SQL Server 2008 Install: Changing Install Path When It's Defaulted And Read Only

I'm still alive! Incase it seems this blog has gone to sleep mode again, it has. Okay, so I messed up my SQL Server 2008 installation and had to uninstall it and then reinstall it again. SQL Server 2008 installation is a hassle sometimes. I hate to be involved with things like reinstalls that waste my time. If I learn something out of it, well and good. So I learned something out of it. I thought this reinstallation from scratch will be a good opportunity to try to transfer some much needed hard drive usage from C: to D:. I have barely 7 GB left. I'm preparing my spare hard disk to take command and control but that will take time. Till then, I'll have to make do with this present crammed up hard disk. So I start the regular SQL Server 2008 install process, pass all the setup prerequisite rules, work through the various screens till you reach the place where you expect an option to choose a custom install folder location. I am hoping to change my destination from C: to D:. So I am disappointed. The install path where you are traditionally permitted to configure is defaulted to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Sql Server\ and made read-only. I guess it had something to do with left overs from my previous uninstall or probably due to VS.Net 2008 being tied to certain SQL Server 2008 components. So I ignore it and carry on thinking "what the heck, so I busted another 1.3 GB and have around 5.7 left. Life goes on. I could use a bail out". After a few steps of configuring other setup parameters, I notice that SQL Server 2008 install gives you the install configuration file path. My brain tells me that this might be useful. So I check it out and notice so many hard drive paths. My sixth sense tells me that a small little change somewhere here can make a world of a difference. Okay, so here goes. If you've experienced a similar scenario such as mine, hate it (I'm sure there are so many of you) and don't know what to do, then read on. Simple steps: 1. Proceed as usual with SQL Server 2008 install. 2. You'll reach the part where they show you the install path. If you are disappointed that you cannot edit it, then just carry on. 3. You will eventually reach a screen that shows a summary of the configuration you customized with with the path of the ConfigurationFile.ini provided. 4. Copy this path and open up the ConfigurationFile.ini for editing 5. Search for the INSTALLSHAREDDIR value. Change whatever default path you see to whatever you want. The path I wanted was:
INSTALLSHAREDDIR="D:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server" (you can change it to whatever path you want from the default path (usually C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\blah blah blah)6. If you choose "Mixed Mode" as I did during the setup process, then make sure you add one more line. Search for SECURITYMODE="SQL" and add one more line right underneath it:
SAPWD="[Password]"This will be required if you specified your sa account and password. I missed it the first time and had to redo the whole thing just to make sure I get exactly what I want. 7. Save the .ini file and continue with the install. Voila! Problem solved. Trivial but a life safer for me. I saved around 1 GB for myself. I know, peanuts compared to what we get these days. But I'll scale up soon :-) I don't know if other Microsoft installs have a similar work around but having got this working right, I am guessing that there just might be a good chance.

sumber:
http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/programming-life/sql-server-2008-install-changing-install-path-when-its-defaulted-and-read-only-28355