Can't see files in some folders

  • Thread starter Thread starter TheBlueSky
  • Start date Start date
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TheBlueSky

Hi all,

I'm facing this issue with some applications that needs to write some files
on their installation directory... for example Yahoo Messenger creates some
folders and write some files on its installation directory (e.g. C:\Program
Files\Yahoo) for different reasons, like messages archiving.

These files and folders are created somehow and the application is able to
access them correctly, but when I use Windows Explorer to see them they are
not there! They are absolutely not hidden and even if they are I have the
option of displaying the hidden files and folders enabled, and still I can't
see them! I don't know if Vista has some way to store these file, but I
couldn't even find them by searching!

This problem isn't specific to Yahoo Messanger as I faced it before with
other application. One another example is eMule before that create Vista
version that stores your settings and downloaded file in your Vista user
folders instead of Program Files.

I appreciate any help on that.

Thanks in advance.
 
In Explorer, when you navigate to:

'C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger'

You should see a button in the toolbar labeled 'Compatibility files'. Click
that & you will be taken to:

'C:\Users\<UserName>AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program
Files\Yahoo!\Messenger'

Which is where Vista redirects programs that attempt to write to the Program
Files directory.
 
BlueSky

This behavior is because these programs are not compatible with the way
Vista treats restricted folders, such as 'Program Files'.

When you open one of the folders where the files are saved, look for a
"Compatible Files" button on the Windows Explorer Command Bar. When you
click the compatibily files button, this will open the folder where the
files are saved.

The usual location will be:
C:\Users\your name\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\

*Note: These folders are hidden, by default. To make them visible, Open
Organize\Folder and Search Options\View Tab. Select the 'Show hidden files
and folders' option. Apply/OK.

This whole process is called 'File and Folder Virtualization' and is there
to allow non-Vista compatible programs to work properly.
 
Yahoo and eMule were just an example for applications that store some files
on Program Files folder that I can't see in Windows Explorer. I know they are
somewhere there and I can access them from the application who wrote them,
but again, not from Windows Explorer, and my question was about where they
are stored.

Bob said:
For Yahoo Messenger you'll need a 3rd party Archive Decoder.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&q=Yahoo+Archive+Decoder&btnG=Search

Maybe the same for eMule.
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TheBlueSky said:
Hi all,

I'm facing this issue with some applications that needs to write some
files
on their installation directory... for example Yahoo Messenger creates
some
folders and write some files on its installation directory (e.g.
C:\Program
Files\Yahoo) for different reasons, like messages archiving.

These files and folders are created somehow and the application is able to
access them correctly, but when I use Windows Explorer to see them they
are
not there! They are absolutely not hidden and even if they are I have the
option of displaying the hidden files and folders enabled, and still I
can't
see them! I don't know if Vista has some way to store these file, but I
couldn't even find them by searching!

This problem isn't specific to Yahoo Messanger as I faced it before with
other application. One another example is eMule before that create Vista
version that stores your settings and downloaded file in your Vista user
folders instead of Program Files.

I appreciate any help on that.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Thanks, that was helpful :)

Keith Miller (MVP) said:
In Explorer, when you navigate to:

'C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger'

You should see a button in the toolbar labeled 'Compatibility files'. Click
that & you will be taken to:

'C:\Users\<UserName>AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program
Files\Yahoo!\Messenger'

Which is where Vista redirects programs that attempt to write to the Program
Files directory.

--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]



TheBlueSky said:
Hi all,

I'm facing this issue with some applications that needs to write some
files
on their installation directory... for example Yahoo Messenger creates
some
folders and write some files on its installation directory (e.g.
C:\Program
Files\Yahoo) for different reasons, like messages archiving.

These files and folders are created somehow and the application is able to
access them correctly, but when I use Windows Explorer to see them they
are
not there! They are absolutely not hidden and even if they are I have the
option of displaying the hidden files and folders enabled, and still I
can't
see them! I don't know if Vista has some way to store these file, but I
couldn't even find them by searching!

This problem isn't specific to Yahoo Messanger as I faced it before with
other application. One another example is eMule before that create Vista
version that stores your settings and downloaded file in your Vista user
folders instead of Program Files.

I appreciate any help on that.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Thanks :)

Ronnie Vernon MVP said:
BlueSky

This behavior is because these programs are not compatible with the way
Vista treats restricted folders, such as 'Program Files'.

When you open one of the folders where the files are saved, look for a
"Compatible Files" button on the Windows Explorer Command Bar. When you
click the compatibily files button, this will open the folder where the
files are saved.

The usual location will be:
C:\Users\your name\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\

*Note: These folders are hidden, by default. To make them visible, Open
Organize\Folder and Search Options\View Tab. Select the 'Show hidden files
and folders' option. Apply/OK.

This whole process is called 'File and Folder Virtualization' and is there
to allow non-Vista compatible programs to work properly.

--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience
Click to expand...
 
Keith Miller (MVP) said:
In Explorer, when you navigate to:

'C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger'

You should see a button in the toolbar labeled 'Compatibility files'.
Click that & you will be taken to:

'C:\Users\<UserName>AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program
Files\Yahoo!\Messenger'

Which is where Vista redirects programs that attempt to write to the
Program Files directory.

--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]



TheBlueSky said:
Hi all,

I'm facing this issue with some applications that needs to write some
files
on their installation directory... for example Yahoo Messenger creates
some
folders and write some files on its installation directory (e.g.
C:\Program
Files\Yahoo) for different reasons, like messages archiving.

These files and folders are created somehow and the application is able
to
access them correctly, but when I use Windows Explorer to see them they
are
not there! They are absolutely not hidden and even if they are I have the
option of displaying the hidden files and folders enabled, and still I
can't
see them! I don't know if Vista has some way to store these file, but I
couldn't even find them by searching!

This problem isn't specific to Yahoo Messanger as I faced it before with
other application. One another example is eMule before that create Vista
version that stores your settings and downloaded file in your Vista user
folders instead of Program Files.

I appreciate any help on that.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...


A good hint, but I can't find it on my Vista Ultimate. I have several
programmes that use the
'C:\Users\<UserName>AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program to store data - Opera
browser for example.

When I navigate to the Opera folder in Explorer, there is no button that you
described, and no menu items suggestive of it either

Is there an option somewhere that I need to switch on to see what you
describe?
 
Are there any subfolders to the Opera folder? In the example I gave, there
is no 'Compatibility Files' button in the Yahoo! folder, only in the
Yahoo!\Messenger folder.

The button shows up in the folder where the file save was directed, i.e..

'C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\plug_ins3d\prc'

--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]



Les said:
Keith Miller (MVP) said:
In Explorer, when you navigate to:

'C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger'

You should see a button in the toolbar labeled 'Compatibility files'.
Click that & you will be taken to:

'C:\Users\<UserName>AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program
Files\Yahoo!\Messenger'

Which is where Vista redirects programs that attempt to write to the
Program Files directory.

--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]



TheBlueSky said:
Hi all,

I'm facing this issue with some applications that needs to write some
files
on their installation directory... for example Yahoo Messenger creates
some
folders and write some files on its installation directory (e.g.
C:\Program
Files\Yahoo) for different reasons, like messages archiving.

These files and folders are created somehow and the application is able
to
access them correctly, but when I use Windows Explorer to see them they
are
not there! They are absolutely not hidden and even if they are I have
the
option of displaying the hidden files and folders enabled, and still I
can't
see them! I don't know if Vista has some way to store these file, but I
couldn't even find them by searching!

This problem isn't specific to Yahoo Messanger as I faced it before with
other application. One another example is eMule before that create Vista
version that stores your settings and downloaded file in your Vista user
folders instead of Program Files.

I appreciate any help on that.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...


A good hint, but I can't find it on my Vista Ultimate. I have several
programmes that use the
'C:\Users\<UserName>AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program to store data -
Opera browser for example.

When I navigate to the Opera folder in Explorer, there is no button that
you described, and no menu items suggestive of it either

Is there an option somewhere that I need to switch on to see what you
describe?
Click to expand...
 
When I try to back up my system, I now find that there's more than 30 GB of
data in the VirtualStore directories. This seems to duplicate files in the
Program Files directory. Is there anyway to stop this madness?

Chuck
 
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