Vista expects Applications in "Program Files" ?

[MueMeister]

Hi there,

1) Doas anybody knows about the restriction that Vista expects
applications to be installed to the "C:\Program Files" directory ???

I've read in a news paper article that if I install my application to
let's say "C:\myApp" that Windows Vista ignores it in conjunction
with WinQual?!

2) I'm not familier with WinQual, so second question here:
What is it ? (sorry to ask but the MSDN for WinQual is not accessable
these days)

3) What restrictions, beside the permission to write files, do I have
with the Program-Files folder. Are there disadvantages to install
outside the Program Files folder?

TIA
Mue

 

[Jimmy Brush]

1) Doas anybody knows about the restriction that Vista expects

applications to be installed to the "C:\Program Files" directory ???

Yes, applications are meant to be installed into the program files folder.

I've read in a news paper article that if I install my application to
let's say "C:\myApp" that Windows Vista ignores it in conjunction
with WinQual?!

It is incorrect to create folders on c:\. You should be using an installer
program that takes care of this for you, program installations can get
tricky.

2) I'm not familier with WinQual, so second question here:
What is it ? (sorry to ask but the MSDN for WinQual is not accessable
these days)

I believe WinQual is referring to the Windows Vista logo program.

3) What restrictions, beside the permission to write files, do I have
with the Program-Files folder. Are there disadvantages to install
outside the Program Files folder?

You do not have permission to write files into the program files folder.
Your installer program, running with admin permissions, can install to
program files, but your application CANNOT write files there. Your
application can only write inside the user's profile folder.

If you want to install your program to some place other than program files,
you should install it to the AppData folder inside the user's profile
folder.

You should not install the program anywhere else.

Please read this document for more information:

http://download.microsoft.com/downl...f35c/Windows Vista Software Logo Spec 1.1.doc

 

[MueMeister]

Hi Jimmy,

thanks for the fast answer

You do not have permission to write files into the program files folder.
Your installer program, running with admin permissions, can install to
program files, but your application CANNOT write files there. Your
application can only write inside the user's profile folder.

If you want to install your program to some place other than program
files, you should install it to the AppData folder inside the user's
profile folder.

You should not install the program anywhere else.

Please read this document for more information:

http://download.microsoft.com/downl...f35c/Windows Vista Software Logo Spec 1.1.doc

I've read in the link you posted that this should be a criteria for logo
spec 1.1. Now imagine the user installing the application chooses
another location such as C:\MyApp. The user does not know about
specifications and stuff. I understood you in that way that the
application will work even though it is installed to a completely
different location than program files directory. So I really don't
know why installing to program files is so important.

Thanks
Mue

 

[Jimmy Brush]

I've read in the link you posted that this should be a criteria for logo

spec 1.1. Now imagine the user installing the application chooses another
location such as C:\MyApp. The user does not know about
specifications and stuff. I understood you in that way that the
application will work even though it is installed to a completely
different location than program files directory. So I really don't
know why installing to program files is so important.

The reason it is so important is due to convention and security. The
security is set up in program files and AppData in such a way to protect
your program's files, the system, and the user. Also, Windows and the users
expect programs to be installed in this directory; to not follow convention
(and the recommendations of Microsoft) will lead to your application not
working correctly (if not in this version of windows then probably the
next), not to mention user confusion.

For example, there are certain requirements set forth that make it so an
application must be installed in an appropriate folder such as Program Files
in order to do certain things (such as use some windows hooks). This is the
kind of thing I'm talking about - by following convention and the
recommendations of Microsoft, you ensure that your program will remain
future-proof, and will help keep your user's computers secure and operating
correctly.

Microsoft is starting to crack down on programmers not following their
recomendations - they are less concerned about making sure your application
works and are more concerned about making Windows more secure, reliable, and
better for the user.

I would suggest reading up on what things Microsoft expects your program to
do, and make sure it does them

 

[MueMeister]

.... thank you very much, Jimmy.

Mue

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi there,

1) Doas anybody knows about the restriction that Vista expects
applications to be installed to the "C:\Program Files" directory
???
I've read in a news paper article that if I install my application to
let's say "C:\myApp" that Windows Vista ignores it in conjunction
with WinQual?!

I recently upgraded to from XP to Vista RTM. I have at least one application
installed outside of Program Files, and I just tried it. It runs fine.