Problem Viewing & Accessing Hidden Folders

[Miles Emerson]

Hello All:
I've previously asked for help finding missing downloaded programs and have
finally discovered them (thanks to R.C.) running a command prompt window as
an administrator. My missing files are in my Temporary Internet Files folder
under Windows, etc. Thing is, I cannot access this folder. R.C. did explain
how to view it from IE7's Tools menu--which worked fine--but I still cannot
view the sub-folders here--only the most recently downloaded files (useless
icons/pictures, etc.).

I did notice that the folder was designated as hidden under its properties.
In fact, I can be viewing this folder and see it clearly listed under Windows
in the file/folder "tree" to the left of the screen, but if I click onto the
Windows folder, though Temporary Internet Files is still listed below on the
left, it does not appear in the window to the right. Hidden. I get it.

Thing is, I cannot figure out how to get the folder--and other
subfolders--to appear--to be revealed. Under the Options for the Windows
folder--for all my folders--I have marked "show all hidden files and
folders". There must be another step to take in Vista because this hasn't
worked.

I have over 8 G's of downloaded programs hidden in "Virtualized" folders
under two pathways, both originating from the Temporary Internet Files
folder, and cannot access any of them. R.C. has gotten me close. He has
allowed me to at least "see" that the files exist and to assertain their
exact locations. Unfortunately, I still cannot reach those locations because
of this hidden folder--and Vista refuses to install the programs because they
have been "virtualized" for my protection. Frustrating, since I trust Adobe,
have told Vista I trust the source, but it still refuses the install of one
of the downloads--the critical, initial step to installation.

I suspect this is an easy fix so long as one has the information. I'm just
a big ball of frustrated ignorance at this point and greatly appreaciate
anyone who can shed the light of knowledge on me.

Thanks in advance,
Miles

 

[Michael Walraven]

There are two parts to seeing files that are being protected by the
operating system.
Tools
Folder Options
View

The first is what you have already found that is 'Hidden files and folders'
'show.......'
the second is a bit below that 'Hide protected operating system files
(Recommended)'
You must also uncheck this.

Remember that these files are protected by the system for reasons. Changing
their properties, ownership, permissions or changing the files themselves,
or deleting the files will have consequences. That may be good or bad but
the operating system will not behave as designed. You are responsible for
your actions.

Michael
Vista Home premium

 

[Miles Emerson]

Michael:
Thanks for the insight. Your dire warnings make me smile; sounds creepy!

It all leaves me scratching my head still. We've downloaded the files for a
reason. We want them. If you're correct, then my opinion is that designers
should have given us a better means of accessing our "potentially hazardous"
files without placing the system at risk. You know?

Thanks again, Michael.
Miles

 

[Michael Walraven]

Through Windows XP it was policy that programmers did not place
user/modifiable code/data in c:\programs files. That was for the program
files not for data. However that was not an enforced policy only 'best
practice'. A lot of commercial programs were not too good about 'best
practice' they just wanted it out the door and collecting money. (Some of
Microsoft's programs are just as guilty). Starting with Vista that policy is
enforced, although the presence of so many programs that violated that
policy are out there that MS had to come up with a get around, thus the use
of virtual files. On a lot of programs it works fine and the user rarely
notices what Vista is doing in the background.

Some programs allow the user to override the default locations through a
configuration option, but a lot of them hardwire it in.

Also when downloading, many programs have a default location but allow you
at the download time to locate the programs somewhere else.

Michael

 

[Miles Emerson]

Michael:
That makes a lot of sense. I guess what makes my situation difficult to
understand is that I, too, was given the opportunity to save the files where
I wanted. I selected my Downloads folder but Vista placed them in Virtual
folders which were hidden and inaccesible to me--until you gave me the answer.

Truthfully, I'm not completely happy with having to override a setting
Vista's programmers felt necessary (hiding system files/folders) but what
else could I have done? My downloaded files were large and eating up disk
space and unusable.

I agree to keeping user manipulatable data separate from Programs but I'm
not sure I understand why my Virtualized files were hidden. My suspicion is
that this is not by default. I'm going to hazard a guess that I've changed a
setting somewhere without knowing that is forcing me to reveal the system
files/folders where it otherwise might not be necessary. Hopefully, I'll
find said aberant setting and remedy the matter.

Thanks again for all your help and insight.
Miles

 

[Michael Walraven]

If you accessed the files from within the program that is using/changing
them you would think they were where they 'should' be down in the Program
Files area. It is when you try to get to the files outside of the program
that problems arise. Vista actually has the files at the locations you put
them, these are the originals as they were placed there upon installation.
Then there are the virtual files that are copies / modified from those
originals and placed in the virtual folders. The default is for you to see
the original not the modified ones. Note that you have the simple option of
clicking on the virtualized files button to see the modified ones (if you
know that that is what that button is for!) You do not have to know or
enable viewing of the full path into those files to see them this way.

So to get to the files you should NOT go down the path and unhide the
folders along the way. You should go to where you think they are and click
that compatibility button. This gets you to where they are but looks like
where you thought they were supposed to be.

I bet the Microsoft programmers spend a LOT of time figuring out this scheme
to get a lot of legacy programs to work and still keep as much security as
possible!!

Michael
Vista Home premium

 

[Miles Emerson]

Michael:
The reason this issue has been so frustrating for me is that the very steps
you've outlined failed to work.

"If you accessed the files from within the program that is using/changing
them you would think they were where they 'should' be down in the Program
Files area."

Agreed. I downloaded Adobe Premiere Elements using Adobe downloader (not
given a choice to use IE7). The program allowed me to save in my Downloads
folder but when the download was complete the program failed to launch as
instructed. Furthermore, the files were not saved in my Downloads folder.
Tried again to save them in my Documents folder but got the same outcome.

"Vista actually has the files at the locations you put them, these are
the originals as they were placed there upon installation. Then there are
the virtual files that are copies / modified from those originals and placed
in the virtual folders."

Well, all I can say is that the only location I could find the Premiere
downloads was in my Virtualized folder under Temporary Internet Files.
Otherwise, the files did not exist anywhere on my machine. I even tried
using the Search engine with the exact name of the files. No dice.

"Note that you have the simple option of clicking on the virtualized
files button to see the modified ones (if you know that that is what that
button is for!) You do not have to know or enable viewing of the full path
into those files to see them this way."

The "virtualized files" button did not exist in either the Downloads folder
or the Documents folder. It does exist in other folders on my computer, but
not in either of these. My assumption is that this button would exist after
installation only--I actually haven't checked yet--and could not help in my
quest to find the downloaded files.

"So to get to the files you should NOT go down the path and unhide the
folders along the way. You should go to where you think they are and click
that compatibility button. This gets you to where they are but looks like
where you thought they were supposed to be.

No "compatability button" existed either. Someone else actually told me to
try this route before but when the button failed to materialize in either
folder . . . well, perhaps you can understand my frustration.

I'm still banking on this experience being an unintended glitch in the
program brought about by some option I've inadvertently selected/deselected.
Noone else seems to have has as much difficulty accessing their downloaded
programs or their virtualized folders from what I've read.

In any event, thanks.
Miles

 

[Michael Walraven]

So sorry, I have been reading at cross purposes to what you have been
writing! I had been reading that you were successful at the download /
install and that the problem was in accessing the programs data. I need more
coffee (or maybe less).

If they are in the temporary internet files area and you told it to download
to the Downloads folder then there was a problem at the end of the download.
The downloads are generally not done to the folder specified, instead they
are downloaded to a temporary area, then after the download is completed and
verified then they are copied to the 'destination' folder.

Have you possibly disabled UAC?
Do you have anything blocking popups? (IE or security software)
Are you doing the installation with an administrator account?
Also if you have changed the ownership or permissions of directories then
the system may not be able to perform the necessary operations on areas it
no longer owns.

Do you already have an Adobe Premier program installed, in that case you may
have to remove it first.

A magic that some people have used is to delete the temporary internet
files.
IE
Tools
Delete browsing history
Delete the temporary internet files. That has never done anything for me but
other posters say it has fixed a myriad of problems.

Again sorry for the long discourse in the wrong direction.
Michael

 

[Miles Emerson]

Michael:
Apologies? Are you kidding me? You're posts have been very informative.
And you've just given me more to look into. I'm grateful regardless.
Miles