Change default global installation directory for node.js modules in Windows?

trying to install global packages into C:\Program Files (x86)\nodejs\ gave me Run as Administrator issues, because npm was trying to install into
C:\Program Files (x86)\nodejs\node_modules\

to resolve this, change global install directory to C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\npm:

in C:\Users\{username}\, create .npmrc file with contents:

prefix = "C:\\Users\\{username}\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm"

reference

• npm install -g package installs global packages into prefix location
• npmrc userconfig takes priority and overrides
• npm config ls -l was showing prefix = "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\nodejs"

environment
nodejs x86 installer into C:\Program Files (x86)\nodejs\ on Windows 7 Ultimate N 64-bit SP1
node --version : v0.10.28
npm --version : 1.4.10

Everything you need is in the npm-folders documentation. I don't want to start my Win notebook now so I cannot verify it, but you should only change prefix to C:\Program Files\nodejs in your config file. If you want to change it globally for all users, edit the C:\Program Files\nodejs\npmrc file, otherwise create/edit C:\Users\{username}\.npmrc.

But this change will probably have some side effects, so read this discussion first. I don't think it's a good idea.