Resolved Installing software on non-operating system partition

I like to keep my operating system partition clear of non-essential programs and files, yet some software is preset to install on the operating system partition, with no option to change it. I'd like to learn how to get around this pre-programming. An example is the large program that runs my printer. I see no reason it has to be on the operating system partition. How can I get it to install on a different partition?

 

I did a search for application movers and found a few you might want to look into...
https://www.google.com/#q=application+mover

The first one on the list costs 15.00, but I saw a free version on down the list at en.kioskea.

I never knew such software existed.

Other than that, I don't know of any way to install software on a non-system partition unless the software installer offers a custom install option.

 

For the most part, application movers change the path, not the location. I don't want to move it but install it in a different location. My operating system is actually on my D drive, and I want to install the software on my E drive. I can understand it may be faster to keep it on my D drive, but I'd like to be able to experiment and see if it is significantly slower. Any other suggestions on getting around this pre-programming?

 

Not sure if follow you.

According to what I read, these app movers actually move programs to a new / different partition. Wouldn't that change the installation path as well?

 

I must be reading them wrong, as I thought they just left the program where it was and allow it to be accessed through a different path. I still feel a clean install in the location I wish would lead to fewer possible complications, but I'll experiment with the free program.

 

Application Mover seems to work. I'll have to work with it for a while to see if there are any glitches. Here is the link to the program: http://en.kioskea.net/download/start/download-14352-application-mover
Thank you. I'll leave this thread open for a few days, in case someone can share how to do a clean install rather than move the program after it is installed.

 

Yes, do post back. I'm interested in how this new software fares as well.

 

So far, I haven't found any glitches to report. I did notice not all the old files were removed until the computer restarted. Though it would be nice to be able to install programs where we choose, this program seems to work well at moving the program once installed. I also haven't noticed my printer working any slower after moving it to a different partition on the same hard drive

Feel free to add to this thread if you know of a way to install programs in chosen locations.

 

Glad we could be of some assistance. Thanks for testing out the app mover. I may use it myself one day.

 

Here's another update. Though everything seemed to work well, I discovered my multifunction Brother printer's incoming faxes didn't go into my fax folder. The solution was that I needed to reconfigure the network PC-FAX receiving settings. I found I had two listings of my computer name on my Brother printer, one in capitals and one in lower case. I assumed they were the same, but the capital one wasn't connected to any existing files, while the lower case one allowed me to connect with the program on the new partition. When I reconfigured, my missing faxes miraculously reappeared.