Exactly:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_programs/how-do-you-change-the-default-installation/73450b25-d794-4f18-9add-75253b893343

The way install (and uninstall) paths are usually handled is that your program creates an entry in the WIndows registry where it stores all its needed path information. There could be many more paths you might want to remember, e.g., a "temp" directory or a charts and map directory, etc. When your program is installed, it makes a note of these paths in the registry. Your program then gratiously gives the user the last word on where to install itself. The uninstall process is then also a simple matter.

The way updates are currently handled is also pretty cumbersome. I have to manually uninstall the old version and then do a fresh install on the new version. Why not have the installer of the new version check in the registry where the old one resides, uninstall it automatically, and then proceed with the install of the new version? This would be much more user friendly and oflload your support staff. It would also make it a simply process to let the user decide freely where s/he wants the program to reside.

Rigidly deciding where the program has to be put is neither user friendly nor elegant from a programming point of view.

Regards, -- Chris.

Uninstalling the old version will remove the old shortcut(s).

I have no idea about how most of the features in this forum work; I didn't write it and I've never used the alert functionality.

In that case, stand by for the calls from people who are still inadvertently running SD from an icon pointing to "C:/Program Files/Divelements Limited/SkyDemon" and who don't understand why the latest features don't work for them even though they've upgraded.

Incidentally, Tim - are you aware that in these forums if one subscribes to a topic an alert doesn't seem to be sent when you post a response?  It's fine when someone else does.

It didn't make it easy for people to automatically upgrade. And yes, you wouldn't believe the number of calls we get from people who find it a difficult process to master.

Good to know that SD is portable. However, is it really too much to ask if we want the user selectable installation path back? You can "hide" this feature behind a "Custom..." button or have the default installation path prefilled in a text box which the user can change.

What was wrong with the previous installation procedure? I can't imagine that it was changed because so many people complained about its complexities

-- Chris.

Are you aware that Windows offers a supported way to move your Program Files directory to another drive, or change it? I haven't used it myself, but if you want all software program files installed on a specific drive it would make sense to actually use that feature instead of having to change each piece of software during the installation process.

SkyDemon is a portable app; it doesn't rely on the registry for its settings and behaves as a good Windows software citizen in terms of storage locations for settings and user documents.

I'm another one affected by this. My HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ProgramFilesDir points to a directory on my E: drive and previous versions have honoured this, but 3.2.0 seems to ignore it and force itself to C:

I really don't want apps on my C: thanks, in the meantime I've gone back to 3.1.1

Every update?  Surely not!

Most programs use the Windows registry to store paths and other stuff. Moving any of the files breaks the program. It is a big no-no to simply move a programs files to another location and still expect it to work. Recently, some programs are distributed as specifically portable versions, meaning you can run them from any location (e.g., a USB stick). But that is a rare occasion.

I agree, most people are simply not computer literate enough or don't care. They don't see the benefit of keeping system files, program files and data files on different drives (or at least different partitions of the same physical drive). But why would the minority, who care and try to keep their computer organized have to pay for this?

And in this case it sooooo easy to make both factions happy.

-- Chris.