Installing Photoshop to a different Partition/Drive

I used to install Photoshop to a different drive/partition than my startup disk, I had various reasons for this. But for some reason with CS3 I'm finding it complicated...

I had Windows on "C" and I installed Photoshop to "F", after the install I check what files went where... the files installed to "F" were Adobe Photoshop CS3, Bridge, Device Central and Stock Photos the usual but I also see some files littered in "C\Program Files". Now it makes me think, where is the Activation Info stored? what other files are splashed about the startup drive? if I re-install Windows will Photoshop not function/require activation again?

Worked fine for me with older versions anyway, I've had enough problems with CS3 as it is so I doubt this is going to go well...

Anyone know if this will work, and if Windows is installed/format over the "C" drive again, that photoshop will remain working on the "F" drive?

haha hope thats not too complicated :P

It is not generally known but, since CS3, installing Photoshop elsewhere than the system disk is asking for problems.

Many applications don't care where they are installed but CS3 does.

where is the Activation Info stored? what other files are splashed about the startup drive? if I re-install Windows will Photoshop not function/require activation again?

1) (hidden) boot sector on the system drive
2) all common files (color settings, user preferences etc etc etc)
3) yes, it will require that you deactivate the present installation and activate again.

Freeagent has covered some topics already, so only allow me to add 4) and 5):

4) Re-installing Windows fresh will delete the Registry, hence any existing install might become useless. Apart from the licensing info, you will loose some comfort features for linking to Bridge "Edit Original", smart objects and a few other things. Naturally you'll also loose your file associations which in turn could trigger further errors on opening or saving files.

5) If you are concerned about activation an littered files, you may consider hacking your way through Windows and changing the default user and program directories. This is documented on Microsoft's pages and actually meant for server-based profiles, but it also works with local partitions.

Mylenium