the listing off the start
menu, it deletes the entire directory from D:\Program Files. Doesn't
have the usual icon for start menu program listings (the folder with
window), it's just a folder icon.

note: I never removed the C:\Program Files directory and also never
moved it, cut&paste etc. to D:\. It is still off the root of C: (I
just thought of this)
Perhaps windows is confused with the 2 directories?. i never did this
thinking it may corrupt the registry entries of the system installed
program files. ( it probably will if TweakUI ver2.10 never changed
the Paths in the registry.) After changing the registry
ProgramFilesPath and CommonFilesPath keys windows did Add the related
directories to D:\Program Files...Common Files, Xerox etc etc.

I will have to try removing C:\ProgramFiles for kicks and giggles and
see if it has any effect at some point. (it's just a sandbox
workstation at the moment)