C:\Program Data is VISTA's equivalent to NT/XP's C:\Documents and settings.
That is, you will have C:\documents and settings when using NT/XP, and have
C:\ProgramData when using VISTA. It is not Autodesk specific folder, so,
make it as C:\Program Files\Autodesk\ProgramData is definitely a bad idea.
Whether you have C:\Autodesk forlder will depends on how you build your
Autodesk product installation package. By default, all autodesk products
should be installed unter C:\program files\..., but you can specify
different location. Many companies may have their own software installation
rules that cause autodesk products (or other software, for that matter) to
be installed in certain location, rather than default location. In your
case, I tend to think your "C:\Autdesk" folder is created by your/your
company's installation, not automatically by AutoCAD installation.
As other posts pointed out, Autodesk is closey followed MS' Widnows system
guide to install its products, and it better follows that than invent a
different rules. After all, AutoCAD is purely Windows application, so far.
"David Kozina" <"David Kozina"> wrote in message
news:6159436@discussion.autodesk.com...
James,
Your comments are on mark, IMO.
Generally I don't really mind the *quantity* of folders/files Autodesk needs
to create, as long as my computer can handle it, and the program runs well
enough. If it needs 20 GB, or more or less or whatever, so be it.
But I really get annoyed by the additional high-level folders it is
creating.
Used to be (long ago) you could *tell* the installer where to install the
program (with default under Program Files). Of course, times and OSs
change, and I've gotten a *little* more used to looking for certain
folders/files under the user profiles. But, what's the (new for me)
C:/ProgramData about? Couldn't *that* have been placed under C:/Program
Files/Autodesk/ProgramData ? Apparently not. But it just makes me wonder
why the need to keep staking out additional 'claims' off my root drive, as
it makes it more difficult for me to sort through and find things. (My
filing habits are bad enough as it is -- I don't need help!)
As for the C:/Autodesk folder, it seems that when I ran the installer (from
a downloaded file, instead of off the DVD), that was the file it created
when the AutoCAD_Architecture_2010_English_SLD_Win_32Bit.exe began
(apparently some type of self-extracting zip linked to a main installation
program). Can this folder be deleted now that the program has installed?
If so, then why not at least label it as C:/AutodeskTEMPforInstallation (or
such-like), then I'll know it's expendable afterwards?
And, lest I forget, now I see that there's a new (for me) and ever-popular
C:\3b9e279ae01effd1d911... folder.
Such a lovely site for sore eyes. No doubt it's important.
Regards,
David Kozina
"James Maeding" wrote in message
news:6159050@discussion.autodesk.com...
I have my complaints too, but simple is not good when it does not work.
Autodesk does a fairly good job of dividing things up, believe it or not.
The issue I have is sometimes the installer does not copy things right the
first time a user runs a product.
Other than that though, they just need to have a few departments talk to
eachother so the doc and settings folder does
not have similar named folders for same product.
Suggest how you would do it and I can probably shoot down most of the ideas,
the file splitting has purpose.
Too bad its not more simple though, I like simple too.