After I install Windows XPsp2 I want to change the C:\Windows directory to C:\WINNT is there any utility that will change this? How can I change this directory's name? Thanks in advance.

After I install Windows XPsp2 I want to change the C:\Windows directory to C:\WINNT is there any utility that will change this?  How can I change this directory's name?  Thanks in advance. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hmm C:\OS

I would have said do it when you install the OS.

Other than that i know of no app that can do it. Maybe someone else does.

You have to change your winnt.sif or you can do it with nLite!

winnt.sif

[Unattended]
    TargetPath=\WINDOWS

Edited June 14, 200521 yr by 2forza

You could try booting from a floppy (or CD) to get to a command prompt, renaming the directory and editing boot.ini to from something like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

to something like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

I can't honestly say I would expect this to work though since any other files that reference the system files (likely the registry) would still be pointing to the old location. I think the best bet, as people have already mentioned, is to change the path name during installation using WINNT.SIF.

Edited June 14, 200521 yr by Cartoonite

i was curious about this..so i tested on my virtual pc.

i edited the boot.ini file while the os was running. (windows to winnt)

and renaming windows to winnt in the recovery console.

this is the message i got trying to boot the os

windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

<windows root>\system32\hal.dll

Please re-install a copy of the above file.

so if you wannt it to be "winnt" then you need to call that in your winn.sif during install.

You have to edit the entire registry replacing every instance of C:\Windows with C:\WINNT

The easiest way to do this is export the Entire Registry into a REG file. Open that REG file with a good Text Editor and use the Replace function that will be found in the Edit menu.

After you have made the changes to the REG file and saved it (be sure it is still the Text file format) you can proceed with the changes.

Copy the contents of C:\Windows to a folder called C:\WINNT

Make the other changes recommend here in this Topic

Click the changed REG file to replace the Registry with the replaced values.

Restart the box.

here is what i've done so far...and this does not work...

changed boot.ini (windows to winnt)

i exported my registry, replaced all "windows" with "winnt"

imported the reg file

got a error message that stated "could not import some keys due to process in use"

rebooted with cd into recovery console

renamed windows to winnt

rebooted

i get the splash screen and thats all....(see attachment)

i still do not recommed however you do it..windows to winnt

it needs to be done during the base install of the os