Hot on the heels over the success of an earlier question ...

[Warren C. E. Austin]

.... lets try this one. A situation that has been plaguing me since adopting W2K.

I, for reasons that need not be discussed here, routinely install software to locations, or folder-names, outside of a given applications "defaults"; for example all Lotus applications are installed in nested sub-folders (by application name) of a root-folder simply entitled "Lotus"; all Corel applications similarly, and too with Microsoft, wherein lies my problem.

MY PROBLEM:

W2K upon installation creates a series of folders for each of Microsoft's own applications (Internet Explorer, Outlook [Express], Netmeeting, et all), this regardless of whether the relevant application installed elsewhere is in fact a newer, and higher version of that programme. Now to give credit due where credit deserves it, W2K will not actually install files in these new folders, if the version elsewhere is compatible with W2K, the net result being after the install, I have empty folders entitled "Internet Explorer", "Outlook [Express]", "Netmeeting", "Windows Media Player", "Microsoft Front Page" and others that if Windows File Protection System (WFPS) is enabled cannot ever be removed ... there they sit empty ... useless and, to my anal-retentive mind, an annoyance. If WFPS is enabled, whilst you can delete the folders from outside of W2k upon booting to MS-DOS, upon W2K start-up, they are regenerated automatically. The only way to physically remove them, and to in
hibit their further propagation is to disable WFPS permanently.

MY QUESTION:

Is there any way to "edit", and recompile SFCFILES.DLL in such a manner that these folders, if WFPS is enabled are not regenerated? I have been informed by Microsoft that it is this dll-file which apparently controls the naming and continued propagation of these folders.

Suggestions here folks? You'll note the only folders involved are folders created by W2K that one way or another incorporate a Microsoft Trade- or application-name.

SUMMARY:

I would like to be able to enable WFPS, but as long as this behaviour continues, I will, and cannot. No software developer, and I don't care who they are, is gonna tell me how and what folders I must use to install the application.

W2K is an singularly triumphant achievement for Microsoft; blessedly stable under most circumstances, and to all pretence and purpose infinitely customizable. As Microsoft moves forward to net-delivery and administration of its OS's and other software I'll be (and have been) moving to OpenSource UNIX solutions; but I do have an inordinate fondness for this baby.

Warren C. E. Austin
Toronto, Canada

 

[Mike C]

Well, editing DLLs is quite impossible. Well, not impossible, but highly
improbable. If you know machine lanuguage, and are comfortable mucking
around in a hex editor, then it's quite possible.

Assuming that's not the case, then, there's not way to get rid of said
folders forever. I see two possible solutions:

a. Put the programs where they were designed to go
b. Change those folders to "Hidden" and turn off "Show Hidden files/folders"

Hope this helps! (though, it probably didn't)

--

-Mike

... lets try this one. A situation that has been plaguing me since adopting W2K.

I, for reasons that need not be discussed here, routinely install software

to locations, or folder-names, outside of a given applications "defaults";
for example all Lotus applications are installed in nested sub-folders (by
application name) of a root-folder simply entitled "Lotus"; all Corel
applications similarly, and too with Microsoft, wherein lies my problem.

MY PROBLEM:

W2K upon installation creates a series of folders for each of Microsoft's

own applications (Internet Explorer, Outlook [Express], Netmeeting, et all),
this regardless of whether the relevant application installed elsewhere is
in fact a newer, and higher version of that programme. Now to give credit
due where credit deserves it, W2K will not actually install files in these
new folders, if the version elsewhere is compatible with W2K, the net result
being after the install, I have empty folders entitled "Internet Explorer",
"Outlook [Express]", "Netmeeting", "Windows Media Player", "Microsoft Front
Page" and others that if Windows File Protection System (WFPS) is enabled
cannot ever be removed ... there they sit empty ... useless and, to my
anal-retentive mind, an annoyance. If WFPS is enabled, whilst you can
delete the folders from outside of W2k upon booting to MS-DOS, upon W2K
start-up, they are regenerated automatically. The only way to physically
remove them, and to in

hibit their further propagation is to disable WFPS permanently.

MY QUESTION:

Is there any way to "edit", and recompile SFCFILES.DLL in such a manner

that these folders, if WFPS is enabled are not regenerated? I have been
informed by Microsoft that it is this dll-file which apparently controls the
naming and continued propagation of these folders.

Suggestions here folks? You'll note the only folders involved are folders

created by W2K that one way or another incorporate a Microsoft Trade- or
application-name.

SUMMARY:

I would like to be able to enable WFPS, but as long as this behaviour

continues, I will, and cannot. No software developer, and I don't care who
they are, is gonna tell me how and what folders I must use to install the
application.

W2K is an singularly triumphant achievement for Microsoft; blessedly

stable under most circumstances, and to all pretence and purpose infinitely
customizable. As Microsoft moves forward to net-delivery and administration
of its OS's and other software I'll be (and have been) moving to OpenSource
UNIX solutions; but I do have an inordinate fondness for this baby.

 

[Warren C. E. Austin]

Well, editing DLLs is quite impossible. Well, not impossible, but highly
improbable. If you know machine lanuguage, and are comfortable mucking
around in a hex editor, then it's quite possible.

Assuming that's not the case, then, there's not way to get rid of said
folders forever. I see two possible solutions:

a. Put the programs where they were designed to go
b. Change those folders to "Hidden" and turn off "Show Hidden files/folders"

Hope this helps! (though, it probably didn't)

Mike

Thanks for your reply.

It's not so much that the applications should go where they were designed to go that bothers me; all standalone Microsoft applications usually allow the end-user choice in placement of folders and such, which is what has happened in this instance. Prior to upgrading to W2K, I had elected to alternatively place those folders in question by each of the parent applications outside of their defaults. W2K upon install does recognize this, but still at one and the same time creates these useless and empty folders which cannot be removed, even though the applications they were intended to hold are functioning correctly and pathed accordingly in the Registry by W2K itself upon W2K's install.

It just burns me no end that I can not remove them unless I disable WFPS, and if I don't there they sit, an eyesore.

I had hoped someone might chime in here with a possible solution, is all. For the time being I will continue to live with W2K's WFPS turned off and the offending folders removed.

Warren C. E. Austin
Toronto, Canada