Program Files Question

[Aleksbgbg]

Does it matter if you do not install an item in one of these folders? E.g. if you have an SSD and you do not want to waste space

 

Are these folders made purely for organisation purposes, or is there a function to them?

[Guest]

It doesn't matter where you install programs. Program Files is just a nice place for them created by Windows.

[Squirrel724]

A lot of programs can be installed wherever you want when you set the directory during the install process. However some programs will not work this way as they are programed to look for a specific directory. In general I would say to just use the directory that the program wants to use to avoid any future problems.

[Railgun]

If you're talking about the files generated when you install a new program then installing on an SSD would result in the program booting up much faster when ran. If it's something like 3DS Max you can have your install files in the SSD to boot it up quickly then you can keep your large folder full of assets in a hard drive. That means it would take a bit longer to import the assets but I don't think that's much of a big deal. You would end up saving a lot of space on your solid state drive that way.

[Aleksbgbg]

If you're talking about the files generated when you install a new program then installing on an SSD would result in the program booting up much faster when ran. If it's something like 3DS Max you can have your install files in the SSD to boot it up quickly then you can keep your large folder full of assets in a hard drive. That means it would take a bit longer to import the assets but I don't think that's much of a big deal. You would end up saving a lot of space on your solid state drive that way.

 

Please elaborate

 

Are you saying install less important parts on the hard drive

 

If you are, then are you talking about programs which give you the option or is there a way to do it or just move them yourself

 

This is a very good point, never thought about it.

[Josherr]

Please elaborate

 

Are you saying install less important parts on the hard drive

 

If you are, then are you talking about programs which give you the option or is there a way to do it or just move them yourself

 

This is a very good point, never thought about it.

Say, for example, you download steam onto the SSD, but the individual games on to your HDD. Steam, the program itself, would almost startup instantly, but the game would take a slightly longer time to open. This saves a lot of SSD space but still makes your programs fast, because the core is installed on the SSD.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

- Josh

[LogicalDrm]

Say, for example, you download steam onto the SSD, but the individual games on to your HDD. Steam, the program itself, would almost startup instantly, but the game would take a slightly longer time to open. This saves a lot of SSD space but still makes your programs fast, because the core is installed on the SSD.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

- Josh

Eh, Steam doesn't work like that. Nor does many other software from which most don't allow you to choose place for individual components. Steam is just front end, like picture manager or video player. All games are still as slow as they would be if Steam is installed on HDD.

@Aleksbgbg, Program Files are just folders like any other. Unless software is stupid, it doesn't matter where you install it. Example of stupid software is Chrome which doesn't allow you to choose install location. Most software will still use up SSD space by placing config files under Documents and AppData.

I have those folders set so both HDD and SSD have folders named Program Files and Program Files (x86). This way when installing new software I can just change drive letter. Rather than searching for location for new install.

[Aleksbgbg]

Eh, Steam doesn't work like that. Nor does many other software from which most don't allow you to choose place for individual components. Steam is just front end, like picture manager or video player. All games are still as slow as they would be if Steam is installed on HDD.

@Aleksbgbg, Program Files are just folders like any other. Unless software is stupid, it doesn't matter where you install it. Example of stupid software is Chrome which doesn't allow you to choose install location. Most software will still use up SSD space by placing config files under Documents and AppData.

I have those folders set so both HDD and SSD have folders named Program Files and Program Files (x86). This way when installing new software I can just change drive letter. Rather than searching for location for new install.

 

I will do that in that case.

 

Thanks for the help