Is there a program that will move an installation from the program files
directory on the c drive to another directory on the d drive instead?

It would have to do more than just copy as it has to fix the shortcuts and
the registry entries and whatever else gets changed when you move programs.

On Fri, 5 Jan 2024 18:30:10 -0700, Oliver wrote:
>
> Is there a program that will move an installation from the program files
> directory on the c drive to another directory on the d drive instead?
>
> It would have to do more than just copy as it has to fix the shortcuts and
> the registry entries and whatever else gets changed when you move programs.

I am pretty sure there is no such general-purpose program, because it
would have to account for ill-behaved software that contains its own
hard-coded links to a particular install location.

Or to put it another way, even if a general-purpose "program mover"
existed, it could not guarantee that the program that got moved would
still work properly in its new location.

Reinstalling a program isn't hard. Why not just run the installer up
to the point where you would click a button to start the install.
(Only, don't click that button. Instead, cancel.) If the program
gives you an option along the way to set the install location, you
can then uninstall it from "C:\Program Files" (using the program's
uninstaller) and install it where you wish. If it doesn't, that
suggests that probably you'd be better off leaving it where it is.

--
Stan Brown, Tehachapi, California, USA https://BrownMath.com/
Shikata ga nai...

On Fri, 5 Jan 2024 18:30:10 -0700, Oliver wrote:
> Is there a program that will move an installation from the program files
> directory on the c drive to another directory on the d drive instead?
>
> It would have to do more than just copy as it has to fix the shortcuts and
> the registry entries and whatever else gets changed when you move programs.

If your intention is to free up disk space in drive C:, you can move the
application folder to other drive (e.g. from "C:\Program Files\My App" to
"E:\Apps\MyApps"), then create a folder symlink (shortcut) in drive C: (with
the same name as the original one) which points to the folder in drive D:.

In this case, you'll still see "C:\Program Files\My App", but it's a symlink
to a different folder. Any access to that symlink folder, will be actually
be applied to the symlink's target folder.

Stan Brown wrote:

> Oliver wrote:
>
>> Is there a program that will move an installation from the program files
>> directory on the c drive to another directory on the d drive instead?
>>
>> It would have to do more than just copy as it has to fix the shortcuts and
>> the registry entries and whatever else gets changed when you move programs.
>
> I am pretty sure there is no such general-purpose program, because it
> would have to account for ill-behaved software that contains its own
> hard-coded links to a particular install location.

Back in the day when Citrix WinFrame/MetaFrame was popular, an option
before making the server live was to "rename" the server's C: drive to
e.g. Z: so that the clients would see their local C: drive as C: on the
server.

The utility used for this generally did a good job of fixing up
references in registry and .ini files from C: to Z:

On Sat, 6 Jan 2024 11:12:50 +0700, JJ wrote:
> On Fri, 5 Jan 2024 18:30:10 -0700, Oliver wrote:
> > [quoted text muted]
> > directory on the c drive to another directory on the d drive instead?
> >
> > It would have to do more than just copy as it has to fix the shortcuts and
> > the registry entries and whatever else gets changed when you move programs.
>
> If your intention is to free up disk space in drive C:, you can move the
> application folder to other drive (e.g. from "C:\Program Files\My App" to
> "E:\Apps\MyApps"), then create a folder symlink (shortcut) in drive C: (with
> the same name as the original one) which points to the folder in drive D:.
>
> In this case, you'll still see "C:\Program Files\My App", but it's a symlink
> to a different folder. Any access to that symlink folder, will be actually
> be applied to the symlink's target folder.

That's very smart, and I'm embarrassed that I didn't think of it
myself. I can't think of any objections to it.

You might need to change the "follow symlinks" setting in your backup
program, to avoid getting the program's folder backed up in two
places.

--
Stan Brown, Tehachapi, California, USA https://BrownMath.com/
Shikata ga nai...

On Fri, 5 Jan 2024 17:49:25 -0800, Stan Brown
<the_stan_brown@fastmail.fm> wrote:

>On Fri, 5 Jan 2024 18:30:10 -0700, Oliver wrote:
>>
>> Is there a program that will move an installation from the program files
>> directory on the c drive to another directory on the d drive instead?
>>
>> It would have to do more than just copy as it has to fix the shortcuts and
>> the registry entries and whatever else gets changed when you move programs.
>
>I am pretty sure there is no such general-purpose program, because it
>would have to account for ill-behaved software that contains its own
>hard-coded links to a particular install location.
>
>Or to put it another way, even if a general-purpose "program mover"
>existed, it could not guarantee that the program that got moved would
>still work properly in its new location.
>
>Reinstalling a program isn't hard. Why not just run the installer up
>to the point where you would click a button to start the install.
>(Only, don't click that button. Instead, cancel.) If the program
>gives you an option along the way to set the install location, you
>can then uninstall it from "C:\Program Files" (using the program's
>uninstaller) and install it where you wish. If it doesn't, that
>suggests that probably you'd be better off leaving it where it is.

I've got the same problem with a well known game that produced a "10th
anniversary edition" which is very nice BUT was installed through
Steam automatically to the C: drive. Catch is on my machine C: is the
SSD which I've got reserved for the operating system to speed up
operations - nothing other than the OS is supposed to be installed
there.

Since the game has lots of mods I'd hate to lose I now have 2
installations - the one from Steam and the one I carefully installed
with my favorite mods.

Besides uninstalling everything (which would cancel my ongoing game)
any suggestions? There are features of both versions I would hate to
lose....

On 1/8/2024 1:13 PM, The Horny Goat wrote:

> I've got the same problem with a well known game

I can't remember the name of the program which debuted around the Windows
95 or Windows 2000 time frame, probably by Russinovich or someone like that
which moved programs from where they were to where you wanted them to go.

I think it started with "C" and it was an 8-character all-caps name.
Anyone remember the name?

It did exactly what the original poster is asking for.

On 08/01/2024 18:13, The Horny Goat wrote:
> On Fri, 5 Jan 2024 17:49:25 -0800, Stan Brown
> <the_stan_brown@fastmail.fm> wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 5 Jan 2024 18:30:10 -0700, Oliver wrote:
>>>
>>> Is there a program that will move an installation from the program files
>>> directory on the c drive to another directory on the d drive instead?
>>>
>>> It would have to do more than just copy as it has to fix the shortcuts and
>>> the registry entries and whatever else gets changed when you move programs.
>>
>> I am pretty sure there is no such general-purpose program, because it
>> would have to account for ill-behaved software that contains its own
>> hard-coded links to a particular install location.
>>
>> Or to put it another way, even if a general-purpose "program mover"
>> existed, it could not guarantee that the program that got moved would
>> still work properly in its new location.
>>
>> Reinstalling a program isn't hard. Why not just run the installer up
>> to the point where you would click a button to start the install.
>> (Only, don't click that button. Instead, cancel.) If the program
>> gives you an option along the way to set the install location, you
>> can then uninstall it from "C:\Program Files" (using the program's
>> uninstaller) and install it where you wish. If it doesn't, that
>> suggests that probably you'd be better off leaving it where it is.
>
> I've got the same problem with a well known game that produced a "10th
> anniversary edition" which is very nice BUT was installed through
> Steam automatically to the C: drive. Catch is on my machine C: is the
> SSD which I've got reserved for the operating system to speed up
> operations - nothing other than the OS is supposed to be installed
> there.
>
> Since the game has lots of mods I'd hate to lose I now have 2
> installations - the one from Steam and the one I carefully installed
> with my favorite mods.
>
> Besides uninstalling everything (which would cancel my ongoing game)
> any suggestions? There are features of both versions I would hate to
> lose....
>

Not free ($15), but there is Application Mover from Funduc which may do
what you require
- https://www.funduc.com/app_mover.htm

AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional also purports to move programmes
-
https://www.diskpart.com/articles/how-to-move-installed-programs-to-another-drive-windows-10-0725.html

--
Regards
wasbit
-

The Horny Goat <lcraver@home.ca> wrote:
> On Fri, 5 Jan 2024 17:49:25 -0800, Stan Brown
> <the_stan_brown@fastmail.fm> wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 5 Jan 2024 18:30:10 -0700, Oliver wrote:
>>>
>>> Is there a program that will move an installation from the program files
>>> directory on the c drive to another directory on the d drive instead?
>>>
>>> It would have to do more than just copy as it has to fix the shortcuts and
>>> the registry entries and whatever else gets changed when you move programs.
>>
>> I am pretty sure there is no such general-purpose program, because it
>> would have to account for ill-behaved software that contains its own
>> hard-coded links to a particular install location.
>>
>> Or to put it another way, even if a general-purpose "program mover"
>> existed, it could not guarantee that the program that got moved would
>> still work properly in its new location.
>>
>> Reinstalling a program isn't hard. Why not just run the installer up
>> to the point where you would click a button to start the install.
>> (Only, don't click that button. Instead, cancel.) If the program
>> gives you an option along the way to set the install location, you
>> can then uninstall it from "C:\Program Files" (using the program's
>> uninstaller) and install it where you wish. If it doesn't, that
>> suggests that probably you'd be better off leaving it where it is.
>
> I've got the same problem with a well known game that produced a "10th
> anniversary edition" which is very nice BUT was installed through
> Steam automatically to the C: drive. Catch is on my machine C: is the
> SSD which I've got reserved for the operating system to speed up
> operations - nothing other than the OS is supposed to be installed
> there.
>
> Since the game has lots of mods I'd hate to lose I now have 2
> installations - the one from Steam and the one I carefully installed
> with my favorite mods.
>
> Besides uninstalling everything (which would cancel my ongoing game)
> any suggestions? There are features of both versions I would hate to
> lose....

I have a similar setup and have symlinked my user folders to the D: drive.
I'm pretty sure you can do this with Program Files as well. Not sure how
well it'll work for existing installations.

On Tue, 9 Jan 2024 10:03:30 +0000, wasbit <wasbit@nowhere.com> wrote:

>On 08/01/2024 18:13, The Horny Goat wrote:
>> On Fri, 5 Jan 2024 17:49:25 -0800, Stan Brown
>> <the_stan_brown@fastmail.fm> wrote:
>>
>>> On Fri, 5 Jan 2024 18:30:10 -0700, Oliver wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Is there a program that will move an installation from the program files
>>>> directory on the c drive to another directory on the d drive instead?
>>>>
>>>> It would have to do more than just copy as it has to fix the shortcuts and
>>>> the registry entries and whatever else gets changed when you move programs.
>>>
>>> I am pretty sure there is no such general-purpose program, because it
>>> would have to account for ill-behaved software that contains its own
>>> hard-coded links to a particular install location.
>>>
>>> Or to put it another way, even if a general-purpose "program mover"
>>> existed, it could not guarantee that the program that got moved would
>>> still work properly in its new location.
>>>
>>> Reinstalling a program isn't hard. Why not just run the installer up
>>> to the point where you would click a button to start the install.
>>> (Only, don't click that button. Instead, cancel.) If the program
>>> gives you an option along the way to set the install location, you
>>> can then uninstall it from "C:\Program Files" (using the program's
>>> uninstaller) and install it where you wish. If it doesn't, that
>>> suggests that probably you'd be better off leaving it where it is.
>>
>> I've got the same problem with a well known game that produced a "10th
>> anniversary edition" which is very nice BUT was installed through
>> Steam automatically to the C: drive. Catch is on my machine C: is the
>> SSD which I've got reserved for the operating system to speed up
>> operations - nothing other than the OS is supposed to be installed
>> there.
>>
>> Since the game has lots of mods I'd hate to lose I now have 2
>> installations - the one from Steam and the one I carefully installed
>> with my favorite mods.
>>
>> Besides uninstalling everything (which would cancel my ongoing game)
>> any suggestions? There are features of both versions I would hate to
>> lose....
>>
>
>Not free ($15), but there is Application Mover from Funduc which may do
>what you require
> - https://www.funduc.com/app_mover.htm
>
>AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional also purports to move programmes
> -
>https://www.diskpart.com/articles/how-to-move-installed-programs-to-another-drive-windows-10-0725.html

"Purports" is the important word. I can't speak for every modern
program, but in my experience, every such program I've tried moved
some programs successfully and screwed up others. I wouldn't trust
any of them.

W Mon, 8 Jan 2024 15:38:53 -0500, Larry Wolff napisal:

>> I've got the same problem with a well known game
>
> I can't remember the name of the program which debuted around the Windows
> 95 or Windows 2000 time frame, probably by Russinovich or someone like that
> which moved programs from where they were to where you wanted them to go.
>
> I think it started with "C" and it was an 8-character all-caps name.
> Anyone remember the name?
>
> It did exactly what the original poster is asking for.

PC Magazine Change of Address (COA32.exe). It started as 16 bit COA.exe.
Then it became COA2.exe (I think when things went to 64 bits).

Ziff-Davis reported COA was the most downloaded program for years on end.

Don't know where to get it now, or even if it exists, but let's search.
https://www.google.com/search?q=COA32.exe

I didn't check these links but they were in the first page of results.
https://www2.isye.gatech.edu/~mgoetsch/cali/Windows%20Configuration/Windows%20Configuration%20Html/COA32_RelocatingApplicationswithoutReinstalling.htm
http://mc-computing.com/technical/Win_95_Suggestions.htm
http://www.nettally.com/waldoe/freeware/fileutil.html
https://www.techrepublic.com/forums/discussions/modify-program-location/
http://www.ericphelps.com/favorites/utilities.html

On 1/10/24 7:34 AM, Jan K. wrote:
> W Mon, 8 Jan 2024 15:38:53 -0500, Larry Wolff napisal:
>
>>> I've got the same problem with a well known game
>>
>> I can't remember the name of the program which debuted around the
>> Windows
>> 95 or Windows 2000 time frame, probably by Russinovich or someone
>> like that
>> which moved programs from where they were to where you wanted them to
>> go.
>>
>> I think it started with "C" and it was an 8-character all-caps name.
>> Anyone remember the name?
>>
>> It did exactly what the original poster is asking for.
>
> PC Magazine Change of Address (COA32.exe). It started as 16 bit COA.exe.
> Then it became COA2.exe (I think when things went to 64 bits).
>
> Ziff-Davis reported COA was the most downloaded program for years on end.
>
> Don't know where to get it now, or even if it exists, but let's search.
> https://www.google.com/search?q=COA32.exe
>
> I didn't check these links but they were in the first page of results.
> https://www2.isye.gatech.edu/~mgoetsch/cali/Windows%20Configuration/Windows%20Configuration%20Html/COA32_RelocatingApplicationswithoutReinstalling.htm
>
> http://mc-computing.com/technical/Win_95_Suggestions.htm
> http://www.nettally.com/waldoe/freeware/fileutil.html
> https://www.techrepublic.com/forums/discussions/modify-program-location/
> http://www.ericphelps.com/favorites/utilities.html
v14n11.zip <http://www.lanet.lv/ftp/simtelnet/msdos/pcmag/v14n11.zip>
267K PcMag: COA, HTML 23-Feb-96