How to write to Program Files (x86)?

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I have many old programs without installers. I just need to copy the .exe files to some location on the PATH. Also, I compile new programs that don’t have installers.

In Windows 7, even logged in as an Administrator, I can’t seem to copy any files to the Program Files (x86) directory, either using a command prompt or through Explorer.

How can this be overcome? Should I make my own bin directory under /users/myname ? Or is there some way to install these programs in Program Files?

Thanks!

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I install MOST programs on a P: partition – no install problems there.

One caveat is that some programs will not allow me to change the path from the Program Files (x86) directory.

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I have a directory named c:apps where I place many such programs.

You could open a command prompt with “run as administrator” option and then you should be able to copy to Program Files (x86).

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Bryan’s and Peter’s solutions work of course but you may like to try the FREE Inno installer which I’ve used to do just what you want.
This is available at http://www.jrsoftware.org
The installer includes an un-installer , lets you add help or informational files to the installation, and seems to write correct registry entries.
It appears to create and use scripts to write the .exe file into the Program Files directory (or subdirectories within that.)
It may be that Win 7 allows scripts to write to the Program Files directory and it doesn’t even need to ask if you have Administrator privileges.

I’m not sure if it will overcome your problem because I don’t have it on my Win 7 Pro system;
I can write directly to the Program Files directory when I have Administrator privileges anyway.

Hope this helps.

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+10 to Inno Setup
ISTool which is an addon makes that puppy much better. You can spec whether to add to Program Files (x86) or Program Files for 64 bit apps

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Thanks to all for the suggestions! I use INNO already for some of my programs that are distributed to others. Great product. For what I need now, setting up c:apps seems to be the way to go. Not sure why some others can write to Program Files as Administrators, and I cannot. I’ll have to explore that — later!

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Thanks to all for the suggestions! I use INNO already for some of my programs that are distributed to others. Great product. For what I need now, setting up c:apps seems to be the way to go. Not sure why some others can write to Program Files as Administrators, and I cannot. I’ll have to explore that — later!

In Windows 7 being a member of the Administrators group does not grant the same level of privilege as in prior Operating Systems. “Program Files” and “Program Files (X86)” are protected in WIndows 7. You need to set permissions for those folder and the sub-folders to allow the administrators group to do what you need.

Joe

--Joe

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In Windows 7 being a member of the Administrators group does not grant the same level of privilege as in prior Operating Systems. “Program Files” and “Program Files (X86)” are protected in WIndows 7. You need to set permissions for those folder and the sub-folders to allow the administrators group to do what you need.

Joe, thanks! That explains exactly what I have experienced. Rather then change the permissions (which I’m not sure I could change back successfully), I turned off UAC just long enough to do what I needed. Then I added a “c:pgms” directory tree for programs without installers, scripts, etc.

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in Setup section of my .iss I have an exe installing to Program Files (x86)
ISTool helps with all that = the pic

Code:

[Setup]
DefaultDirName={pf}Jump2reg
[Files]
Source: ..Jump2reg.exe; DestDir: {app}; Flags: ignoreversion 32bit

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