Documents and Settings

[rmo555]

Access to Documents and Settings in the root directory is denied to me
(I have administrator credentials). Why is this so? Also, I want to
back up my entire drive and all folders and files. If I don't have
access, how do I do this? Thanks.........

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Access to Documents and Settings in the root directory is denied to me
(I have administrator credentials). Why is this so? Also, I want to
back up my entire drive and all folders and files. If I don't have
access, how do I do this? Thanks.........

It's possible that Documents and Settings is a junction point, a special
link for compatibility with pre-Vista software..

In that case you shouldn't be able to access it.

However, I have no idea why it's in your root; I have no such folder in my
root, nor any similar folders either.

I am reaching a bit here, so wait for a post from someone who has more
knowledge...

 

[db]

documents and settings
can be found in the root
on xp machines.

so the o.p.'s vista must be
an upgrade from an xp
o.s. that was once on
that disk.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- Microsoft Partner
- @hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~"share the nirvana" - dbZen

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, rmo555.

Why is this so?

Because this is NOT WinXP and there is NO "Documents and Settings" in Vista!

Well, there is a "Documents and Settings", but it is only a Junction,
pointing the way to the C:\Users\<username>\Documents folder for each
username. Each Users\<username> folder also contains subfolders for
Contacts, Desktop, Music, Pictures, etc. The D&S Junction is there only for
the benefit of poorly-written applications that otherwise would not be able
to find their own data files, with Administrator credentials or not.

What is your username? If it is MOS, then look in C:\Users\MOS\Documents.
(You may need to Run as Administrator.) What do you see there? How about
C:\Users\MOS\Pictures? Or C:\Users\Public\Music?

Remember: Vista is NOT WinXP, even though they look a lot alike. Under the
hood, there are many differences. Until you learn those differences, you
will continue to suffer this kind of frustration. Breaking the WinXP
mindset is a very hard thing for some users to do. Every day we see posts
here from users who have not yet realized that "this is not your father's
Oldsmobile". Once you get over that hump, the going gets much easier.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100

 

[Richard G. Harper]

"Documents and Settings" is no longer a real file folder but a junction
point, maintained for compatibility with older programs that can't find the
new "Users" folders. You cannot open it since it does not exist. Don't
worry about it and/or whether or not it will get backed up as all will be
well.

 

[DaveD]

Documents and Settings isn't a real folder in Vista.
It's a Junction Point, a virtual folder, that points to C:\Users

It's there so that older programs looking for that folder will still work.
They don't know about Vista's redesign of default folders, and the Junction
Point means they don't need to know. It's transparent to them.

***

 

[john]

Access to Documents and Settings in the root directory is denied to me
(I have administrator credentials). Why is this so? Also, I want to
back up my entire drive and all folders and files. If I don't have
access, how do I do this? Thanks.........

Here's just some of the changes made from XP to Vista that had no real
benefit to the user:

XP>> = Windows XP Location
Vista>> = Windows Vista Location

XP>> \Documents and Settings
Vista>> \Users

XP>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\My Documents
Vista>> \Users\$USER$\Documents

XP>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\My Documents\My Music
Vista>> \Users\$USER$\Music

XP>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\My Documents\My Pictures
Vista>> \Users\$USER$\Pictures

XP>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\My Documents\My Videos
Vista>> \Users\$USER$\Videos

XP>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Application Data
Vista>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming

XP>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Cookie
Vista>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies

XP>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings
Vista>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Local

XP>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\NetHood
Vista>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts

XP>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\PrintHood
Vista>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Printer Shortcuts

XP>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Recent
Vista>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent

XP>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\SendTo
Vista>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo

XP>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Start Menu
Vista>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

XP>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Templates
Vista>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates

XP>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings\Application Data
Vista>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Local

XP>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings\History
Vista>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\History

XP>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
Vista>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet
Files

XP>> \Documents and Settings\All Users
Vista>> \ProgramData

XP>> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data
Vista>> \ProgramData

XP>> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
Vista>> \Users\Public\Desktop

XP>> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents
Vista>> \Users\Public\Documents

XP>> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Favorites
Vista>> \Users\Public\Favorites

XP>> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
Vista>> \ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

XP>> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Templates
Vista>> \ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Templates

XP>> \Documents and Settings\Default User
Vista>> \Users\Default

Why all these changes?

Well, MS felt they needed to implement all these changes to fool the MS fans
into thinking they're running a new OS, rather than just another new coat of
paint like they always do.
Seeing how Vista still contains bits and dialogs dating all the way back to
Windows 3.1, it's hard to convince people that Vista is "totally new from
the ground up" as the cheerleaders claim, when CLEARLY it isn't, and much
like Windows 7 won't be either.

All the changes made between XP & Vista were necessary to produce the
illusion that Vista is somehow new and different, when in fact all they
really did was add a bunch of new (and equally useless) eye candy.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

documents and settings
can be found in the root
on xp machines.

so the o.p.'s vista must be
an upgrade from an xp
o.s. that was once on
that disk.

OK, thanks.

 

[rmo555]

OK, thanks.

No, it's not. But I backup my new Vista machine from my old XPPro
machine (networked).

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

No, it's not. But I backup my new Vista machine from my old XPPro
machine (networked).

Still, the message seems to be that the folder is not harmful - plus you
can't get rid of it, AFAICT.

Anyway, good luck ...

 

[LVTravel]

Access to Documents and Settings in the root directory is denied to me
(I have administrator credentials). Why is this so? Also, I want to
back up my entire drive and all folders and files. If I don't have
access, how do I do this? Thanks.........

As Gene said, it is a junction point to allow older, pre-Vista, programs to
function properly. All that was in it is now in other places in the folder
list off the root of the drive. Most is currently in Users\yourname.....

D & S can not be accessed directly within Vista with any type of rights,
administrator or other.

 

[Guest]

It's a junction point.

--
..
--

Still, the message seems to be that the folder is not harmful - plus you
can't get rid of it, AFAICT.

Anyway, good luck ...

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

It's a junction point.

Yes, we (a number of posters in this thread) had agreed on that. I was
trying to reassure the OP that it was harmless, even if it was a bit
annoying

 

[Gordon]

documents and settings
can be found in the root
on xp machines.

so the o.p.'s vista must be
an upgrade from an xp
o.s. that was once on
that disk.

Wrong - all Vista installations have a "Documents and Settings" JUNCTION
POINT - this is to allow legacy programs to be used on Vista.
Have a look here:
http://www.svrops.com/svrops/articles/jpoints.htm

 

[Gordon]

Yes, we (a number of posters in this thread) had agreed on that. I was
trying to reassure the OP that it was harmless, even if it was a bit
annoying

Nothing to do with "annoying" - its there for a purpose - to allow legacy
applications that use the "Documents and Settings" folder (which Vista
doesn't have BTW) to run on Vista.
See here:
http://www.svrops.com/svrops/articles/jpoints.htm

 

[Bob Eyster]

Nothing to do with "annoying" - its there for a purpose - to allow legacy
applications that use the "Documents and Settings" folder (which Vista
doesn't have BTW) to run on Vista.
See here:
http://www.svrops.com/svrops/articles/jpoints.htm

I'm running Vista and have no such folder anywhere on my PC!

 

[DaveD]

They're hidden.
You have to unhide them in Folder Options in order to see them

***

 

[Bob Eyster]

I'm running Vista and have no such folder anywhere on my PC!

I stand corrected, I do have this folder!

 

[Gordon]

I'm running Vista and have no such folder anywhere on my PC!

Bet you do - it's a hidden folder.....

 

[Gordon's Psychiatrist]

Nothing to do with "annoying" - its there for a purpose - to allow
legacy applications that use the "Documents and Settings" folder (which
Vista doesn't have BTW) to run on Vista.
See here:
http://www.svrops.com/svrops/articles/jpoints.htm

Err <sigh>, it might just be Err annoying. Err.