Windows 10: Windows has created another program files on the second drive. Now i have 2 and don't know...

Normally I install my programs on a folder I have created on my second drive, but now windows has created another Programm files at the same location. Giving me permissions about it, I deleted the new one, but it returned somehow. What should i do? I cant use Programm files windows has created for me, because I have many programs installed on the old one.

:)

 

Windows 7 Snipping Tool / (Screen Shots-Capture)

1. In the Control Panel > Folder Options > View Tab first check ( tick ) the Show hidden files, folders and Drives and then Apply.
2. Now navigate to C:\ Program Data \ Microsoft \ Windows \ Start Menu \ Program.
   
3. Inside this Program folder , you will find the 'Accessories' folder.
4. Drag and drop the Accessories Folder on your Start Menu or All programs.

Did this work ?

If all works again i suggest to go back to Step 1 and re-select Don`t show hidden files. folders and Drives then Apply. so you don`t accidentally delete some of these.

 

Windows Automatically Moving Program Files

You can move program files to another drive/disk as below:

1. Using Registry Editor

Before you use this method, there are two things you need to do.

1. Create a folder named Program files (x86) on another drive (eg: D: drive)

2. Copy "Program Files" and "Program Files (x86)" directories to the new location first.

Run CMD as administrator and type following command prompt

Robocopy "C:\Program Files" "D:\Program Files" /mir

Robocopy "C:\Program Files (x86)" "D:\Program Files (x86)" /mir

Now, continue to see below.

Step 1: Press “Win + R”to summon the Run window, then type Regedit.exe

Step 2: Find the following path on Registry Editor and change drive letter from C: to D:

To Windows 7/8/8.1:

''HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion''

Program Files Path

To Windows 10:

'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion''

2. Using command prompt

The second method is to create a symbolic link using Command Prompt. A symbolic link is a bit like the shortcuts to programs, folders and websites which attach to the desktop. When Windows or any program tries to access the folder, the symbolic link redirects
it to the new location.

Step 1: Move “C: \Program Files” fodler to “D: \Program Files”

Step 2: Type cmd in the search box, click it and run as administrator

Step 3: Create a symbolic link with mklink. If you do not know how to use it, you can directly type mklink in the command prompt window. You can get some information concerned to create a symbolic link. Then, follow syntax below to create a symbolic link and
press Enter finally.

mklink /D link Target

Taking create a symbolic link for “D: Program Files” as example, you are supposed to type：

mklink /D “Program Files” “D: Program Files”

“Program Files” is the name of your new symbolic link name.

“D: Program Files” is the path your new link refers to.

Symbolic Link

Note: If you have physical disks and want to move program files from SSD to HDD, you need to connect your HDD disk to your computer. Then, your computer will assign a drive letter or more for your hard drive. Finally, you can do as above. Aside by that, there
is an easier way to move it from SSD to HDD. You can use disk cloning software to clone entire system drive or hard drive to your HDD.

Above ways can hep you to move program files to another drive on Windows 10 in a way. However, both ways have its own limitation. For the first way, you may encounter system crash if you misuse Registry Editor. For the second way, there is a risk that users
cannot use the programs after moving program files.

Thus, I think it's essential to make a system backup for your computer. Even if you encounter problems like system crash, you still can restore your computer.

 

Protecting files on a USB stick?

Even if you restrict access to read only, they can still copy the program. Read access is all copy needs.

My suggestion for simplicity is to create a small file on the drive and mark it hidden as well as marking it a system file, so even if they turn hidden files on the file won't show up. Put this file in a separate folder that is also marked as system, name the folder something random and windows important sounding. So even if they do find it, they won't know what it is and should ignore it. Then make the main program check for the file on execution and exit if the file isn't on the flash drive.

This should fool 90% of people unless they are pretty computer literate.