on win7, keep yr VSTs outside the Program Files hive, to avoid possible access/security issues

if you disable UAC it's fine.

I don't usually audition plugs... I have simply allowed them to install by default on my new DAW. Many of them by default are creating their own folders which I like.  Many of the better FX & plugs will ask where you would prefer to install them, and they ask if you want them to create a unique folder for them in that location.... I choose those options and tell them where to install and yes, to make a new folder in that directory. 

These folders are, for the most part, installing either in Program Files, or in the Cakewalk directory and in the Plug in or VST folder. 

I can, if I don't like the location of default, move them... cut and paste into the Cake folders. 

BUT.... since this is a music machine only, I'm not being as picky as long as they are in their own folder on the C drive. 

The ones that gave me fits were the stand alone freebies that I was playing with on my first DAW.... but have long since left behind and even removed as I started buying decent synths and FX. 

I now have a very small stable of plugs and FX that I have installed on the newest DAW.... kind of the tried and true stuff that I can not live without. 


EDIT: if you didn't do the custom location install and as a result, have FX and VST's scattered about the drive.... you can still go to the FX and plugs folders in Cake..... create a new folder of each of the wayward children... go to their current location and cut and paste each one to it's new folder in Cake/plugins or VST's...  just be sure to go to the cakewalk plugin manager and tell cake where to find them  now. 

great thread a lot of useful info - thanks. 

ok - here I go... 
 
I'm confused by this, sorry. Can I just move the existing plugin folders to new locations? That didn't seem to work out so well today. Attached is my PlugIns directory scan from within the Sonar X2, VST's menu. 
 
Below is the default directory installations for my 32-Bit (x86) and 64-Bit plug in installations. I'm contemplating attempting to re-organize these into two master folders. 
 
VST (32-Bit)
VST (64-Bit)
 
Some have suggested four master folders as follows: 
 
VST EFX 32
VST INST 32
 
VST EFX 64
VST INST 64

My file system arrangement under .../vstplugins/ is something like:
 
synths/
effects/
vstplugins/ (synths &/or effects, for those plugins that like to install themselves here)
<plugin_name>/ (synths &/or effects, for those plugins that like to install themselves here)
 
i.e. for plugins which come with an installer and request the folder to install themselves into, I point them at the .../vstplugins/ folder and allow them to sort out where they install themselves under that folder.  For others, i.e. I have a .dll which I need to put somewhere, I have a hierarchical arrangement under ../vstplugins/synths/ and ../vstplugins/effects/ that I use to keep them organised.
 
I don't use plugin layouts myself, I've gotten used to the above arrangement over a number of years so I can locate anything pretty quickly. 
 
Note: I only use the program files/cakewalk/vstplugins/ folder for all plugins, 32 or 64 bit, whatever.  I'd find it more confusing to use several 'root' VST plugin folders.

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