How to change the installation folder for an Endpoint Protection client

Products

• Endpoint Protection

Issue/Introduction

The default installation folder of a Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) client is within C:\Program Files\ (or C:\Program Files (x86)). In some cases, you want to install Symantec Endpoint Protection to another folder, drive or both. For example, you would like to install to D:\Program Files\Symantec\Symantec Endpoint Protection.

Resolution

To install Symantec Endpoint Protection to a custom path, you configure the Client Install Settings, then select the new settings file during package export or new package deployment.

To configure the Client Install Settings:

1. Log on to the Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager (SEPM)
2. Click Admin > Install Packages > Client Install Settings > Add Client Install Settings
3. Enter information into Name and Description as required. For example, Custom installation Path.
4. Under Client Installation Settings, click Install to a custom installation folder, and then enter the desired folder path for installation in the box next to Folder.
5. Click OK.

You then select this custom installation settings file when exporting or deploying the package.

If you have already exported an installation package as separate files (and not a single .EXE file), you can change a setting in SetAid.ini to customize the installation path. 

1. Open the folder into which you have exported or saved the install package.
2. Open SetAid.ini with a plain text editor, such as Notepad.exe.
3. Search for destinationdirectory= and then change the path to the custom installation path for the SEP client.  For example:
   destinationdirectory=D:\Program Files\Symantec\Symantec Endpoint Protection
4. Save and close the file. 

If upgrading, the current path cannot be changed. To change paths, SEP will need to be uninstalled/reinstalled.  This can be automated by selecting 'Remove existing Symantec Endpoint Protection client software that cannot be uninstalled' option in Client Install settings.  This option will run Cleanwipe, force a reboot, then commence the install.  The configured install path in the Client Install settings will be honored as it will be a fresh install.