Shell
This is a common problem for users that are looking for the same folder
structure in Vista that were used to seeing in XP.
The folders you are looking at that appear to be shortcuts are called a
Junction or Symbolic Link. These folders are used for backward
compatibility, mostly for installation programs that are looking for an
old
system folder location. They appear where a system folder location, that
was
part of a previous version of Windows, has been changed in Vista. When an
older installation program is installed, these folders will redirect the
installation program to the proper folder in Vista. These folders contain
no
user information.
You can use a command prompt to locate the new folder that the Junction
points to.
Press WINKEY+R and type cmd and press OK.
The command window should open at the C:\Users\<username> folder.
Type: dir /ahL and press the ENTER key. (Note the space in the
command)
The result will be a list of folders on the C: drive, here is an example.
<date> <time> <JUNCTION> SendTo
[C:\Users\<username>AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo]
This shows the old name of the folder (SendTo) with the path to the new
location in brackets.
It would be a good idea to print this list for future reference.
For reference, Here is the list of Junctions for a standard, clean
installation of Vista Ultimate on the C: drive. Office 2007 is installed.
Your results may be different because of different software being
installed.
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6000]
C:\Users\username>dir /ahl
Directory of C:\Users\<username>
12/13/2006 03:15 PM <JUNCTION> Application Data
[C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming]
12/13/2006 03:15 PM <JUNCTION> Cookies
[C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies]
12/13/2006 03:15 PM <JUNCTION> Local Settings
[C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local]
12/13/2006 03:15 PM <JUNCTION> My Documents
[C:\Users\<username>\Documents]
12/13/2006 03:15 PM <JUNCTION> NetHood
[C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts]
12/13/2006 03:15 PM <JUNCTION> PrintHood
[C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Printer Shortcuts]
12/13/2006 03:15 PM <JUNCTION> Recent
[C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent]
12/13/2006 03:15 PM <JUNCTION> SendTo
[C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo]
12/13/2006 03:15 PM <JUNCTION> Start Menu
[C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu]
12/13/2006 03:15 PM <JUNCTION>
TEMPLATE[C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates
(Where "<username>" is the name of the account you are currently logged
onto
the system with.)
The "My" designation for a user folder has been retired, so the old "My"
Documents is now called simply Documents.
--
Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User
Shell said:
THIRD time trying to post this - site is refusing posts?
Any way,
For some unknwon reason, Vista decided to change several important
folder
into shortcuts and when trying to access them, I get
"...c:\foldername\...
is
not accesible Access is denied."
Most importantly the following folders of the loggged-on user are
inaccesible and access is nedied:
User\Documents\...
My Videos
My Music
My Pictures
also... Folders such as
Application Data
Cookies
Local Settings
NetHood
PrintHood
Recent
are shortcuts now and access is denied.
also,
off the root c:\ the following were changed and inaccesible
Documents and Settings
Users\All Isers
Users\Default User
As it stands, I can get more use from my $1.99 hand-held calculator
than I
can from this $2k machine with Vista.