Question

Installing my software on Windows XP was always easy. Everything went in the ‘c:\Program Files\myprogram’ directory. This included:

1. The executable program itself and any dlls.
2. Readme.txt and License.txt
3. The help files (.hlp or .chm or .pdf)
4. Program settings that are not in the registry (.ini files)
5. Sample data files for the program
6. Log files that the program produces

(Am I missing anything?)

But I understand that some of these should not go into the ‘Program Files’ directory on Windows Vista. Which ones shouldn’t and where should they go instead?

Also, should I change my XP install locations to match Vista?

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Addenum: Some really good information was given in an answer by François to another question which pointed me to Marco Cantu’s excellent post: Non-Themed Windows Applications and Virtual Store

Answer 1

The relevant MSDN details for data placement:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762584(VS.85).aspx

and

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762494.aspx