Access is Denied!!!

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Guest

HI,
I have Vista Ultimate and am looking around the software and am getting
plenty of Access is Denied error messages when I try and click on folders in
the C: directory that you could browse in XP.
eg I have enabled show hidden files and folders, and known extension types
and unhid protected operating files. Under C: Users -my user- I wanted to
look at Application data and local settings but cannot, Access Denied Data
not accessible. Even My Documents which has the little shortcut arrow is the
same.
What gives? I am the Admin on the machine, I have enabled the UAC and tried
it without, still the same.
I want/like to be able to look at my files and folders, why am I being told
NO????
Anybody any ideas?
cheers
 
bassjace said:
HI,
I have Vista Ultimate and am looking around the software and am getting
plenty of Access is Denied error messages when I try and click on folders in
the C: directory that you could browse in XP.
eg I have enabled show hidden files and folders, and known extension types
and unhid protected operating files. Under C: Users -my user- I wanted to
look at Application data and local settings but cannot, Access Denied Data
not accessible. Even My Documents which has the little shortcut arrow is the
same.
What gives? I am the Admin on the machine, I have enabled the UAC and tried
it without, still the same.
I want/like to be able to look at my files and folders, why am I being told
NO????
Click to expand...

It sounds like you are trying to look at junctions instead of real
directories. There is no "My Documents" in Vista, just a junction to the
Documents directory. There are also a lot more protected directories in
Vista such as Program Files, etc. Do some reading at the links below to
familiarize yourself with the changes in Vista.

From MVP Jimmy Brush - "Many folders used by earlier versions of
Windows have been moved to a new location or given a new name in Windows
Vista. However, the old folders can still be seen if you have enabled
Show Hidden Files. Notice they are displayed with a transparent icon
and a shortcut symbol.

"Although these look like folders, they are actually what is known as a
junction. Junctions behave like shortcuts, but look just like regular
folders. Their purpose is to silently redirect programs that access them
to their Windows Vista equivalent.

"Since junctions aren't really folders, it is not possible to access
them, and any attempt to do so will give you an "Access Denied" error."

Changes to the built-in administrator account in Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=942956

http://www.jimmah.com/vista/
http://www.jimmah.com/vista/Security/junctions.aspx
http://www.realtime-vista.com/general/2007/04/access_denied_to_documents_and.htm


Malke
 
"Since junctions aren't really folders, it is not possible to access
them, and any attempt to do so will give you an "Access Denied" error."
Click to expand...

Which is technically inaccurate. The reason you get an Access Denied on
these junctions has nothing to do with the fact that they are junctions.
These junctions have a specific Access Denied access control entry (ACE)for
the Everyone group on their discretionary access control list (DACL). It is
definitely possible, though not recommended, to access those junctions by
modifying the DACL.
 
Thanks you for your replies. It has helped me figure out this issue, one of
many on Vista.
I don't know about everybody else but I can certainly say that this move
over to Vista has not been a very smooth or happy one.

My 2 bobs worth!!
 
An alternative is to take Ownership and grant yourself Full Control of the
file, folder, or drive you want to modify. See the tutorial link:

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67717-take-ownership-file.html

If it still won't cooperate, click on Start, in the Start Search box type in
Windows Explorer. Right-click on Windows Explorer and select Run As
Administrator. Navigate to the file, folder, or drive you want to modify and
do so. You should then have "elevated privileges" to do whatever you wish to
files in Windows Explorer. There is also a program called Unlocker that you
can use to gain access to modify files and folders (see link below).

http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/
 
This has been VERY helpful, thank you. We've been having exactly the same
problems after just upgrading from XP Home to Vista Ultimate and tons of
Access Denied errors which are explained here and hopefully will help us
resolve our same issues.

It now makes us wonder if we won't also then get the same Access Denied
errors when we attempt to try Printer Sharing with a Lexmark X83 (unsupported
in Vista since Lexmark hasn't / won't release driver updates). We
uninstalled/moved the X83 printer to the other XP system where it works, and
curious if diverting prints fromt the Vista system to the XP Lexmark printer
system will be OK. Can't find a clue in many queries.

Again, thanks for helping us find the DOCUMENTS/MY DOCUMENTS WORKAROUNDS
If the My Documents, My Music, My Pictures, and My Videos links in the Start
menu do not point to the Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos folders, you
must manually redirect these links to the correct folders. To redirect these
links, follow these steps: 1.Click Start, right-click the link, and then
click Properties.
2.On the Location tab, replace the wrong target location with the correct
target location. For example, to redirect the My Music folder to the Music
folder in Windows Vista, enter %systemdrive%\Users\user_name\Music.
3.Click Apply.
 
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