Windows 10: How do I change the Windows 11 default drive for relative paths?

I have a C: SSD for system and apps, and D: HD for data. I store most of my documents under D:\wk\, e.g., D:\wk\family, D:\wk\book, etc. I don't use mot of the special folders like Documents or Photos.When I open a file, I'd like to be able to type a relative path \wk\family\schedule.docx, for instance, rather than D:\wk\family\schedule.docx. But windows makes "\" default to "C:\". I'd like it to default to "D:\" -- for all apps Word, Acrobat, Irfanview, Thunderbird, etc. What setting or reg key controls this?A related question: is there any way to get the Open File and Save As APIs to trea

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how to change path to default drive for desktop

how to change path to default drive for desktop

 

Change default drive: How do I change the default drive that my system will install programs on?

Hi Ed,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community. I understand the inconvenience caused to you and will assist you in solving the issue.

In order to change the default installation directory, please change the following in the registry.

• Press Windows key + X, type regedit and press Enter.
• Locate the following: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
• Right click on the value named ProgramFilesDir & change the default value
  C:\Program Files to the path you want to install all your programs in.
• Click OK and Exit.

Windows, by default, will now install your programs in the new drive or path.

Note: This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur
if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back
up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322756 (How to back up and restore the registry in Windows )

How to back up and restore the registry in Windows

Hope the information is helpful. Keep us posted on the status for further assistance.

 

How in WIN 11 do I change the drive letter of the CD/ROM drive?

Thanks, Greg.

So this is what worked, step by step.

Reboot

Drive is listed as E: in file explorer.

Drive not listed in Disk Management.

Insert DVD, it plays after short pause.

Disk management now shows Audio CD as E:

Right click, change letter to R: (while playing!)

Reboot.

Drive now shows as BD-RE drive as R: in File Explorer.

The bottom line is

- File Explorer does not provide for changing drive letter afics.

- Disk Management seems to need a disk to be in the drive for it to "see" the drive. I can't recall is this is Win 10 behaviour

I don't recall having any difficulty with this in Win 10 (its possible that the Win 10 default drive allocation was "after" my external drives; or I "just changed it").

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.