Application Data won't let me in!

[annisaaa]

I need to get in a folder called "Application Data", but The OS won't let me in I get the dialog box that says the path then "is not accessible then "Access is Denied" I am logged on with admin privileges and I can install, remove, and delete files. This is my first time running an OS with this kind of control, and I don't like it. I need to access the folder because I need to modify a file there.
Thanks,
Annis

 

[flyboytim]

Application Data" is not a real folder in Vista and Windows7 - it is a "Junction Point" - a special sort of shortcut - that points to "/Users/username/App Data/Roaming", which you may access without restriction.

 

[Nelviticus]

I'm on an XP box at the moment but from memory, on Windows 7 you can type %APPDATA% in the address bar to get to your own roaming app data folder and %LOCALAPPDATA% to get to your local app data folder. Most stuff will be in the roaming one, things like browser caches will be in the local one.

If you're logged on as an admin and you try to access to someone else's app data folder(s), it should pop up a dialog asking whether or not you want to permanently grant yourself access rights.

Nelviticus

 

[linney]

This is what a Microsoft Team member told me when I queried that particular problem during Beta Testing. It is along the lines of what "flyboytim" has stated.

"this is a known and reported issue. It was resolved as won't fix. Here is the reason behind it. "The junctions are there to only provide appcompat for legacy apps and aren’t meant for a user to traverse through. The junctions have been explicitly set to block read through them by setting Everyone Deny Read. The main reason here is because these are just links to the actual location, so you dont want backup tools and other tools operating on your data twice, once from the original path and once via the junctions. There are scenarios where some of these junctions actually form a loop to support the appcompat for the old namespace in comparison to the new and in those cases allowing read through them is disastrous, for e.g. setup was broken for a week when the file system wasnt honorign the deny read.

Also as far as a user goes, you will never see these as they are system hidden, and you will need to take explicit action to see them by default."

 

[annisaaa]

Thanks, everyone I guess that's why Application Data shows the shortcut Icon.

Linney mentioned:
"system hidden, and you will need to take explicit action to see them by default."

What kind of "Explicit action" would I need to take in order to see them?

Thanks,
Annis

 

[flyboytim]

Start, Computer, Tools, Folder Options..., View
check "Show hidden files and folders"
uncheck " Hide protected operating system files [Recommended]"
Click "Apply" at the bottom right of the box
Click "Apply to All Folders" at the top left
click "Ok" at the bottom left

Start, Computer, C:\Users\<your username>\AppData\Roaming

and there you will find folders for Adobe, Macromedia, Microsoft etc.,

just like you would in XP if you had gone Start, My Computer, C:\Documents and Settings\<your username>\Application Data

 

[annisaaa]

Flyboytim: I don't think my Win & is quite like that. i am running Win 7 Home premium. I have to click on the "Organize => Folder-Search Option=> View" to get to that point. However, Everything is as it should be to view all the hidden files and folders. Funny you should give me the path "C:\ Users\<your username>\Appdata\Roaming" instead of "Application Data". I gather I still would not be able to access "Application Data". Is what is in "Appdata/Roaming" a duplicate of what is in "Application Data"??

Thanks,
annis

 

[flyboytim]

Hi Annis,
Perhaps Microsoft themselves can explain it better:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb756982.aspx

Sorry, I only have Windows 7 Ultimate, and it works for me in the way I described.

"Application Data" does not have anything in it. It is a "Junction point", a symbolic link at operating system level for legacy applications that would have put folders in "C:\Application Data" in previous operating systems. Users cannot parse the contents. The actual contents of what is in .../AppData/Roaming/... are what would have been in C:\Application Data\... in Windows 2000, XP and 2003.

The contents are still considered hidden system folders and files, but are on a real path that may be accessed for viewing and editing by a user with sufficient privileges.

 

[annisaaa]

Ok, Thanks for helping!
annis