Installing from Cab files-choice of location?

[maikii]

IPAQ 2210, WM2003, AS 3.8

Lately when downloading an app for PPC, if there is a choice of downloading an .exe file installer (to install via the PC and ActiveSync) or a .cab file (to install directly from the PPC), I've chosen the .cab file option, as I don't like how the .exe AS installers install to the desktop PC as well, adding unnecessary files there.

However, I've noticed that with the .cab installers, I have not been given the choice of where to install the apps, and they end up being installed to main memory, whereas I'd prefer to install them to the storage card.

Is that always the case with installation from .cab file, that there is no choice of installation location? (I don't see the screen with the choice-"Install in Default Location", to which one can choose "No", then get the choice where to install.)

Or could it just be coincidence, with a couple programs I've installed lately?

Is there a way to move programs already installed to main memory, to a storage card? Or better to uninstall them, and reinstall using the .exe file on desktop, rather than the .cab directly on PPC? (If indeed it is the .cab installation which causes the loss of location choice on installation.)

Thank you for your help.

[Darius Wey]

However, I've noticed that with the .cab installers, I have not been given the choice of where to install the apps, and they end up being installed to main memory, whereas I'd prefer to install them to the storage card.

Is that always the case with installation from .cab file, that there is no choice of installation location? (I don't see the screen with the choice-"Install in Default Location", to which one can choose "No", then get the choice where to install.)

Or could it just be coincidence, with a couple programs I've installed lately?

No. Under Windows Mobile 2003, that's the way things work. If you wish to specify the target folder for CAB installations, you should use a third-party program such as CabInstl: http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=17552

Is there a way to move programs already installed to main memory, to a storage card? Or better to uninstall them, and reinstall using the .exe file on desktop, rather than the .cab directly on PPC? (If indeed it is the .cab installation which causes the loss of location choice on installation.)

The easiest and safest route is to uninstall, then reinstall. But given what I've suggested above, you can use the CAB if you wish.

[Menneisyys]

In addition to what Darius recommended, I also recommend Mad Programmer's File Dialog Changer. It's stable on WM2003 (unlike on WM2003SE) and its gsFile component offers a lot of goodies available to all the other PPC apps that use the file chooser dialog.

You may want to read http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&title=how_do_i_install_all_my_applications_on&more=1 for more info.