Can't install program because C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs is read-only a

  • Thread starter Thread starter Daniel Prince
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Daniel Prince

I just bought a refurbished Thinkpad computer with Windows XP Pro
SP3 installed on it. I cannot install Tight vnc because
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs is read-only
and cannot be changed. Tight vnc need to create a folder there and
it cannot. I have tried to create a folder with Windows Explorer
but got an error message.

I have gone to the properties of the folder and unchecked the
read-only box but when I look at it again it is checked again. I
have tried using the attrib command but I could not get it to work.
I have turned off simple file sharing but that did not work either.
I have shared the directory but that did not work either. My
account is an administrator account. I have found web pages that
say to use the security tab under properties but I do not have a
security tab under properties.

How can I change the read-only attribute on this folder? Thank you
in advance for any help.
 
Daniel said:
I just bought a refurbished Thinkpad computer with Windows XP Pro
SP3 installed on it. I cannot install Tight vnc because
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs is read-only
and cannot be changed. Tight vnc need to create a folder there and
it cannot. I have tried to create a folder with Windows Explorer
but got an error message.

I have gone to the properties of the folder and unchecked the
read-only box but when I look at it again it is checked again. I
have tried using the attrib command but I could not get it to work.
I have turned off simple file sharing but that did not work either.
I have shared the directory but that did not work either. My
account is an administrator account. I have found web pages that
say to use the security tab under properties but I do not have a
security tab under properties.

How can I change the read-only attribute on this folder? Thank you
in advance for any help.
Click to expand...

I don't know why you can't install your program but it isn't because that
folder is read only. First of all, the only purpose of that folder is to
contain shortcuts to program exe files...the programs are not installed in
it. Secondly, ALL the folders on XP are read only.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Maybe just ready for a change? .Check it out...
http://www.dadioh.net
 
dadiOH said:
I don't know why you can't install your program but it isn't because that
folder is read only. First of all, the only purpose of that folder is to
contain shortcuts to program exe files...the programs are not installed in
it. Secondly, ALL the folders on XP are read only.
Click to expand...

Wrong. Some programs *do* install under %userprofile% because all users
have read, write, AND execute permissions there. Google sticks their
Google Earth and Google Chrome programs there. MagicJack sticks their
program there. Many programs stick their *executable* files there.
Why? Because those programs can be installed while NOT logged on as an
admin users. They don't use MSI to install their programs. So these
authors let non-admin users install software by circumventing the normal
conventions for installations.

Since the Start folder is under your %userprofile% path, yes, you can
put the actual executable file there. I doubt VNC or its variants are
doing that but that folder is not restricted to just shortcuts.
 
VanguardLH said:
Daniel Prince wrote:
snip

You sure you have the Professional edition of Windows XP? Looks like
you got stuck with the Home edition which requires you reboot into
Safe
Mode to get at Administrator-level features.
snip
Click to expand...

In XP Pro, you have to turn off Simple File Sharing in order to see the
Security tab on file/folder properties.
Folder Options> View tab, uncheck "Use simple file sharing"
 
glee said:
In XP Pro, you have to turn off Simple File Sharing in order to see
the Security tab on file/folder properties.
Folder Options> View tab, uncheck "Use simple file sharing"
Click to expand...

Oops... you said that further down... nevermind! :-) Need some
coffee....
 
Wrong. Some programs *do* install under %userprofile% because all users
have read, write, AND execute permissions there. Google sticks their
Google Earth and Google Chrome programs there. MagicJack sticks their
program there. Many programs stick their *executable* files there.
Why? Because those programs can be installed while NOT logged on as an
admin users. They don't use MSI to install their programs. So these
authors let non-admin users install software by circumventing the normal
conventions for installations.

Since the Start folder is under your %userprofile% path, yes, you can
put the actual executable file there. I doubt VNC or its variants are
doing that but that folder is not restricted to just shortcuts.
Click to expand...

I can't say that I'm aware of any program that tries to install itself
to the Start menu. That's not a scenario that I've encountered to this
point. Note that the Start menu is not the same as %userprofile%.
 
VanguardLH said:
Since the Start folder is under your %userprofile% path, yes, you can
put the actual executable file there. I doubt VNC or its variants are
doing that but that folder is not restricted to just shortcuts.
Click to expand...

I didn't say they couldn't be, just that the purpose of the folder was for
shortcuts. Think of the frustration and confusion in Windowsland if folks
actually had to find the executables and click on them...chaos would reign.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Maybe just ready for a change? .Check it out...
http://www.dadioh.net
 
VanguardLH said:
You sure you have the Professional edition of Windows XP? Looks like
you got stuck with the Home edition which requires you reboot into
Safe Mode to get at Administrator-level features.
Click to expand...

Wrong. I do whatever I want to whatever with my Home version. I might
possibly have booted to safe once or twice over the years but not for what
you said.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Maybe just ready for a change? .Check it out...
http://www.dadioh.net
 
Char said:
I can't say that I'm aware of any program that tries to install itself
to the Start menu. That's not a scenario that I've encountered to this
point. Note that the Start menu is not the same as %userprofile%.
Click to expand...

I said "the Start folder is *UNDER* your %userprofile% path". I did not
say they were the same folder. Do you understand the inheritance of
privileges?

You said "the only purpose of that folder [Start] is to contain
shortcuts." That is not its only purpose. There is no restriction
against having executable files in that folder. It's just a folder like
others. That rarely installers put executables in that folder does not
mean that is "the only purpose" for that folder.

By the way, in the past, and to prevent programs (executables) from
being ran from under the %userprofile% path (ANY folder at that point or
underneath), I have tried removing execute privileges. After all, the
assumption is that the "Documents and Settings" path is for what it is
described by its title and not for executable programs. I had to
abandon that attempt to prevent programs from starting there for two
reasons: many installers or programs that load temporary executable will
expect the %temp% folder (which is under %userprofile%) to allow
executable files to start from there, and I've found programs that don't
run from there but for some reason want execute privilege on one, or
more, of their files stored there and removing execute privilege from
their config file results in them erroring.
 
dadiOH said:
I didn't say they couldn't be, just that the purpose of the folder was for
shortcuts. Think of the frustration and confusion in Windowsland if folks
actually had to find the executables and click on them...chaos would reign.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what DOES happen. There are many programs that *run*
from a subfolder under the %userprofile% path. In fact, lots of them
would fail if %temp% which inherits privileges from its parent folder
didn't allow execute privileges on files stored there. For example,
many programs that auto-update themselves will put their setup program
in %temp% and run it from there.

It's just another security hole in Windows XP that permits programs to
run from what is supposed used only for "Documents and Settings".
 
dadiOH said:
Wrong. I do whatever I want to whatever with my Home version. I might
possibly have booted to safe once or twice over the years but not for what
you said.
Click to expand...

Really? Run "gpedit.msc" and see what happens.
 
I said "the Start folder is *UNDER* your %userprofile% path". I did not
say they were the same folder. Do you understand the inheritance of
privileges?
Click to expand...

Yes, I do. Do you understand that %userprofile% refers to more than
the Start menu?
You said "the only purpose of that folder [Start] is to contain
shortcuts." That is not its only purpose. There is no restriction
against having executable files in that folder. It's just a folder like
others. That rarely installers put executables in that folder does not
mean that is "the only purpose" for that folder.
Click to expand...

Actually, no, I didn't say that. You're confusing me with someone
else. What I said was that I don't know of an example of a program
that installs itself within the Start menu folder structure. Do you
have an application in mind? Again, I'm not talking about
%userprofile% since that's not what was being discussed above.
 
That's exactly what DOES happen.
Rarely.

There are many programs that *run*
from a subfolder under the %userprofile% path. In fact, lots of them
would fail if %temp% which inherits privileges from its parent folder
didn't allow execute privileges on files stored there. For example,
many programs that auto-update themselves will put their setup program
in %temp% and run it from there.
Click to expand...

Please note that the OP asked about the Start menu*, which is
different from %userprofile%. %temp% is not part of the Start menu.

*The 'all users' part of the Start menu, to be more precise.
"C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs"
 
dadiOH said:
If it existed I would but it doesn't so I can't.
Click to expand...

Try joining a domain using the Home edition.
Try using EFS to create an encrypted container.
Try to get more than 5 concurrent network connections.
Try to create a dynamic disk so you can enlarge it by adding more HDDs.
Where's the RDP service? You'll have to use something else (e.g., VNC).
Have more than 1 *processor* (not cores)? Home won't use more than 1.

There are workarounds for some of the above but that provides you know
about them, look them up, and hope they work correctly without serious
side effects.

For more differences, see:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457127.aspx
 
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