Windows 7 64bit Ultimate, no access to Documents and Settings?

[Muse]

Um, what is this? I'm the only user and I have adminstrator status. I can't even access my Documents and Settings! This is an improvement to Vista and XP Pro?:whiste: Also, I'm unable to write to files in the root directory of an application I installed. What do I have to do to back off the iron clad security in this? :hmm:

 

[Snapster]

You should be using Users rather than Documents and Settings as they are trying to phase that name out.

Documents and Settings is a hard link to Users and the root is not available to write to, you can however target say Documents and Settings\username\ if that is what you desire.

Regarding your program, by default you wont be allowed to write to Windows or Program Files without first elevating as admin. You can either run your program in elevated mode or explicitly give your username permission to write to its directory.

 

[Nothinman]

Um, what is this? I'm the only user and I have adminstrator status. I can't even access my Documents and Settings! This is an improvement to Vista and XP Pro?:whiste: Also, I'm unable to write to files in the root directory of an application I installed. What do I have to do to back off the iron clad security in this? :hmm:

As Snapster said, you don't. Instead you get used to using the Users directory, which is nicer because it's shorter anyway. However, the big fail here is that trying to get into Documents and Settings generates an Access Denied error. I can't fathom how or why MS thought this was a good idea.

 

[Ninjazx]

It was done to prevent software installers and 'other' from attempting to put files into a directory structure that is no longer used. Otherwise there would no doubt be 2 locations for user related data.

 

[tad bear]

There are a number of things you can try (windows 7 administrator rights are not the same as XP - administrator is disabled as a default).

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial169.html to create an administrator account

or microsofts answer to this problem

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753659.aspx

another way is to enable a right click menu item to manage any folder. This is

http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-take-ownership-of-a-folderfile-in-windows-7/

Any of these ways will enable you to acess what you want to.

I hope one of these ways help. Regards Tad

 

[Steltek]

There are a number of things you can try (windows 7 administrator rights are not the same as XP - administrator is disabled as a default).

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial169.html to create an administrator account

or microsofts answer to this problem

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753659.aspx

another way is to enable a right click menu item to manage any folder. This is

http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-take-ownership-of-a-folderfile-in-windows-7/

Any of these ways will enable you to acess what you want to.

I hope one of these ways help. Regards Tad

Actually, there isn't any way to take control of Documents and Settings in Vista/Win7. The reason why is that Documents and Settings in Vista/Win7 is a junction point, not a system folder. It doesn't really exist in Vista or Win7 except as a compatibility redirection to the Users folder to allow older legacy software to install and function (i.e. software that is hard coded to require the Documents and Settings folder).

This thread is about Vista, but is equally applicable to Win7:

http://social.answers.microsoft.com...y/thread/915eecc8-6a07-4d6a-8ca5-468ee51e9484

Another on Win7:

http://social.technet.microsoft.com...l/thread/5fef6787-7d4a-421d-afb4-4b77740b330c

 

[Nothinman]

It was done to prevent software installers and 'other' from attempting to put files into a directory structure that is no longer used. Otherwise there would no doubt be 2 locations for user related data.

If one is a link to the other then there's really only 1 location...

 

[MrChad]

The only real work-arounds to the locked down Program Files directory are:

1. Update your application shortcut(s) to "Run as Administrator" (clicking Yes on the UAC prompt when you run the app). This will give the app elevated permissions to write to the Program Files subfolder, or
2. Install the application in C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local. Google does this with Chrome (I think Firefox does as well) to avoid requiring admin access in order to install/update their app.