Safe to move "Program Files" folder ???

[Jim]

Is it safe to relocate the "Programs Files" folder to another LARGER
partition or to a totally different drive?

I've got a registry cleaner that seems to find misplace files and re-directs
Xp to them, but will it work to move the whole "Program Files" folder?

Many manufacturers install a larger hard drive but make the "C" partition
too damn small. The "D:" partition can sometimes be 6 or 7 times the size of
the "C:" partition.

 

[JTW]

No. Absolutely not. Leave what is there - there.

You *can* however, start a second Program Files directory where you
want it, and then change the default location in the registry at:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
ProgramFilesDir

Then, install any new apps to your new location.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Is it safe to relocate the "Programs Files" folder to another LARGER
partition or to a totally different drive?

All programs, except for an occasional tiny one) have many references to
where they are located, in the registry and elsewhere. If you move the
progrms, the references won't get updated and the programs will cease to
work.

There are some third-party utilities, such as the freeware COA2.exe, which
purport to search out all these entries and update them, but in my
experience these are all less than perfect. The safe way, and the best way,
to do this is to uninstall all the programs, then reinstall them where you
want them.

 

[John Smithe]

Is it safe to relocate the "Programs Files" folder to another LARGER
partition or to a totally different drive?

I've got a registry cleaner that seems to find misplace files and
re-directs Xp to them, but will it work to move the whole "Program
Files" folder?

Many manufacturers install a larger hard drive but make the "C"
partition too damn small. The "D:" partition can sometimes be 6 or 7
times the size of the "C:" partition.

For future reference, the following site discusses creating a custom XP
install disk which can be configured to put the 'Program Files' directory
wherever you want during the XP install process. I recommend using nlite.

 

[Thota Umesh]

NO! dont do that! even if ur registry cleaner program can do such changes
you would encounter far too many errors even after that. here are a few
alternatives u can do:

First: convert ur drive to ntfs u will have an enormous amount of space
recovered. you can do this by typing convert in dos it will convert ur
present filesystem to ntfs without loosing files or data. see convert/? for
details.

Second: this one is the simplest uinstall and reinstall ur heavy softwares
like games to a different drive install all new programs from now to a
different drive. always remember too many crowded programs do make ur system
slow.

Third: use partition magic! this can change size or ur drive s without
actually needing to delete any partition. Remember this is always dangerous
and irrespective of its success rate use it at ur own risk.

Hope this helps...,
Umesh Thota
www.windowsworkshop.com