Change Installed Program's Folder Name

[cli...@charter.net]

I have several programs installed that did not allow me to select the
folder name for the installation, and I would like to change the
names. I know that working in the registry requires great care, so
I'll be careful.

As an example, say a program is installed to C:/Program Files/ABC
Software/Application and I would like to have it in C:/Program Files/
Application. Can I change in the registry every instance of /ABC
Software/Application to /Application , after creating the Application
folder and copying the files?

Is there any software available that does this? I haven't been able
to find any.

Thanks for any info.

[JJ]

"cli...@charter.net" <cli...@charter.net> wrote:
> As an example, say a program is installed to C:/Program Files/ABC
> Software/Application and I would like to have it in C:/Program Files/
> Application. Can I change in the registry every instance of /ABC
> Software/Application to /Application , after creating the Application
> folder and copying the files?

Yes, but keep in mind that some programs use file based
configuration/setting and some sneakily/stupidly put config files in the
wrong place. Saved program installation data and any device driver or
service (if not placed into the SYSTEM32 folder) should be taken into
account too.

If a program was installed using MSI package (Windows Installer) or any
fourth party installer that use Windows Installer, don't move the program
manually because Windows Installer will try to "repair" the installation
by reinstalling the program without your consent.

> Is there any software available that does this? I haven't been able
> to find any.
>
> Thanks for any info.

Hopefully they'll never be. The method required for such softwares are
similar to universal uninstallers. They only uninstall things that they
know without actually knowing what a program does or use.

If you're unsure, just reinstall the program. If you're planing to edit
the registry, use a registry editor that has an undo/backup/restore
feature like Registry Workshop.

[dadiOH]

<cli...@charter.net> wrote in message
news:00eb3967-f9ab-48b5...@5g2000yqz.googlegroups.com...

I share your desire to have things neat and tity and I deplore those
arrogant programs that won't let me choose where to install them. Despite
that, I think it would be a waste of time and/or a fool's errand to try to
change what is.

Far better to make what you actually use - the Start/Programs menu - neat
and tidy by creating folders within it named as you wish and then populating
it with shortcuts to the actual programs by moving the existing ones to your
new set of folders.

The only downside to that is that the shortcuts won't be removed should you
uninstall the program since the change wasn't monitored. No big deal. IMO

dadiOH