I second Rich's opinion. I NEVER install programs on my C:-partition. On one of my systems C: not even is available at all. I never had any problems. I always create a new separate partition for program installations for many years now. And I really do not want Sony Pictures to force me changing something I found to be o.k. for me. Sorry, but I really do not like some of the changes coming with that latest download versions. This is not a good way to go. Why don't they leave us the choice where to install the program. This is common.

Marco

I've never had a problem installing programs to a drive other than the C drive.
Yes, most apps default to this drive but most pro level programs give you the choice of where to install. Updating has never been a problem. I'm pretty sure any plugins I've installed, search for the plugin directory and ask if you want to install here.
Also, I have different partitions with different apps installed in them. I like the organization this gives me. I don't want to have to install any program to any specific drive.

i also never install applications on my C: drive, which i just make a small partition. i reserve this for the system files and utilities. that way, when the time comes to reload windows from scratch, i don't have to think twice about reformatting my C: drive - there is nothing important on there. all my applications and data go on D: & E:

DaveT2, programs will default to whatever your "ProgramFilesDir" registry key is set to. All updates and such also get the program location folder from registry (unless you're using something that was written in 1990)
"Why don't you wan to use your C driver for system and programs?"
1. manageablity
2. performance
3. stablity
I think i've read somewhere (got to be either post by Sony or in their KB) that changing drive letter is not a big deal, it's changing folders within "Sonic Foundy" folder messes things up, but I'm not sure. Perhaps anyone from Sony will enlighten us, please.

DaveT2.....Humble opinion aside for a second - I NEVER install applications to the 'default' directory. And...anyone who does is really asking for trouble....but that is just myHO.

If someone is savy enough to install their applications to a different directory other than on the C-Drive - then they are savy enough to redirect any other application to the new/different drive for updates and such.

It's been that way for years - and if any application forced me to install files in a default folder I would stop using that application.

Just curious, but why are you asking for trouble if you use the default location. I have always used the default (except in some rare cases) and never had any trouble. I understand, now, the reasons for putting on a seperate drive, and if that works for you that is great, but why would you have trouble using default.

According to Rich's original post, Sony is stating that he might have problems if he doesn't use the default. Does this mean you won't use anymore Sony programs?

Dave T2

In case this would mean it should be C: in any case: I simply COULD no more use Sony programs on one of my systems ...

Marco

I agree with others about the "c:/" drive method. This made sense years ago because you could get by with a 100 mb hard drive. (or less) When we had a 520 mb hard drive it was "massive" and good for video editing - we had a "massive" 9 gig external scsci drive ordered before it came out for 5 grand, lucky for us th eprice dropped to about 3 grand by the time it came out. At that time most of the programs did install to the root - the C:/ drive. Things progress, programs need more room and the OS's need more room...for people who do graphics, editing or audio - I really don't think it is a good option if just dump everything onto the same drive. Even hardware now seem to "require" massive amounts of room. (For example - under requirements on an adaptec DUO Connect you see "250 MD Disk space for program files" under the video section. And these are the OEM sort of tiny/demo type programs. And I remember only needing a 250 MB hard drive for everything.) (As an aside - I have a friend who is a Mac-head. He still has his first copy of Photoshop 0.1 that fits on one little 'ole 720k floppy)

With the price of hard dirves so low - 89 bucks for a 160 gig drive this week in some places - why do you really "have" to install everything onto one drive. You can get a 40, 60 or 80 gig drive cheap - put the OS on it and move on. learn how to do a few simple simple tweaks and you can set your temp file to another drive as well as the windows swap file. I have one drive set up for games, another for video, and other for temp video files. I just added one for "video only" and mainly use it for renders. I have VV on my D:/ drive as well. Interesting story - earlier this year I was having problems with McAffe's Virus scan. I had several long talks with their tech support and it finally came down to just "uninstall it and re-install it". They catch here is they insisted it must be put on the C:/ drive, into the default location, or it would not work. I did this and it didn't work. I did this about 4 times - I did all the things they tell you do including manually cleaning the reg file. Finally I just said "screw it" and put it on the D:/ drive - worked perfect and with no issues.

I have used all 25 drive letters on one computer with applications installed on most of them with no problems at all.

JJK

Last question first. If Sony began saying I could only use their software in a directory that they wanted it in - then yes....I would stop using their software.

As for the asking for trouble in putting files in the default...that answer, from my perspective, is two fold. Or put a different way - there could be a lot of reasons I could see for not wanting a default place to store install files.

One of which....my c drive isn't my biggest drive. I use it for the operating system and that's about it -- I then put the system files some place else. This cuts down on files being easily found and or manipulated (since they are not in a common place).

Then...if I am forced to always install to my C Drive, then I run aout of space on the smaller of drives - in teh mean time I got 200 plus gig just sitting out on my d, e, or f just taking up space.

But...lastly - I don't get into any application telling me what I need to do to make it work - it should be the other way around. ANd if a developer can't understand that and make it work for the user - then I can't accept any applications from that developer.

My system should run the way I want it to run - not the other way around.

But....that's just me.

>> i don't have to think twice about reformatting my C: drive - there is nothing important on there

What about the registry. That's pretty important and not easy to recreate unless you have a recent backup.

As for putting programs where you want, it has always worked for me. The registry is the key to allowiing updates to work. Any decently written update software should be able to find where the original program is from registry entries that were made on installation.

So it appears that no one is saying there is a technical problem or performance advantage/disadvantage by using the default install. It is basically a personal or bookkeeping issue. I understand that.

But through anecdotal evidence, I have seen occasions, and NOT a lot, where when a person reporting problems updating or installing, they have used a non default parameter, such as a D drive. By using the default, they have been able to clear it up. My feeling is, I would prefer to remove that variable and not have to worry about where I saved a file when I go to update or reinstall.

I agree you should have a choice and I feel comfortable with my choice and my suggestion.

Dave T2