Why can't Oblivion be installed to its normal location?

If by "normal location" you mean C/program files it is because windows tends to create backups of everything in C/program files (at least that is how it was explained to me). I made the mistake of installing in C/program files the first time I installed Oblivion and when my game messed up I thought I had uninstalled it, only to reinstall and find the same issues. It was explained to me that becuase of the backups windows has kept of the game the uninstallation did not uninstall all the files. I had to manually go into the windows backups and delete everything, which was very combersome.

I installed anew on C/games,instead, this time. Everything still works wonderfully and now I won't have to worry about windows being stupid!

Note that you only need to avoid C:\Program Files\ when installing on Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows Server 2008 (R1 or R2).  You can still safely install in C:\Program Files\ if you are running Windows XP or Windows Server 2003.

If make a folder on your desktop, and copy your entire data folder into it, you can just drag all your mods to where they need to be after you finish reinstalling.

ooohhh.... So DONT install in C:/Program Files for Vista as well? I've been playing Oblivion installed in that directory for ages.... Exactly what problems or errors would I encounter apart from the usual CTD from other mods or unknown reasons? What do you mean by 'backup'??

 I may reinstall as well just in case oh and yes, move the mods into a folder, reinstall Oblivion + Shivering Isles then move everything back, the save files and everything else can be retrieved in the 'Oblivion' foldier in My Games located in My Documents. Save that too

As far as I'm aware Windows 7 doesn't create backup files. Is it because you have system restore switched on? I always install programs in c/program files and able to uninstall/reinstall programs properly all the time without old files remaining. If you claim Windows 7 creates backup files which won't delete itself upon uninstalling then please tell me which folder exactly it's saved to. I did some googling and found no such thing.

System restore can be an issue, but the real problems are caused by User Account Control feature which was added to Windows starting with Vista.  It protects various system directories, including Program Files, from being written to in most circumstances.  This is also covered in the Oblivion Mods FAQ. 

Theoretically, you can install in C:\Program Files if you are always logged in as an administrator, but 1) this may not be a 100% workaround and 2) being logged in as an admin all the time is a poor security practice.

Ah no wonder. I always login as administrator since I'm using my own computer to play this game. Don't see any reason to have more than one user account so never had any issues with duplicate and locked files.

-_-  Almost out of internet usage. Need to wait a bit before I can download latest Morroblivion.

Its no issue for me, I installed in OB normal directory and run MorrOB fine. I am running as admin or I diabled UAC, I don't recall. Its been 3 years since I got Vista and I messed with that stuff shortly after I got it.

Kia Ora

the other issue and maybe more importantly win Vista and win & etc take a strong

permissions view on the Programs folder and don't let just anything write to it so

progrms that need write permissions loose out