Forums Bug Reports Incorrect installation directory on XP64

mIRC installs to an incorrect directory in XP64 by default. mIRC's installer assumes that it is always "C:\Program Files", which is not necessarily true, such as in XP64.

In XP64, 32-bit programs go into "C:\Program Files (x86)".

This is pretty easy to fix. Use SHGetFolderPath with CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES. For Win95 compatibility, you'll have to use LoadLibrary on shell32.dll and GetProcAddress SHGetFolderPathA or W. If it's not there, use C:\Program Files.

Melissa

I think the default install directory should be c:\mirc (like it was pre 6.0)

but that's just my opinion ...

That makes no sense in my opinion :tongue:

Hi

Sorry to bust in on this, lol


I see a problem with the default install being C:\

You see i run a dual boot system, 3 partitions,
C:\ - which is windows 98 (yeah for older proggys that dont like xp
D:\ - which is windows xp pro, 98% of what i use all the time, for all my work
E:\ - Linux, nuff sed (just starting out with this os)

so having mIRC configured to install to C:\ would cause me a few probs, considering that i use xp on D:\, my opinion ...
Hixxy i agree with you on this one.

ShadowDemon

I think the default dir should be:

[drive_where_active_windows_is_installed]:\mirc

-genius_at_work

I think it sghould just ask you and let you pur it where ever ya like. And if it doesnt already do this (i cant remember if it does or not) then just move the thing afterwards, and let the sleeping dogs lie.

actually, that's precisely what 5.9 did. I use the example of C:\ simply because the majority do not use dual (or multiple) boot systems.

i think installing programs in the root is bad ettiquete.
Almost every decent program installs in Program Files thus so should mIRC. The fact it doesnt do this on XP64 is a bug in my eyes.

then again, mirc isnt for xp64 now is it. mahahaha thats thrown a spanner in the works.

oops, i think i started something, lol

to everybody who replied after me, yeah a user should be allowed to install a program to anywhere they like
an example, i had a program that kindly installed itself to C:\
(it didnt even like "program files" - didnt like the space between the "m" and "f") and didnt run correctly
(soon got rid of it).

I did, after installing mIRC to D:\Program Files\mirc, duplicate the mirc folder for several installs
giving me 3 extra mirc folders, for myeslf to chat, my channel bot and default mirc, (for backups)

genius, i agree
[drive_where_active_windows_is_installed]:\mirc

ShadowDemon

More accurately, it installed to the *wrong* Program Files directory. C:\Program Files is for 64-bit programs in Win64. 32 bit programs belong in C:\Program Files (x86).

Melissa

OMG bug #2

I think %programfiles%\mIRC\ makes the most sense by far, seeing as it is a program file :tongue:

Khaled could maybe check if it's running on XP64 somehow when he decides to switch to that, but mIRC is still a 32bit program.

mIRC should be asking Windows what the "Program Files" directory is called on that particular system. Then it would be up to Windows x64 to detect that mIRC is a 32bit program and supply the correct directory.

-genius_at_work

I guess, but I don't know if the OS would actually tell the program a different install directory if it's 32bit. Oh well, I don't really know much about it.

That won't work - the environment variable is set to the native Program Files regardless of the type of program. The correct solution is to call the Windows API call SHGetSpecialFolderPath with CSIDL_PROGRAMFILES.

SHGetFolderPath is a Win2000 superset of SHGetSpecialFolderPath. Use SHGetSpecialFolderPath instead.

It does. SHGetSpecialFolderPath will report the correct directory for the program that is calling it.

Melissa

If it really is that simple I don't see any reason why he wouldn't change it, but I wouldn't really call this a bug.

Thanks this should be fixed for the next version.