I used a directory printer to try and compare what is in each of these folders. This is how the program showed the name of the folder with a second one within:

P:\Program Files\Program Files
P:\Program Files (86)\Program Files (x86)
P:\Program Files (x86)\Program Files (x86)

After doing maintenance and completing system scans I went back to pull up both versions of REGEDIT.

My missing directory paths were now back. So the majority of my questions in my previous post are now
no longer needed.

My basic question I need to ask is still concerning how to get rid of a file within a file in each of my 3 P:\Program Files folders?

Also, should I have a third P:\Program Files folder because I have Win 7 64-bit?

Hopefully this will be easier to answer than the ones about disappearing Regedit paths! Thanks!

I have Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit so I followed the suggestions for my system using the following
information:

The end result was I did not use the regular REGEDIT but the one suggested by typing in Run:
%systemroot%\syswow64\regedit. Then HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion.

I changed the four things suggested: dir; dir (86); ProgramFilesPath; and ProgramW64 to P:\.

There are several things going on since I did this to make me question some of the changes I made.
First, was it really necessary or an advantage in any way to use %systemroot%\syswow64\regedit
instead of the regular Regedit? Were there any disadvantages by using this version of Regedit?

I understood that I now was to have a P:\Program Files and a P:\Program Files (x86).

What I ended up with is:

P:\Program Files; P:\Program Files
P:\Program Files (86); P:\Program Files (86)
P:\Program Files (x86); P:\Program Files (x86)

I believe I figured out that I have two folders in each category because I made a folder in the new P:\
drive to copy everything from C:\ into instead of just copying it the the P:\ drive without indicating a folder. (If this is correct, this information should be updated in the original directions I followed for
people like me that have to have things spelled out.)

I have no clue why I have the third Program Folder: P:\Program Files (86); P:\Program Files (86).
If I am not supposed to have this one, how would I get rid of it or put it back?

My next question is, how do I get just the one folder in each of the new locations, whether it is two or three locations? Get rid of the folder within the folder? Or would it just be easier (or perhaps the only way) to format and re-install Windows and start from scratch?

I tried to pull up both versions of Regedit to see what was showing and perhaps changing things back to C:\. The Regedit version suggested for 64-bit was not even there. The error message said perhaps it had been moved. Which I’m sure I did, but do not know how to locate it. The regular Regedit did not show anything at all for the things I redirected.

I redirected my program files using the regular Regedit once prior to this time, which I had formatted and re-installed Win 7 so thought I’d do an even better job using the one supposedly for 64-bit. The first time using the regular Regedit allowed me to go back in and change them back to C:\ from P:\. I was trying to re-install using the Recovery Partition, which required I put the installation path back to C:\ before I could. If I ever need to (and I will) re-install Win 7 again, I would now have to use the system image as there is no where I can see to change things back. If the system image goes wrong, it appears I’ll be up a creek. I finally discovered how I could make recovery disks but am unclear whether I would need to change the P:\ back to C:\. I don’t think so, but I am pretty confused at this point.

I did a complete system image prior to installing Acronis Disk Director and partitioning, then redirecting the installation path. Six DVDs. I’ve never had any success backing up anything. I have never tried a system image restoration, so not sure how reliable they are. I really just want to set everything up as
customized and streamlined as possible and attempt a complete system image containing the way I’d
want Windows to load up just the pre-installed programs of my choice, not theirs. Without unnecessary
duplication of files or folders.

Would anyone be able to solve any of my questions? I know this will work just great once I’ve worked out the wrong turns taken! Thanks for any help!!

This is the correct fix !

You shouldn’t have to make the changes to the normal regedit, just the %systemroot%\syswow64\regedit.

As stated above you will need to change both the ProgramFilesDir & ProgramFilesDir (x86).

Caution! If you changed the regular regedit ( found by typing regedit in search box on start menu) by making changes to the path in regedit, some programs that you have installed on your OS drive (SSD) will not start. You can correct that problem by right clicking the shortcut in the start menu under all programs….right click, properties, and change target path. However, the only program I couldn’t change to correct target was Windows Media Player and as a result WMP would not function….I could fix that by going through windows explorer and finding the shortcut and pinned that to both start menu and taskbar. WMP would now function, UNTIL I tried using it in internet explorer then an error screen came up stating connection problems…..

Basically….. If you’ve changed the regular regedit ProgramFilesDir and ProgramFilesDir (x86), change it back and make the changes to the %systemroot%…….