What's the difference between AppData\Local and AppData\Roaming?

[vandynd]

To misquote, I think, Philadelphia - explain it to me like I'm a 6-year-old.

What's the difference between the two locations?

Thanks!

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Accessing Windows Vista Documents and Setting Folder
http://www.lancelhoff.com/2007/09/22/accessing-windows-vista-documents-and-setting-folder/

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows Vista Enthusiast

---------------------------------------------------------------

To misquote, I think, Philadelphia - explain it to me like I'm a 6-year-old.

What's the difference between the two locations?

Thanks!

 

[vandynd]

Thanks for the post, Carey. Though I really do feel like a fool. . .I don't
have enough background knowledge about the structure of XP to interpret the
link. I'm wondering why Outlook outs the .pst under one location and other
user files under the other.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Roaming folders copied to the server when the user logs off the client computer in a Domain environment.

<Q>

Windows uses the Local and LocalLow folders for application data that does not roam with the user. Usually this data is either machine specific or too large to roam. The AppData\Local folder in Windows Vista is the same as the Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data folder in Windows XP.

Windows uses the Roaming folder for application specific data, such as custom dictionaries, which are machine independent and should roam with the user profile. The AppData\Roaming folder in Windows Vista is the same as the Documents and Settings\username\Application Data folder in Windows XP.
</Q>
--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
Winhelponline.com blog http://www.winhelponline.com/blog


To misquote, I think, Philadelphia - explain it to me like I'm a 6-year-old.

What's the difference between the two locations?

Thanks!

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

"LocalLow" is the low integrity folder which is used by Internet Explorer add-ons. When IE runs in protected mode, the extensions use the "LocalLow" folder for storing files/settings.

The Roaming folder is to preserve user data. Imagine a company with 1000 workstations, and employee use different workstations each day. By roaming the user profile data (copy to server), the custom data is always available regardless of any workstation the employee uses.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
Winhelponline.com blog http://www.winhelponline.com/blog

<Q>

Windows uses the Local and LocalLow folders for application data that does not roam with the user. Usually this data is either machine specific or too large to roam. The AppData\Local folder in Windows Vista is the same as the Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data folder in Windows XP.

Windows uses the Roaming folder for application specific data, such as custom dictionaries, which are machine independent and should roam with the user profile. The AppData\Roaming folder in Windows Vista is the same as the Documents and Settings\username\Application Data folder in Windows XP.
</Q>

So what's the LocalLow folder for?

And why can't Windows work out if you need a roaming profile or not?

 

[Gordon]

Why would that not be true for anyone? Why have separate Local and
Roaming sections for AppData? There seems to be stuff in my Local
folder that I certainly would need if I moved to another machine
down the hall. I wonder if the applications or the OS decide which
folder should be used?

Roaming profiles are only available in a Domain environment AFAIK....

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

Roaming profiles are only available in a Domain environment AFAIK....

You can set up Roaming Profiles on a workgroup environment, and you do not
need a domain, on 2000/XP, although I have never tried on Vista.

ss.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Why have separate Local and Roaming sections for AppData?

Who knows if you'll connect your system to a domain or not?

The applications, of course.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
Winhelponline.com blog http://www.winhelponline.com/blog

The Roaming folder is to preserve user data. Imagine a company
with 1000 workstations, and employee use different workstations
each day. By roaming the user profile data (copy to server), the
custom data is always available regardless of any workstation the
employee uses.

Why would that not be true for anyone? Why have separate Local and
Roaming sections for AppData? There seems to be stuff in my Local
folder that I certainly would need if I moved to another machine
down the hall. I wonder if the applications or the OS decide which
folder should be used?