As the size of hard rives increase, more people are using partitions to separate and store groups of files.

 

XP uses the C:\Program Files directory as the default base directory into which new programs are installed. However, you can change the default installation drive and/ or directory by using a Registry hack.

 

Run the Registry Editor (regedit)and go to

 

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version

 

Look for the value named Program Files Dir. by default, this value will be C:\Program Files. Edit the value to any valid drive or folder and XP will use that new location as the default installation directory for new programs.