Program Files Folder Question

[John]

I understand that Program Files is a somewhat special folder regarding
security rights to create files etc. Is there a place I can go read about
all the idiosyncracies of the Program Files folder? For example, if I
install (with admin rights) a new program, will that new program's folder be
read only etc like the parent program files folder?

 

[Andrew McLaren]

I understand that Program Files is a somewhat special folder regarding
security rights to create files etc. Is there a place I can go read about
all the idiosyncracies of the Program Files folder? For example, if I
install (with admin rights) a new program, will that new program's folder
be read only etc like the parent program files folder?

That's right - "Program Files" is one of several special "Known Folders".
Actually this concept has been present in the Chicago-style shell since
Windows 95, although advanced markedly in Windows 2000 and again in Vista.

Basically, everything under C:\Program Files" (FOLDERID_ProgramFiles) is
strictly read-only to standard users.

The MSDN doco is rather developer-oriented, but will give you th inner
workings of how Windows treast these known folders:

Known Folders
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa969404.aspx

A good guide for application developers and installers, descibes Program
Files folder Virtualisation:

Windows Vista Application Development Requirements for User Account Control
Compatibility
http://download.microsoft.com/downl...-932b-38acd478f46d/WindowsVistaUACDevReqs.doc

A good general overview of UAC, incl Program Files permissions
http://technet2.microsoft.com/Windo...2b2f-422c-b70e-b18ff918c2811033.mspx?mfr=true

Hope this gets you started.

 

[John]

Thank you. That's very helpful.


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