how do i trick my HP software to installing to C:\?

[Lithium381]

Not sure why, but windows decided it would be a good idea to install to F....no biggie, but now i'm out of space and i want to load my HP software, but it wants to be on the same drive as windows is....not to mention any other program files i may want to install. Is there a way to tell windows that my new default directory for installing software is on the C drive?

 

[corkyg]

The first thing I would do is re-designate your "F" drive to C:. Then life can normalize.

There must be something using C or that should never have happened.

 

[Nothinman]

The first thing I would do is re-designate your "F" drive to C:. Then life can normalize.

Which requires a reinstall since you can't just change the system drive. And that's not even close to the cause of his problem anyway.

Is there a way to tell windows that my new default directory for installing software is on the C drive?

Not really, the software would most likely want to put any shared libraries into %WINDIR%\system32 or similar anyway. If you're really that low on space, you'll have to do something to free some up. Eventually you'll have this problem again anyway, so you might as well fix it right the first time.

 

[Lithium381]

Well, it's a 4gb HD, there really isn't much on there that's excess. It's all Windows(XP) and Program Files......no data of mine personally. In theory i thought that should be fine for just windows, and it worked out great for '98. I Geuss i could reinstall :-\ but i need a bigger drive beforehand i geuss. What's the deal with reactivating windows if something like this occurs? Like i said, it'd be no big deal since it's all program data on that drive, and my other 3gb drive is for pictures/music etc. No, i really don't have that much. :-D

 

[Nothinman]

Wow, a 4G drive. You know that you can get a 200G driver for like $100 now, right?

As for reactivation, if it won't let you activate via the Internet it'll give you a number to call. You just explain to the guy on the line what happened and he'll give you a number to punch in and you'll be good to go. I've heard it's really quick and painless, but I've never done it myself.

 

[xgsound]

Definately time for a disk upgrade. What are the machine specs? You may be limited by bios, chipset, and even XP version if your install cd is (?137G?) pre sp1. Check with mobo maker or manufacturer before you get the hard new drive. Below 80G or so the price is the same (?$50?) because the smaller ones have less demand.

If the HP software is for a printer driver, it may need a C drive to install. I've heard that several printer manufacturers have had that problem, but I've not (still on win98se) run into it.

Also, if it is a printer driver, the driver itself will insist on installing many things in the windows folder.


Jim

 

[Lithium381]

Originally posted by: xgsound
Definately time for a disk upgrade. What are the machine specs? You may be limited by bios, chipset, and even XP version if your install cd is (?137G?) pre sp1. Check with mobo maker or manufacturer before you get the hard new drive. Below 80G or so the price is the same (?$50?) because the smaller ones have less demand.

If the HP software is for a printer driver, it may need a C drive to install. I've heard that several printer manufacturers have had that problem, but I've not (still on win98se) run into it.

Also, if it is a printer driver, the driver itself will insist on installing many things in the windows folder.


Jim

i just want the printer drivers, which should not be in excess of 300mb (currently free) but it has this software bundle it wants to install with it, with photo editin software, a slideshow thing...etc. i just want the raw functionality without the bloat.....grrr i geuss i should look into upgrading disk capacity

 

[xgsound]

Running XP on 7G total means you must run a really tight ship. You are right that you will have no room to waste on Manufacturer's editing software. I found that Picasa 2 (free at google) does 95% of what I need quickly and easily.

When you decide more disk space is required, compare the total (ATA board if needed) upgrade cost to a new cheap machine. Even the emachine $500 T6410 comes with a 160G drive.


Jim