Quote:

I would not be trusting any S/W company that enforces an installation onto the root directory. So BB better works on any directory you choose, or you might as well ditch it.



That's pretty harsh. So you don't care if it works, you only care where you can install it? But it doesn't matter, because you can install BIAB into just about any folder. PGMusic, I believe, likes to use C:\BB (because that's where it started historically), and for newbies, it makes telephone troubleshooting easier.

SixChannel mentioned that he originally had 2004 and then the rest were all downloaded upgrades, so it would be difficult to re-install. However, except for downloaded patches, if you downloaded an upgrade to the program (for example, the upgrade from 2008.5 to 2009.5), then you have everything you need to re-install the program. You don't have to install the earlier version first (although you certainly may), and then install the newer version over it. Of course, what you end up with after re-installation depends on which version you have. So, if you initially purchased the 2008.5 UltraPAK, but then purchased the 2009.5 MegaPAK, you may not get back all the styles, etc that you would have had in the UltraPAK.

I don't understand downloading the installation files to programs and then not backing them up somewhere after (or even before) installation. You never know when your hard drive can crash and you HAVE to re-install. As long as you've kept the installation files you downloaded for each year's upgrade, you should be fine.

Of course, as Mac said, if you have a working installation, you can just copy it to a different folder, but if you ever have to move it to another machine, you'll need the original installation file(s) to make sure you get fonts and some other add-ons.

BIAB can easily be installed to just about any folder. I haven't used C:\BB for a very long time. I don't, however, put it in the "C:\Program Files" folder, because Vista doesn't always allow you to write to the BIAB folder there after installation (I suspect this has more to do with the fact that BIAB doesn't do things through the registry, but instead uses INI and configuration files). OS's like Vista see this as trying to modify the applications directory and balks at it (especially if you don't have UAC turned off).

I generally install BIAB to a folder called C:\Apps\PGMusic\BIAB; however, on one machine, I have installed every version I have, so it goes into C:\Apps\PGMusic\BIAB2006, C:\Apps\PGMusic\BIAB 2008, etc. Every version works fine this way, from BIAB version 8 (not 2008, but 8) all the way up through 2009.5. I have installed v08, v09, v10, v11, v12, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. I have also installed it to the E: drive with no problems. My RealDrums and RealTracks are all on my D: drive. RealDrums are in D:\AppsData\PGMusic\RealInstruments\RealDrums\Drums; RealTracks are in D:\AppsData\PGMusic\RealInstruments\RealTracks. I have no problems accessing them there.

I know at one time, there was a problem with path depth, but I think that was more at a time when folks were still using Windows 98. Under XP, Vista, or Windows 7, I don't believe you will see those kind of problems.

That's been my experience on my two machines, but I will say I could be wrong or that others may experience a different result.

John

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