May 07, 2010 Hi Friends, I'm trying to figure out whether to install programs in Program Files or Program Files (x86). I do understand (hopefully correctly) that PF(x86) is meant for programs which will not run either on Windows7 or on 64 bit; that PF(x86) was. The problem being that there was a program named 'Program' in the startup tab of my task manager and the 'open file location' and 'properties' options were grayed out. The problem is that there was probably a program that you installed and then deleted but the installer left some values in the registry.
In Windows OS, by default, software get installed on your System Drive, usually C drive, in the Program Files folder. The typical path is normally in Windows 32-bit is C:Program Files and in Windows 64-bit is C:Program Files and C:Program Files(x86).
Microsoft recommends the C:Program Files folder for default installation destination. It’s a convention that ensures proper inter-operation between your program and the OS’s application and security models. So, once software programs are installed they go by default to C:Program files on the computer.
This can, however, be changed by selecting another folder or location or partition. To change the default installation folder, the data must be modified in the ProgramFilesDir key and a new path must be chosen for the installation folder.
Windows uses the System Disk for installing any new applications, That is, if your Windows is installed on the C Drive, the default folder where all the applications you install would automatically show up as C:Program Files, unless of course you change in manually while installing the application’s locations.
Do note that Microsoft does not support changing the location of the Program Files folder by modifying the ProgramFilesDir registry value. It states that if you change the location of the Program Files folder, you may experience problems with some Microsoft programs or with some software updates.
Change default Program Files directory
If you almost always prefer to NOT install on the System Disk, but instead on another partition, say, the D drive, then rather than changing the default location every time, you can edit the registry as follows:
Open Regedit and navigate to the following key:
Now in the right pane look for the value ProgramFilesDir and/orProgramFilesDir (x86) depending on whether your Windows is 32-bit or 64-bit.
Double-click on it and in the box which opens up change its Value data from C:Program Files to say, D:Program Files.
Click Ok. Exit.
The default directory for installation of all your programs shall now be D:Program Files. If you are using Windows 64-bit, you may want to change the value of ProgramFilesDir and ProgramFilesDir (x86).
Go here to learn how to change the default location of the Documents folder or profile personal files or change default install location of Windows 8 Store Apps or how to change default download directory in Internet Explorer.
Windows 10 make things easy. You can easily move Windows 10 Apps to another Drive and change its Install location.
TIP: Download this tool to quickly find & fix Windows errors automatically
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Here are some solutions to see installed programs under windows-10, this solution is also for Windows 8.1 / 7!To find the Installed programs is a very important question, not only on Microsoft's Windows 10! Here are some example how to find the installed programs on this new Microsoft's OS, this solution / example is also valid for Windows Server 2016/2012 and easy to understand! Content / Solution / Tips: 1.) ... THE DEFAULT INSTALLATION LOCATION FOR PROGRAMS IN WINDOWS 10! 2.) ... THE DEFAULT DOWNLOAD LOCATION IN WINDOWS 10! 3.) ... THE INSTALLED PROGRAMS WITH UNINSTALL FEATURE! 4.) ... FIND RUNNING PROGRAM PATH IN WINDOWS 10! See also: ► Windows 10 all apps folder (open, find, delete)! 1.) THE DEFAULT INSTALLATION LOCATION FOR PROGRAMS IN WINDOWS 10!Please run the MS Explorer via hot key [Windows + E] and in the address bar [ALT+D] or [F4]enter the address: shell:programfiles and you can see all installed programs in Windows 10 standard Programs Folder. (... see Image-1) PS: On Windows 10 x64 (64-Bit) is also the 32-bit Program-Folder: shell:programfilesx86 Use shell:programs for the Start-Menu folder in Windows-10! The address shell:Common Programs is for all User Programs in the Windows 10 Start-Menu folder! 2.) THE DEFAULT DOWNLOAD LOCATION IN WINDOWS 10!If you download a Program from Internet the default download folder on Windows 10 is shell:downloadSee also: ► windows 10 and font folder location ► A List of Windows Shell:Folders Commands
The downloads folder is the default location for downloaded files with all the Windows operating system Web browsers. Therefore, if you download a file from the Internet using any browser, the file is automatically saved in the Downloads folder. If you're using Windows 10 as your operating system, you've probably collected hundreds of other files and programs in the Downloads folder in the last couple of months. Therefore, the Downloads folder in Windows 10 is likely to be slower than the first installation of the system. 3.) THE INSTALLED PROGRAMS WITH UNINSTALL FEATURE!To uninstall programs in Windows 10 , press the key combination [Win-Logo]+[X].Here simply click on 'Programs and Features' and open 'Programs and Features' in Windows-10 Then select the installed program in Windows 10, and via right-click on the corresponding program, you will see an option to uninstall the program. (... see Image-2) See also: ► ... Fax and Scan is gone at once, Windows (10, 8.1)!
As a result, the list of installed programs recognized in the system is displayed. They are deleted in the same way as in the previous method: Select the application, click Uninstall, and confirm the action. The next step is to start the built-in installer or Windows 10 Installer, where you need to perform a few clicks. 4.) FIND RUNNING PROGRAM PATH IN WINDOWS 10!Please press the key combination [CTRL+ Shift + Esc] to start the Windows 10 Task Manager!Right click in the Windows 10 Task Manager on the appropriate program for example 'Internet Explorer', then select 'Open file location'! (... see Image-3 Arrow 1 to 5) See also: ► Open the location of an Program in Windows-10! Please click the Windows-10 Logo or the Windows-Logo Key! Enter in Search Box for example mspaint and start it for example via a right click on the Windows 10 Paint! (... see Image-4)
The Solution to find installed program files is suitable for: Windows 10 (Redstone 4 & 5) Pro, Enterprise, Home, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows-Server 2016, 2012, 2008, Windows 7 Basic, Professional, Starter, Ultimate Info: Finding installed programs on a Windows 10 is not magic, so Harry Potter can continue to play Quidditch or count Harry Potter through Rowling's marketing rights. The elegant solution is not written only for Windows 10. As you can see above under Windows 10 shot screenshot it can be found quite simply Installed programs under Windows 10 to uninstall. You can use these simple and fast Installed programs, which are Windows operating systems, tablets, Surface Pro / Go, or even a server operating system. FAQ 46: Updated on: 29 May 2019 12:52 |