RC-1 Access denied to "Local Settings"

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rastaman
  • Start date Start date
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Rastaman

Wow.

BIG change from build 5384.

I am trying to copy my windows mail folders and messages from a backed up
folder to my new installation of RC-1.

Vista is denying access to the C:\Users\username\Local Settings folder.
"Run as administrator" (windows explorer) doesn't work, the administrator
account is disabled, When I boot to safe mode, the adminstrator account is
disabled also. If I log in to safe mode as myself (also an administrator),
I am still denied access to this folder.

When I try to enable the administrator account, I get a message saying the
password does neet meet password policy requirements (I guess it's blank, or
maybe the password I entered during installation). If I go to change the
password for administrator, a really threatening message box appears
basically stating that by changing password, I will lose access to all
encrypted files, privileges, etc, etc. Not sure I want to do this with the
administrator account, even if I can't use it.

Anyone know what I need to do to get access to this folder?
 
Rastaman said:
Wow.

BIG change from build 5384.

I am trying to copy my windows mail folders and messages from a backed up
folder to my new installation of RC-1.

Vista is denying access to the C:\Users\username\Local Settings folder.
"Run as administrator" (windows explorer) doesn't work, the administrator
account is disabled, When I boot to safe mode, the adminstrator account is
disabled also. If I log in to safe mode as myself (also an
administrator), I am still denied access to this folder.

When I try to enable the administrator account, I get a message saying the
password does neet meet password policy requirements (I guess it's blank,
or maybe the password I entered during installation). If I go to change
the password for administrator, a really threatening message box appears
basically stating that by changing password, I will lose access to all
encrypted files, privileges, etc, etc. Not sure I want to do this with
the administrator account, even if I can't use it.

Anyone know what I need to do to get access to this folder?
Click to expand...

Have you tried hitting it with a hammer from the XP side?
Boot into XP and copy the files from C drive to D drive.
 
A couple of suggestions: First, could you import the mail rather than copy
it? Using Outlook, I could import the mail from a different computer into my
Vista Outlook mail folders. If that doesn't work, try shutting off UAC to
see if that will enable you to access the copies folders.

Did you copy these folders into your user settings folder? Maybe you
should copy them into a different folder that you know you currently can
access. I know with Beta2, I initially had trouble accessing files that I
had restored and I had to copy them into a new folder created in Vista before
I could use most of the files.

Good luck. I'm sure there will be others with even better solutions.
 
Beck said:
Have you tried hitting it with a hammer from the XP side?
Boot into XP and copy the files from C drive to D drive.
Click to expand...

I am fairly certain that will work, but getting my messages back into
Windows mail is secondary -- My primary problem here is how to get control
of my own computer. I guess MS feels no one should have any business going
into those folders, but I disagree.

I am thinking that this just a matter of getting my administrator account
configured properly, but I've not seen any discussion about this.
 
I am fairly certain that will work, but getting my messages back into
Windows mail is secondary -- My primary problem here is how to get control
of my own computer. I guess MS feels no one should have any business
going into those folders, but I disagree.

I am thinking that this just a matter of getting my administrator account
configured properly, but I've not seen any discussion about this.
Click to expand...

I think you might have something wrong somewhere.
I can access my C drive without even UAC security prompt. This was how it
was defaulted to when I installed Vista the other day.
 
You need to take ownership of the directory/files giving you the :access
denied" message. Help & Support has instructions.
 
C:\Users\<Username>\Local Settings is a Junction in vista not a folder it
points to C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Local. This is apparently a
compatibility feature.

Why you can't click on a junction and automatically be forwarded to the
right folder I don't know. It would work a lot better than the work around.

Open a command window and do a dir /ah in the C:\Users\<Username>\
directory. This will give a dir of all hidden objects in this dir. The
objects with a Junction label will also have the real dir in brackets at the
end of the listing.

Brian JT
 
I'm confused now.

Using the procedure in Help & Support I took ownership of
\Users\<Username>\Local Settings and the contents of that folder are shown
and can be manipulated by selecting that directory in Explorer.
 
If you take ownership you can follow the junction to the real location, but
all the files are really located in <username>\AppData\Local. A Junction is
just a pointer to another folder, it holds no real files.

http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Junction.html has a better explanation
and links to Microsoft's old Win2k/WinXP KB article.

I think these junctions are in place to help app compatibility and because
Microsoft seems to be taking the spaces out of path names again. If an XP
app was looking for Local Settings it is directed to the right place,
AppData\Local, while a native vista app will look for AppData directly.
Vista wants to train us to go to AppData so it restricts access to the
junction to installers and probably the system account. If you take
ownership, you grant yourself access and it behaves like a user created
junction.

This is what I have worked out, I have heard no official word.


Brian JT
 
Thanks everyone for your help. I was able to copy my folders and messages
into the AppData/local....... folder, directly with no problems, so I am
good to go with that.

It is really bothering me, though that there is an administrator account
that I am not able to log on to. (even in safe mode).

I am the only one that uses my computer - If the administrator acct has a
password, it would be the one I entered during install.

Did they change this from build 5384? I am assuming there must be a purpose
for the administrator account, or they wouldn't have it......... Or do I
now have full administrator privileges running only as *an* administrator?
 
You can enable Administrator this way :

right-click Computer -> "manage" -> "Users & Groups" -> "Users" ->
"Administrator" -> deselect "Account is disabled" and look for the
password-policy for this Account and set to your wishes.

after you log out or on reboot you will see the WelcomePage with
Administrator Account that you can use.

SBJ
 
I've noticed this across a few builds with different folders. If you check
the permissions, you'll find an "everyone" entry with "special permissions"
that turn out to be "deny directory listing". You can also change or delete
that entry to get access. In one build, you couldn't even add a shortcut key
to a start menu program without deleting it. I, like you, don't like the
idea of being denied access to anything on *MY* computer, even if MS thinks
they're protecting me from myself.

-Mike
 
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