How Do I Change The Default Installation From C: To Another Drive?

Sithtiger · 05 Sep 2016

Hi, I'm trying to change the default directory download from C: to another drive? My son's SSD is filling up and apparently it's "too much trouble" to delete C: and type in E: or simply browse to the desired directory like 99.99999% of us do. Aside from being too lazy to do this, he sort of has a point in asking why can't computer automatically switch to another directory when one is full, or rather ask you if you want to change to "insert drive letter" automatically. I actually did find a way to do this HERE. There's just one small problem. Yes, it does work, but then all previous programs originally installed on the C: no longer function. I want to find out how to do that without screwing up programs already installed on C:.

Thanks in advance,
Sithtiger

dalchina · 05 Sep 2016

Hi, yes you can hack the registry, and years ago I used that hack. But it then causes problems later - e.g. in-place repair install upgrade won't work, and likewise a Windows upgrade would fail.

So your possible solutions are
a. Get a bigger drive and move everything on to that.
b. Move any very big programs off that drive - games?
c. As you say, manually specify the install path.

Beyond that, check what is using your drive space e.g. using
Windirstat (free) and enjoy the pretty 3d cushion picture.

You may find ways of saving some space.

At a more prosaic level, run Ccleaner (free) and Windows Disk clean-up from drive properties.

You can relocate the paging file- pagefile.sys

alphanumeric · 05 Sep 2016

You can move your user folders to another drive to free up some space. Documents, pictures, music, videos etc. How much space you get back depends on how much stuff is stored there. I do it so my Data is stored on separate drive/partition so I can preserve it on a clean install.
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...dows-10-a.html

cameos · 05 Sep 2016

If your secondary drive is formatted to NTFS you can also mount it to a directory under C: drive

Sithtiger · 06 Sep 2016

cameos said:

If your secondary drive is formatted to NTFS you can also mount it to a directory under C: drive

Oh wait.....what. How do you do that? I guess you would have to go into Disk Management to do this? Whatever the case, I'd like to know how, please. Thanks!