Move Program Files Folder to Another Drive| Specific Methodologies Introduced

Copy and paste the contents of the move program files folder to another drive. When it comes to relocating program files, though, you may find that it’s a very other story. What is the reason for this?

Program Files (x86) for 32-bit programs and Program Files (64-bit) for 64-bit programs are both hard-wired into Windows. When things aren’t where they’re supposed to be, they can go wrong. Most programs on Windows 10/8/7 may stop running or respond incorrectly if you drag them to another location directly.

You might be wondering, How to move program files to another drive in Windows 10/8/7? in such case. One of the most important things to remember is to adopt the proper method, and the other is to create a system image backup first so that you may restore the PC to its previous state if something goes wrong. To locate the exact solution, look at the anchor text below.

When is it Necessary to Move Program Files Folder to Another Drive?

By default, most programs are install in the C: disc. Due to growing programs, the system partition may run out of space over time, causing the PC to slow down. If you install a lot of applications on your computer, the situation could get worse. If you don’t want to uninstall them, another option is to move program files to a different location.

If you take things a step further, you can find yourself in the following situations:

Situation 1: Transfer program files to a different drive on the same hard drive.

You may worry about the low disc space warning and performance in this situation, but there is just one internal disc. Instead of saving new software to the C drive, consider relocating program files and program files (x86) from the C drive to the D drive or another partition with enough capacity.

Situation 2: Transfer software files to a new physical disc.

In this instance, you probably have one or more spare physical hard drives and have previously upgraded Windows 7/8/10 to a smaller SSD. You may want to free up disc space on your SSD by moving application files and program files (x86) from SSD to HDD to maintain a better experience.

Manual Approaches for How to Move Program Files Folder to Another Drive

How to move program files folder to another drive in Windows 10 while ensuring that they continue to function properly? Instead of using “copy” and “paste,” here are alternative methods for transfer program files to another drive. Whether you’re running Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7, remember to make a system image backup first. It can assist you in quickly restoring your system from a backup.

Approach 1: Relocate Program Files Using the Move Feature

Windows also has a Move tool that allows you to move program files and folders to another drive. Begin by following the procedures listed below:

• To begin, go to the Windows icon and click it. It can found in the display’s bottom-left corner. Many apps accessible on the Windows Store can be readily relocated using this method.
• Then select the Settings option.
• Now select Apps & Features from the drop-down menu.
• This will provide a list of all the apps that is install on your device.
• After that, choose an app that needs to move. Under its name, you may notice a variety of buttons.
• Select the Move option and this option will not be available in all apps. You won’t be able to utilize this approach for the given software if you can’t see this button.
• After that, choose a location on the new drive, open it, and then select a folder.
• Finally, click Move the app, and its data will be appropriately transferred to the new place.

Approach 2: Generate Directory Junction to Move Program Files to Another Drive

To effortlessly move program files folder to another drive windows 10, 8, 7, or older versions of Windows, follow the instructions outlined below:

• Launch File Explorer and navigate to the target drive’s root directory. Then right-click >> choose New >>Folder and give the folder a name for saving program files to the disc.
• After that, launch a new File Explorer wizard and navigate to the application files’ source disc folder.
• After that, select the highlighted folder holding the application files you need to move and copy it with Ctrl-C. To paste the program files to the new drive, choose the folder you created in the other File Explorer window and press Ctrl-V.
• Choose File, then Open Command Prompt as Administrator, and then confirm the user access control prompt.
• Typing mklink with the whole drive letter of both the old and new locations of the program files, then pressing Enter will complete this process for you.
• Finally, run the application to ensure that it works correctly.

Approach 3: Transfer Software Files from One Drive to Another Using Registry Editor’s Help

There are two things you must perform before using this strategy.

1. On a different drive, make a folder called Program files (x86) (e.g.: D: drive)
2. First, copy the directories “Program Files” and “Program Files (x86)” to the new location. Simply open CMD as administrator, type the command prompt below, then press Enter.

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

Continue reading below for more information. Please keep in mind that this procedure only works with a fresh Windows installation.

• To open the Run window, press “Win + R,” then type Regedit.exe.
• Change the drive letter from C: to D: in Registry Editor by going to the following path.

To Windows 7/8/8.1:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
To Windows 10:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion

Profession Software for Move Program Files Folder to Another Drive

If the above-mentioned manual solution for Can I move program files folder to another drive is use, the program files folder may be mistakenly formatted or deleted. In this case, you can use the Datahelp Software Hard Drive Data Recovery Tool as an immediate solution. You can simply recover data from an external hard disc using this software. With just a few clicks, this software can retrieve formatted or erased data. Following are the steps for this software:

Step1: On your system, download, install, and run Hard Drive Data Recovery Software.

Step 2: The app provides two scanning options: Scan and Formatted Scan. The partition should be select first, followed by the scan button.

Step 3: Preview the whole list of files and folders that have recovered.

Step 4: By choosing Save, you can save the files you want to recover.

Step 5: From the drop-down menu, Browse a location to save the file (s). Press Ok if you’re ready to begin exporting.

Step 6: The software is now operational. When the process is complete, click OK to see a notification stating that the export process was successful.

After Piece

The solutions to move program files and folders to another drive are describe in the article. I’ve already mentioned the greatest option for doing so. All you have to do now is follow the steps outlined above (manual & technical). I hope this information is useful in resolving your problem.