Access Denied to Administrator

[Lu Powell]

While logged in with administrator privileges, why can I not access certain
folders, such as Application Data, Local Settings, Temporary Internet files,
etc.?

 

[Michael Walraven]

Application data and Local Settings do not 'exist' as folders, they are
there to enable legacy (pre Vista) programs that were poorly programmed to
continue to work by redirecting those programs to locations now used by
Vista. Unless you have elected to see protected system files you should not
be seeing them anyway.

Michael

 

[Lu Powell]

Thanks. That makes sense.

Application data and Local Settings do not 'exist' as folders, they are
there to enable legacy (pre Vista) programs that were poorly programmed to
continue to work by redirecting those programs to locations now used by
Vista. Unless you have elected to see protected system files you should
not be seeing them anyway.

Michael

 

[Hughmn]

Lu's problem has suddenly hit my computer. I have the folder settings a Show
hidden files/folders but "Documents and Settings" is showing as a shortcut
and I get the access denied message.
When I open "Documents" from the Start Menu I can no longer access
Application Data, Cookies, My Music, My Videos, My Pictures, etc. - all are
showing as shortcuts.
They were working yesterdayand I don't recall cahanging any settings since
then.

The only thing I can think that has changed is downloading the latest
update: a Windows Defender update. Can't see it on the updates list to try
uninstalling it.

Other programs eg xnView access the picture folder fine.

I have tried rebooting and shutdown/restarted - no improvement.

Help....?

Thanks,
Hugh

 

[Hughmn]

Ooops. Embarrased grin. I had simply expanded the "Documents" folder in the
left pane and shown up all the shortcuts. The actual folders were pushed way
off down the list and so I didn't notice it! All working OK after all.
Sorry...

Hugh

 

[Gordon]

Okay, so Vista's changed the location of cookies and temp folders -
where are they now? How do I get to them so I can clean them out?

Same way as in XP. Right-click on C: in Explorer and choose "Disk
Cleanup".....
And be VERY wary of using something like CC Cleaner...

 

[Paul Montgomery]

And be VERY wary of using something like CC Cleaner...

Why do you say that, Gordon?

 

[Gordon]

Why do you say that, Gordon?

Because to the un-initiated it can remove all sorts of stuff that then
result in more posts here for help. Like ALL "registry cleaners".....

 

[Charles Tomaras]

Because to the un-initiated it can remove all sorts of stuff that then
result in more posts here for help. Like ALL "registry cleaners".....

Most of the registry bloat that one seems to get comes from orphaned
registry entries from programs one has uninstalled. I think the best bet is
to use a good uninstaller like Your Uninstaller Pro from
http://www.ursoftware.com
When you use it to uninstall programs it does a great job of cleaning up the
associated registry entries. Far better than a blanket registry cleaner
which can cause damage if you just accept whatever it does.

 

[Paul Montgomery]

Because to the un-initiated it can remove all sorts of stuff that then
result in more posts here for help. Like ALL "registry cleaners".....

CCleaner is MUCH more than a registry cleaner. Registry cleaning is
one option that can be ignored. It isn't "on" by default.

 

[Bob D.]

In Internet Explorer go into Tools -> Internet options -> General tab ->
Browsing history to delete your files & to find out where the files are
stored.

Bob