Question : How do I change the default directory for program files in server 2008 r2?

On server 2008 r2 I changed the hkey_local_machine->software->microsoft->windows->CurrentVersion->ProgramFilesDir(x86) key to C:\Program Files and rebooted the server.

But still 32bit software ends up in C:\"Program Files (x86" directory.

Is there something more I have to do to force the program to go into "program files" and not "program files (x86)" ?

This is a terminal server and the software used has user-based shortcuts with parameters etc, so all the users are going to use theyr old shortcuts when moving to this server but that will not work when the software is not installed in the "Program Files" folder.

Answer : How do I change the default directory for program files in server 2008 r2?

try use "start":

start msiexec /i  setup.msi /qn