Moving Program Files Directory

Wayne Walter

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Mar 15, 1998, 3:00:00 AM3/15/98

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I set up an NTFS partition with only 250 MB for my NT Server boot partition
(NT system files) using a strategy right out of the Resource Kit. That is,
keeping the system files partition small for speed is a good idea. However,
most of the Microsoft programs I've been installing, like the NT Option
Pack, have been installing many MBs of shared and other files in default
directories on that partition, even when I direct an install to another
partition. Now my NT system partition is maxed out.

Is it easier to move the Program Files Directory to another partition or to
re-install NT?

How do I re-associate all the moved application and shared files with the
multiple layers of Microsoft integrated applications if I do decide to move
the directory?

TIA,

Wayne Walter
aw...@flash.net

John Brenton Rowell

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Mar 16, 1998, 3:00:00 AM3/16/98

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backup ...reinstall ...restore is faster
moving directories will not help you with system32
Brent
Wayne Walter wrote in message ...

Bjorn Landemoo

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Mar 16, 1998, 3:00:00 AM3/16/98

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Wayne

One option might be to use Partition Magic to resize your partitions and
get a larger boot/system partition. Be sure to use version 3.04 or later,
there's a bug when resizing NTFS partitions in earlier versions.

Best regards

Bjorn
--
------------------------------------------------------Bjorn Landemoo
(.) (.) land...@bevelo.se [Windows NT MVP] Rullharvsgatan 6E
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Charlie Beerman

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Mar 16, 1998, 3:00:00 AM3/16/98

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Wayne Walter wrote in message ...

>I set up an NTFS partition with only 250 MB for my NT Server boot partition
>(NT system files) using a strategy right out of the Resource Kit. That is,
>keeping the system files partition small for speed is a good idea.
However,
>most of the Microsoft programs I've been installing, like the NT Option
>Pack, have been installing many MBs of shared and other files in default
>directories on that partition, even when I direct an install to another
>partition. Now my NT system partition is maxed out.
>
>Is it easier to move the Program Files Directory to another partition or to
>re-install NT?
>
>How do I re-associate all the moved application and shared files with the
>multiple layers of Microsoft integrated applications if I do decide to move
>the directory?

Wayne,

I have done this but it is not fun! Say your Program Files directory is on
C: and you want to move it to D: You have to do the following:

Using REGEDIT, find all the references to C:\Program Files and substitute
D:\Program Files

Using REGEDIT, find all the references to C:\PROGRA~1 and substitute
D:\PROGRA~1
(This is because some installation programs write the short filename version
of the path to the executable.)

(Note - you may want to export your entire registry to a .REG file, use a
text editor to make the aforementioned replacements, and then import the
.REG file.)

Using a utility that finds text in files, look for all instances of
C:\Program Files and C:\PROGRA~1 in all files on your system. Substitute D:
for C:. This will take care of INI files and any application-specific files
that may store the location of the Program Files directory for whatever
reason.

Move your Program Files directory to its new location, and reboot the system
to make sure all the new settings take effect.

DISCLAIMER - This worked for me; I do not guarantee that it will work for
you! If you are not familiar with the registry and/or are uncomfortable
making changes to it, do not follow these procedures, as mistakes in editing
your registry may render your system unusable! In this case, it may be
better for you to reinstall from scratch.

Charlie
======================================================================
Charlie Beerman
char...@ma.ultranet.com
http://www.ma.ultranet.com/~charlieb