Setting Default Directories

[Mike Dobony]

I am trying to set up my laptop to dual boot to Vista and XP. I have
Vista, the factory junk OS on partition C and XP on F. I know I need to
reinstall all my software to use in both systems, but I would like to
reinstall all my software to C drive instead of F. How can I change the
default install directories to C instead of F?

Mike D.

 

[R. McCarty]

You really wouldn't want a "Common" installation between the two
operating systems. There are dependant components of a install that
loads components outside the \Program Files path. Applications will
load settings and customizations in the \Documents & Settings profile
paths. Changes made in one OS may not properly register in the 2nd.
Doing what you describe might sound reasonable, but in practice it is
likely to be an ongoing headache.

 

[Michael Dobony]

You really wouldn't want a "Common" installation between the two
operating systems. There are dependant components of a install that
loads components outside the \Program Files path. Applications will
load settings and customizations in the \Documents & Settings profile
paths. Changes made in one OS may not properly register in the 2nd.
Doing what you describe might sound reasonable, but in practice it is
likely to be an ongoing headache.

So I need to have the programs installed to two different Program Files
directories, doubling the storage usage? My F drive has only 9gb to
install the operating system.

 

[R. McCarty]

Yes, that would be the net result. Dual boot works fine with a shared
or common personal data store ( My Docs, Music...). These types of
data are end point and don't have distributed components. Programs
like Office, Adobe Reader and others don't reside 100% in the path
\Program files. Their files include paths like \System32 and Docs and
Settings. You could try to set it up as a common destination but once
installed by one OS, the 2nd install from the alternate would likely end
up corrupting the 1st - just making a mess of both OS installations.

 

[John John (MVP)]

So I need to have the programs installed to two different Program Files
directories, doubling the storage usage? My F drive has only 9gb to
install the operating system.

It isn't a very good idea to have different operating systems use the
same Programs directories.

Microsoft does not support changing the location of the Program Files
folder by modifying the ProgramFilesDir registry value
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933700

John

 

[Michael Dobony]

Yes, that would be the net result. Dual boot works fine with a shared
or common personal data store ( My Docs, Music...). These types of
data are end point and don't have distributed components. Programs
like Office, Adobe Reader and others don't reside 100% in the path
\Program files. Their files include paths like \System32 and Docs and
Settings. You could try to set it up as a common destination but once
installed by one OS, the 2nd install from the alternate would likely end
up corrupting the 1st - just making a mess of both OS installations.

So I need 2 HD's, 1 for each operating system, or replace all my fully
functioning legacy devices (Jornada palm top, video converter, etc.) that
no longer function under Vista (thanks to Ms's arrogance). I eventually
want to totally eliminate Vista. It is slow and will not work with my old
equipment. I am up and running with XP in less than half the time it takes
Vista to load and it runs all my software and hardware without any problems
other than Compaq not supporting XP, so I lose my hotkeys, a small price to
pay for an otherwise fully functioning OS.

 

[R. McCarty]

If you want two totally separate/independent Operating Systems you'll
need two drives ( or two partitions on a sufficiently large physical
drive ).
Dealing with Dual-Boot or multi-boot is something I avoid. Basically I
have XP running with Microsoft Virtual PC handling every OS from the
first Windows 98 up to Windows Server 2008/Windows Home Server
running as Virtual PC machines. They are self-contained and portable.

 

[Michael Dobony]

If you want two totally separate/independent Operating Systems you'll
need two drives ( or two partitions on a sufficiently large physical
drive ).
Dealing with Dual-Boot or multi-boot is something I avoid. Basically I
have XP running with Microsoft Virtual PC handling every OS from the
first Windows 98 up to Windows Server 2008/Windows Home Server

Right now Vista is using up half of my 250GB HD in my laptop. Being a
laptop I can't add a second hard drive. To run Virtual PC I need to
upgrade to a more expensive and more bloated version of Vista, taking up
more room. Vista is not letting me sync to my palm top as it runs Windows
CE and Vista will not run Activesync and the Media Center or whatever will
not sync to my palm. It requires PC2003 or higher. Vista is slow. My
ultimate goal is to eliminate the junk called Vista. Until I can get XP
fully functional I need to be able to use both systems. Temporary dual
boot makes the most sense.