Documents & Settings folder is not accessible!

[Jack]

Some programs store data in Application Data folder inside Documents &
Settings folder.
With Vista that folder has locked out access.
How to get that data?
Jack

 

[Dale]

Use the Users folder instead. Documents and Settings is just a link to
Users.

You will still find some folders inside of Users that you can't get at.
That is supposed to be for your protection. I don't always agree with their
restrictions but there are some security advantages. You can override them
by right-clicking and choose Options and then the Security tab. In the
Security tab, click Advanced. You will see that Everyone has a Deny setting
on those folders. Remove that and you can take responsibility for your own
security: if you get any kind of malware running on your login, that
malware can manipulate those previously protected files and folders.

HTH,

Dale

 

[Jimmy Brush]

You will still find some folders inside of Users that you can't get at.
That is supposed to be for your protection. I don't always agree with
their restrictions but there are some security advantages.

Actually, the restrictions on the "Documents and Settings" and similar
junctions are not there for security purposes; they are there to prevent
applications from misbehaving when they access them. Some applications would
not work correctly if they encountered a never-ending folder or two
different folders that contain the exact same files .

As such, it is strongly recommended not to remove the deny permission on
this junction.


--
- JB
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User

Windows Vista Support Faq
http://www.jimmah.com/vista/

 

[JP]

This is true. Any folder with a Shortcut icon on it in Windows Explorer
is a Junction Point. They will all have the Read permission set to Deny - Everyone.

There is no need to access these folders. They are there for backwards compatibility
of pre Vista applications.

You can see a list of all Junction Points and the "real" folders they point to from a
command prompt at the root of C:

c:\>dir /aL /s <enter>

 

[Dale]

And the deny setting on Start Menu is not for security?

 

[Dale]

In fact, I didn't mention the restriction on access to Documents and
Settings at all.

 

[Jimmy Brush]

No - again, this is a compatability junction as the location has been moved
in Vista, and you should use the new location instead of modifying security
settings .


--
- JB
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User

Windows Vista Support Faq
http://www.jimmah.com/vista/

 

[Jimmy Brush]

Documents and Settings is an application compatability junction, just like
all of the junctions inside the Users folder that you were specifically
referring to.

Everything that has a DENY permission on it is not a folder, but a
compatability junction that points to the new location.


--
- JB
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User

Windows Vista Support Faq
http://www.jimmah.com/vista/

 

[Dale]

If you follow the thread, you'll see that is what I told the OP. Use the
Users folder, not Documents and Settings. Then, inside Users, and the
specific user's folders, Start Menu is still restricted.

Dale

 

[Dale]

Then where exactly is the real user's programs folder for the start menu
located?

Dale

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

Then where exactly is the real user's programs folder for the start menu
located?

Right click the Start button and select Open, and you're there.

ss.

 

[Dale]

Finally a responsive reply. I don't mind being wrong, but at least now I
have learned something for having been wrong rather than just being pointed
out as wrong.

Thanks.

Dale