> Hi! I see some changes in the way Povray beta is installed on Windows. First,
> the destination is the "Document and settings", not "Program files", which is
> more logical for programs.
> 
> Second, the data files are stored on "My Documents", this is a good choice, but
> breaks the unofficial Povray versions such as Megapov : it tries to get the
> files in "Program files". In my opinion, I don't like too much when software
> has an installer and restrict the choice. And I'm sure there are other people
> complaining about it. Of course, an automated installer is a good option for
> beginners, a couple of clicks and the software is ready, with shortcuts and so
> on...
> 
> Will it be a big difficulty to make a "portable" version of Povray? In a zip
> file for example.
> 
> In the meantime, I share a trick to install a Povray beta using the MSI
> installer but place the Povray beta in the "c:\program files\" directory.
It don't work if you are using Vista.
> 
> I use "Sandboxie", which is a very helpful program to make tests. It allows you
> to run a setup in a kind of "virtual machine" leaving the operating system
> intact.
> 
> 1) Run the msi package in your sandbox.
> 2) Browse to C:\Sandbox\<username>\DefaultBox\user\current\Application
> Data\POV-Ray
> 3) Copy the v3.7 to C:\Program Files\POV-Ray for Windows v3.62\beta for example
> 4) Browse to C:\Sandbox\<username>\DefaultBox\user\current\<My
> documents>\POV-Ray and copy the directory v3.7 in the same directory in your
> documents.
> 
> Now, if you launch Povray from Program files, it will infer a new path and you
> should be able to render correctly. You have made a semi-portable version of
> beta 3.7 (semi-portable because you still need a 3.6 setup). I'm sure you can
> even make a portable version of Povray 3.6 but I haven't tried this.
> 
> And for Megapov, just copy the required files in C:\program files\POV_Ray... and
> it should be able to render well.
> 
> 

The change in the install directory under windows is because, under 
Vista, programms are NOT allowed to alter any file in the programm files 
folder. POV-Ray need to change one of it's .ini files.
The actual change have been made expressly to circumvent that "feature".

You can install megapov in a subdirectory of the main POV-Ray directory 
indtead of accepting it's default location.


Alain

Post a reply to this message