Windows by default installs programs to the partition where you have Windows installed (in most cases it is C:). If you have multiple partitions on your hard disk, like for example C: and D:, and would like to have the programs installed to the D: partition without you manually changing the install location every time you install a program the follow these steps to change the default install location on Windows.

Warning: You are going to make a change in Windows Registry and with Windows Registry you should always be extra-careful to not mess with it. Follow the instructions as it is outlined here.

Step-1:

On Windows XP, click on the Start button and click on the “Run…” menu option. On Windows Vista, click on the Start button and type “regedit” on the Search box and press the Enter key. Skip to Step-3.

Step-2:

On the “Run” dialog type-in “regedit” and press the Enter key.

Step-3:

Windows will launch its “Registry Editor” application. Expand the following keys to reach to the “CurrentVersion” key.

My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion

Step-4:

Click on the “CurrentVersion” key and you will see Windows list the corresponding elements on the right side of the Registry Editor.

Step-5:

Locate the “ProgramFilesDir” element on the right side and right click on “ProgramFilesDir” and click the “Modify” menu option.

Step-6:

Windows will popup a “Edit String” dialog and on that dialog change the “Value data:” to the location that you’d prefer Windows to use as default location. Make sure to validate the location before clicking the “OK” button.

Step-7:

Click the “OK” button to dismiss the dialog and then close the Registry Editor.

Now Windows will, by default, install applications to the location that you’ve specified above.

If you’d prefer to watch The Geek change the default install location on his Windows machine then watch this screencast below.