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Changing The Default Installation Location for New Apps

As the size of hardrives increase, more people are using partitions to seperate and store groups of files.

XP uses the C:\Program Files directory as the default base directory into which new programs are installed. However, you can change the default installation drive and/ or directory by using a Registry hack.

Run the Registry Editor (regedit)and go to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion

Look for the value named ProgramFilesDir. by default,this value will be C:\Program Files. Edit the value to any valid drive or folder and XP will use that new location as the default installation directory for new programs.

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2 Responses to “Changing The Default Installation Location for New Apps”


  1. Charles Klemm says:

    I’m not the most computer literate person, but I thought I could follow these directions. I did everything you said. I edited the destination to D:\Program Files. I try to run the setup.exe, and I still get the message that the the install location doesn’t have enough memory and to choose a different install location.
    I’ve tried restarting my computer. Am I missing a space some where? Any suggestions for why my computer doesn’t want to behave?
    BTW – THANK YOU for this suggestion in the first place!!!

  2. admin says:

    Firstly, I would like to know what software are you trying to install. Secondly, can you make sure there is enough free pace required for the installation in D:\ drive. During the installation, the setup program will let you know the minimum required free space.



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