Multiple Application Data Folders - Why & How

[Guest]

I have run into a bit of a problem. I ran my weekly Spy Sweeper scan today
and it was taking way too long - over 6 hours. I saw it was running the scan
on the Application Data folder under my user name. Upon further investigation
I found many Application Data folders under the Application Data folder,
approximately 10. I recognize they are all short cuts or mapped folders. Yet
there should be only one. How do I correct this problem? AND better yet does
anyone know how it happenned?
Paul

 

[Jimmy Brush]

Hello,

There is actually no folder named "Application Data".

This was a folder in Windows XP, but in Windows Vista, this folder has
been moved.

"Application Data" is a junction (fancy name for a special kind of
shortcut) that exists in Vista to point old programs to the new
location under certain scenarios.

Windows prevents programs from accessing these special junctions like
a folder to prevent this "hall of mirrors" effect from happening.

The problem here, is that Spy Sweeper does not correctly recognize
that this is a junction, and (if you have not changed the default
security on this junction) is bypassing the security settings that
Windows imposes to prevent this.

Since removing this junction could stop some of your programs from
working correctly, it is best to leave it there. The ball is in Spy
Sweeper's court to work correctly with these junctions.

- JB

 

[Guest]

JB,

Thanks for the info. I did recognize the "folder" Application Data was only
a place holder with pointers. But should I have multiple levels - ie pointers
back to itself? In XP as you stated it was a folder and in XP it did not have
multiple levels of Application Data under the initial folder. This last weeks
scan by Spy Sweeper showed this to be a new problem. It looks like a program
in a continous loop without the END statement. Is there a solution within
Vista to prevent the creation or dissolve the multiple pointers to itself?

Thanks - Paul

 

[Jimmy Brush]

The cause of the recursion is because Microsoft decided to flatten a
system folder structure.

In Windows XP, you had %userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data.
In Windows Vista, both Local Settings and Application Data have been
replaced by a single folder, %userprofile%\AppData\Local.

In order to accomplish the propper redirection, you need two
junctions:

1) A Local Settings junction, that will forward programs going to
%userprofile%\Local Settings to the new folder.

2) An Application Data junctions *inside of the new folder* that
points back on itself, to get programs accessing %userprofile%\Local
Settings\Application Data.

If you think about it, it makes sense ... when the program is
accessing local settings, it will get forwarded to the folder it needs
to be in, however, it is also accessing a folder named Application
Data *inside of the correct folder it needs* (since it has already
been redirected by the Local Settings junction), so the Application
Data junction has to point back on itself for things to function
properly.

I would suggest checking the security settings on your Application
Data junction (C:\users\yourname\appdata\local) (you will need to
select show operating system files from folder options in an explorer
window).

Go to the security tab, click advanced, then edit, and make sure you
see a deny permission for everyone on the list.

If there isn't one listed, create one for "Everyone" and check the box
under Deny next to "read folder / list data".

- JB