I have an SSD as my main Windows drive, with a 640GB 2.5" HDD, partitioned to store programs and user settings, and also to act as backup (it's the only thing I had lying around at the time of building my PC).
The problem is that whenever I install a program, it installs to C:\Program Files [(x86 for the 32 bit programs]\
, although I have changed the environment variables.
This wouldn't normally be an issue, however every installation program points its shortcut to my 640GB HDD.
The root layout of both drives:
To clarify:
- Program files get installed to C:\
- Program shortcuts are always pointed to Z:\, my 640GB HDD
Modifying the relevant environment variables doesn't do anything, I looked at this, but however it only talks about modifying the registry and environment variables, which I have already done so.
I install to the Z:\ drive if the installation program lets me change the installation path, but however the installation programs sometimes don't let me change this.
Is there a way that I can force every program to install to the relevant location on Z:\, but at the same time move any programs currently installed to the new location? Perhaps I'm missing something here?
My target is to have every program installed on Z:/
, with only the core Windows operating system on C:/
.
Found this program; would it be appropriate to use in my case? I would be able to move the entire Program Files (and its x86 version) to Z:\, without impacting on the performance.*