Change default install location?

Hi all: As with this new installation of XP home, I am installing all programs on the "D" drive, logical partion of drive "0" containing "C" with operating system.

Question 1: Is it the best practice to install programs on same drive as "C" in separate partition or on other drive, either slave to "C" or different drive?

Question 2: How do you change the default install drive to whatever drive/partition you choose without having to change locations for each install?

Any and all replies will be appreciated. TIA

 

Thanks for the comeback on this Pete.

My thinking is if I have to reformat the "0" drive or it dies, I will still have the settings for the programs. A lot of programs on reinstall will ask if you want to retain previous settings, logs, etc. on new install.

Also, through sort of absorbed knowledge, I'm under the impression that keeping the programs on a separate drive/partition would help prevent crashing program from also bringing down the OS.

I thought that alone would be worthwhile.

 

Since "maybe it will help" I'm going to do it. Just gets tiresome changing the install path with every program installation.

Thanks Pete.

 

That they will not do. If they are going to cause crashes it makes no different where they are whether it be C: or Z:

One of the main reason ( I think anyway ) for putting everything possible on other partitions is so the size of the C: drive can be kept to a minimum. ( 3 gig for 98 and 6gig for XP )

Thereby allowing defrag, scandisk/chkdsk to complete much more quickly.

And yes. Some things will need to be re-installed to work properly in order to work properly if a format is required.

But at least EVERYTHING is not lost. If ALL downloads, backups etc are also on another partition.

BillyBob

 

As they say, live and learn. When I was new to this, not too long ago, and had an IBM with 13Gigs, one partition, no CDRW, only floppy, if I had to reformat/restore with IBM's disc, I lost everything.

Now I keep everything separated, and back it all up. But, still lose stuff, one way or another. I fried a drive with a lot of digital images and video on it, it had been backed up to several CDs. Too bad though, now the new install will not read the CDs. I'm about to start a new post on this one. What I think may have happened is that I thought I was copying the contents when in fact what I copied was shortcuts to the contents.

Now, it gets real tedious, backups of backups. makes me want to toss the whole works. I guess there is really no way to keep your data 100% safe so that no matter what you can retrieve it.

woe is me.