Change Program and Common Files Directory (All Windows)
This tweak allows you to change the directory used as the default location for software applications and shared files.


Open your registry and find the key below.

Change the value of "ProgramFilesDir" and "CommonFilesDir" to the desired Program Files and Common Files directories.

Restart Windows for the change to take effect.

 

Registry Editor Example

 

|

Name

Type

Data

|

|

(Default)

REG_SZ

(value not set)

|

|

CommonFilesDir

REG_SZ

C:\Program Files\Common Files

|

|

ProgramFilesDir

REG_SZ

C:\Program Files

|

 

-

|

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion

|

-

 

 

Registry Settings

System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion]
Value Name: CommonFilesDir, ProgramFilesDir
Data Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Value Data: Directory Name

Related Tweaks

 

Change the Location of System and Special Folders (All Windows) Popular
Windows keeps a number of special folders such as "My Documents", "Desktop", "Favorites" and the "Start Menu". These folders can be moved anywhere on you system and the new location updated in this key.


Open your registry and find the key below, listed are all the Windows special folders.

Note the current location of the folder you want to move, and then using explorer move the folder to the new location.

Edit the value in the key below for the folder you moved to reflect the new directory location.

Log off or restart Windows for the changes to take effect.

Registry Settings

User Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
User Shell Folders]