I installed my game in Program Files like a noob, now I'm trying to find my save files. I'm looking around in Users/user name/ and can't find anything. Any suggestions?

It's in the actual program: program files/baldur's gate/saves, or however the install directory goes for you. Is that a problem in Windows 8?

1. As pi4t says, the game stores its' save files locally… Windows 8 is the same.
2. Gog does not install to the programs folder… are you using a different disc install?
3. Have you got a different copy of the same game engine installed on that same computer… tutu perhaps?
4. Does the game still work i.e. when you open a single (or multi) player is the save there?

There aren't save files I can find in the Baldur's Gate folder, besides the mission pack save.
I was under the impression that windows 8 was similar to windows 7 in not liking having games installed in the program files.

Your best bet would be to completely uninstall the game and reinstall outside of Program Files, but if you do not want to do that -- why wouldn't you? -- you can find the virtual store by opening the 'Run' dialog and typing in:

%LocalAppData%\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86)

This will open Windows Explorer to the place that Windows moves things that you (or the game) tries to save to the protected 'Program Files' folder structure. Never install games there... ever.

I did do a reinstall. Full disclosure: I was playing on a torrented gog copy and recently bought the version from gog.
I found my save files with your help and moved them to my new save folder in my current bg game.
But the first time I started the game after doing this, I got a message saying something about my computer having to change the configuration or the configure settings. That these changes will take effect the next time I use the program. My save files of course don't show up in game.