Program Files / Program Files (x86)

Whoppi · Jan 25, 2024

Hello,
W11 is on the C drive.

Now my question:
On another drive on my pc there are 2 folders named:
Program Files and Program Files (x86)
Those 2 folders I want to rename.
How can I do this?

Scott · Jan 25, 2024

Select the folder, right-click > Rename

wiganken · Jan 25, 2024

@Scott - Your right as far as that goes but I thought these folders are system folders and could not be renamed. Even if you can rename them are they not default folder names that Windows and programmers look to install their apps/programs into? It has been this way for a long time now. If they are not found (because they have been renamed) then won't this cause problems later?

See What's the Difference Between the "Program Files (x86)" and "Program Files" Folders in Windows? .

trumpy81 · Jan 25, 2024

Welcome to the forums

Whoppi said:
Hello,
W11 is on the C drive.

Now my question:
On another drive on my pc there are 2 folders named:
Program Files and Program Files (x86)
Those 2 folders I want to rename.
How can I do this?

If the other drive contains a Windows installation, then you cannot rename those folders, not if you wish to boot up from that Windows installation at all.

If this other drive/Windows installation does not appear in your Boot Menu when you start/restart the PC, then you can add that drive/Windows installation to the Boot Menu using EasyBCD (free program).

EasyBCD

EasyBCD is a software utility for Windows that lets you control and configure the BCD/BOOTMGR bootloader for Windows 7, Windows 10, and Windows 11 for dual-boots.

neosmart.net

x BlueRobot · Jan 25, 2024

Whoppi said:
How can I do this?

I would strongly suggest not renaming folders, as already pointed out, many programs will assume those folders exist with those names. You can rename them if you so wish, however, it isn't as simple as just renaming those folders.

From Microsoft:

However, we do not test changes to the default location of the Program Files folder. Therefore, we do not recommend or support modifying the ProgramFilesDir registry value to change the default location of the Program Files folder.

When you set the ProgramFilesDir registry value to use a location other than the default location, Microsoft hotfixes, updates, and security updates do not update files that are in the default location. Therefore, you may experience system instability and unexpected problems with Microsoft programs and software updates.

Whoppi · Jan 26, 2024

Thanks all,there is no Windows at all on the drive where I want to get rid of those names.

Kees · Jan 26, 2024

If those folders are empty or the programs on it unused, for instance because that drive originally was from another computer, you should be able to delete the folders or even format the whole partition). But be careful, only do that if you are sure that drive has nothing do do with your present configuration and contains only data.

Please specify what drive it is and please fill in the specs of your system in your profile.

To know what you can fill in there (by hand!) you could click here below: "My Computer".
And do the same in your profile "Systems specs".

x BlueRobot · Jan 26, 2024

Could you please open command prompt and then the following command:

Code:

reg query "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion" >> %userprofile%\Desktop\Programs.txt

Please attach the Programs.txt file which would have been saved to your Desktop to your next post.

Whoppi · Jan 26, 2024

x BlueRobot said:
Could you please open command prompt and then the following command:

Code:

reg query "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion" >> %userprofile%\Desktop\Programs.txt

Please attach the Programs.txt file which would have been saved to your Desktop to your next post.

x BlueRobot · Jan 26, 2024

Thanks, you should be able to just rename those folders on the other drive without any issues. I'm curious though, why does your other drive have those folders? I assume it was an old Windows drive?

Whoppi · Jan 27, 2024

Hello,I'm not able to rename these folders on the non system disk.
It was a completely new drive,a virgin..

x BlueRobot · Jan 27, 2024

It was a new drive yet it has the Program Files folder?

Could you please open an elevated command prompt and then the following commands:

Code:

diskpart
list volume

Please post the output in your next post.

Try3 · Jan 27, 2024

Whoppi said:
It was a completely new drive,a virgin..

Well, it's not now.

Something wrote those folders on that drive.
You really do need to find out what did that.

Best of luck,
Denis

Winuser · Jan 27, 2024

Are your installed programs on drive C:/ or where they moved to the new drive?

Whoppi · Jan 27, 2024

I wrote those folders myself,now,I want to get rid of them.

Kees · Jan 27, 2024

You better delete those folders instead of renaming them.
If you can't delete them, because Windows tells you they are locked, you might try to use some file/folder unlock program.

The freeware program I use for that is ThisIsMyFile, that can be downloaded from here.
It is available in an installable and in a portable version, I have the portable one (because I seldomly need the program).
If the program determines that the folder can't be deleted directly because the system occupies it, it will do that at system restart.

But first you'll have to make sure that the folders are completely empty, no subfolders and/or files in them!

Whoppi · Jan 28, 2024

x BlueRobot said:
It was a new drive yet it has the Program Files folder?

Could you please open an elevated command prompt and then the following commands:

Code:

diskpart list volume

Please post the output in your next post.

x BlueRobot · Jan 29, 2024

Whoppi said:
I wrote those folders myself,now,I want to get rid of them.

Thanks for the diskpart output, I'm going to assume that you're absolutely certain that those folders aren't required, the following FRST script should delete them for you:

FRST Fix
NOTICE: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on that particular machine. Running this on another machine may cause damage to your operating system
1. Please download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your Desktop.
Note: You need to run the 64-bit Version so please ensure you download that one.
2. Download the attached fixlist.txt and save it to the Desktop.
Note. It's important that both files, FRST64 and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work (in this case...the desktop).
3. Run FRST64 by Right-Clicking on the file and choosing Run as administrator.
4. Press the Fix button just once and wait.
5. When finished FRST64 will generate a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt). Please post the contents of it in your reply.

Note: You'll need to edit the FRST script so the X:\ is replaced with the drive letter of where those folders are located. It should be able to delete them without any problems.

Whoppi · Feb 4, 2024

Hello,all thanks for the help,the problem has become to complicated for me.

mackie · Feb 4, 2024

Whoppi said:
I wrote those folders myself,now,I want to get rid of them.

You reminded me that I did the same thing years ago on another pc with a second hdd that I put in.

I don't remember what I did, but if it happened to me now, I would probably copy and paste whatever folders/files where on that drive that I want to keep, move them to a flash drive, format that drive with the problem folders, and then copy and paste the wanted folders/files back to the clean drive.