Windows 10: How might I change the default location for installing Program files i.e. the secondary drive?

Hello, now that I have made a clean installation of windows 10, I would like to change the default location for Program Files to save space, and primarily reserve the primary drive for Windows as much as possible.I have researched a bit, and found that in settings and storage, that I can change Apps to move to the D drive. However, it says that in order to do that, some files must be deleted.I am not sure if it means the D files or C files.However, I do not want to delete files.The D drive has most of the files from prior to the clean installation. while the C drive has mostly Windows-related

:)

 

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 - Microsoft Support )

How to back up and restore the registry in Windows

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

 

Changed the 'downloads' location to E-Drive. Couldn't reverse!!

I did a clean install of Windows 10 64bit and changed the default location of 'Pictures, Videos, Music, Documents, Downloads' etc under 'This PC' tab in file explorer. While I set the intended locations for all, but I mistakenly chosen the Drive itself(here,
'E-Drive' itself; not any folder under the drive). Now, whenever I right-click it for making a location change, the properties of 'E-Drive' is opening, not that of 'Downloads' folder. How to change the folder location from 'E-:\' to 'E:\Downloads'??

 

Windows 10 1909 Causes Secondary Hard Drive to not be Recognized

Installing the Windows 10 1909 Update causes my secondary hard drive to not be recognized.

Steps to confirm issue:

• Secondary drive not visible in Windows Explorer
• Secondary drive not visible in device manager
• Secondary drive not visible in disk manager

Steps to replicate issue:

• Installing 1909 update

Steps to resolve issue:

• Uninstall 1909 update

Since updates can only be delayed for so long, an actual fix would be appreciated.