Hello.  I am running Sonar Platinum Lexington under Win 7 - all 64 bit.
 
I like to do a custom install of Sonar.  I would like to have all my CW software in one folder - at C:/Cakewalk on my system.  So I was surprised to see that CW insists on installing some things (Rapture Sessions, all 4 of the Studio Instruments, Z3TA+2, Strum Acoustic, Lounge Lizard, and the RXP synth) at C:/Program Files/Cakewalk.  AND CW insists on installing VST3 plugins at C:/Program Files/Common Files/VST3 - so Rapture Sessions and Z3TA+2 are also installed there as well.
 
Generally, when installing I do so without using the CCC, but when using the CCC I have the CCC set up to show me the install paths.  However, when installing the various plug-ins listed above (either using CCC or without CCC), there is no option to install to a custom location.
 
This is somewhat a problem for me because I have all the other plug-ins in another location.  The Sonar plug-in scanner now has to scan 5 different locations on my computer to find all the plug-ins.  This means I have to also keep track of those 5 different locations.  Moreover, the SI plugs all come with fairly large sample files which are now filling up my C: drive; I want to have the large sample files on a different larger drive.
 
Everything works, so I supposed I should leave well enough alone - I ask about this because it is upsetting my compulsive wish to have everything installed "my" way.  (Yea, I'm silly that way)
 
Thanks.
 

Hi. If you are talking about the Cakewalk Content folder (where loops, samples and libraries are), you can change location of that. When in CCC, click on the gear icon, and go to the paths tab. 

This is on my laptop, but I have all my Cakewalk Content on a separate, so I know this part is doable.
As for control over installations, choose verbose install in the settings page in CCC.
Hope it helps.
All the best.

BbAltered
I ask about this because it is upsetting my compulsive wish to have everything installed "my" way.

I totally agree with you.  Unfortunately, there is no way you can do what you want.  If something is to go on the C drive (though I don't want anything there) I think it makes sense for it to go into Program Files and ProgramData folders, not above them.  I have an E:\Cakewalk that I would like everything to go into, but it's just not possible.  Too many pieces from Cakewalk and other companies just go where they please.
 
Take today's release of an update to Cakewalk's Z3TA+2 synth.  The installer doesn't even ask for your vstplugins folder, it just creates one on the C drive and sticks the synth in it.  And then, again without asking, puts more stuff on the C drive, and then yet more stuff in the Cakewalk Contents folder, wherever that may be.
 
It's an endless battle to keep as much stuff as possible off the C drive, but it's a battle you can never win.
 

I too suffered from C drive OCD:) I tend to worry about it much less now. I wonder if our concern is a throwback to older, slower, more buggy systems and tiny expensive hard drives where little changes on the system drive could have dire consequences. I think we are in a much better place now.
 
I do still try keep all samples and audio data on a separate drive. Drives me nuts when installers won't let you do that!

Hello.  Thanks for the input.  I'm glad to see that I am not the only guy that stresses over what is getting installed where.
 
Currently, my Sonar stuff is installed in 5 different locations: my main CW folder at C:/Cakewalk, my main VST folder, the default C:/Program Files/Cakewalk location; the default VST3 folder at C:/Program Files/Common Files/VST3; and my CW Content folder on my E:/ drive.  This makes HD and file housekeeping much more difficult for me. 
 
So my plea to CW is to give us users the option to do a "real" custom installation, without forcing some file locations on users.
 
Thanks for allowing me to rant.

 
As rants go, that was pretty tame !
 
 

Hello.  See, if I would just let the sonar installers do what they want to do, Sonar would only get installed in 2 places on the HD: C:/Program Files/Cakewalk, and C:/Program Files/Common Files/VST3.
 
Of course, then all the samples, audio files, etc would be taking over my system drive.  AND I would still need another folder somewhere keeping all the other VSTs (NI, Spectrasonics, etc).  And it would still be a mess, and I would still feel like I do not have control of my own DAW.

BbAltered
See, if I would just let the sonar installers do what they want to do, Sonar would only get installed in 2 places on the HD: C:/Program Files/Cakewalk, and C:/Program Files/Common Files/VST3.

 
There's also (at least) :
 
C:\ProgramData\Cakewalk
C:\Program Files (x86)\Cakewalk
C:\Users\xxx\AppData\Roaming\Cakewalk