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EFCKieran

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Sep 10, 2013
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Hi,
I've just got a new MSI GT70 2OC-614UK, and it has 128GB of SSD and 1TB 7200rpm HDD. The OS came installed on the SSD like I wanted, I started installing a few of my favorite programs and noticed they're also installing on my SSD. All I want on my SSD is the OS and my steam folder with all my games. I looked at my HDD and saw it's got absolutely nothing on it, not even Program files x86 or whatever. I tried installing the programs onto the empty HDD but they said they can't install in this location. How can I get it so my HDD is my main drive and my SSD is just my boot drive and for games?

P.S
- After this is hopefully fixed how do I install steam onto the SSD?
- I'm on windows 8.
 
Solution
RealBeast
HERE is a tutorial on moving User folders. This controls music, pictures, documents, and video storage by User and can move it to a different drive if you wish.

To change your default program installation location you need to change a couple of registry keys. Open regedit in the start button program search windows and find this key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion click on it and look in the right side box for ProgramFilesDir and ProgramFilesDir (x86) and change the key value from C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86) to where you want them to go, like E:\Program Files and E:\Program Files (x86)
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RealBeast

RealBeast

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Sep 13, 2010
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HERE is a tutorial on moving User folders. This controls music, pictures, documents, and video storage by User and can move it to a different drive if you wish.

To change your default program installation location you need to change a couple of registry keys. Open regedit in the start button program search windows and find this key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion click on it and look in the right side box for ProgramFilesDir and ProgramFilesDir (x86) and change the key value from C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86) to where you want them to go, like E:\Program Files and E:\Program Files (x86)
 
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Solution
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EFCKieran

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Sep 10, 2013
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I had a quick read through your tutorial and when I right click on my music or what not, I only have one tab of options and I can't change much at all really.

And when I change the registry keys, does that automatically create the folders "program files" and "program files x86" in my empty HDD or doesn't it matter? because if I move both my programs and user account into the HDD it will get a bit full and messy, it will be hard to find my user folders after a while?
 
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RealBeast

RealBeast

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No, changing the registry keys will only direct the files to the new folders that you create on another drive before you make the change.

I only answered your question how to do it, not whether it is wise to do it -- unless you are comfortable with making registry changes it is probably not for you. Perhaps that is the reason that Microsoft does not recommend doing it. Your alternative is to manually control where things are installed, if they allow a choice.
 
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