mIRC dl icon links to app data instead of program files

Ravanx · 03 Feb 2010

What is this Virtual Store folder about?

When I installed mIRC 6.0 on my Windows 7 Pro OEM, the download folder was created in C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\mIRC\download instead of C:\Program Files\mIRC\download (like in Windows XP).

However I don't think the program intended for it to be so because when I click on the go to "download" folder, it says the destination does not exist (because Win7 put the mirc/download folder in AppData instead of simply in the main Program Files folder).

What is this Virtual Store folder about? And why did my mIRC download folder get created there instead of the main Program Files folder.

logicearth · 03 Feb 2010

Unless you run an application as Administrator that application cannot create files in Program Files or other system protected locations. So instead of displaying a UAC prompt when that happens the write operation is redirect to VirtualStore. This is a workaround for old applications improperly writing to Program Files.

Ravanx · 04 Feb 2010

Ok, then I have two questions.

1. What determines where will the folder (originally meant to be created in program files or app data) end up in? For mirc, it ended up in my AppData, Virtual Store. But for my Vuze, the download folder ended up in My Documents, as Azureus Downloads. I want to know because I don't want to have to go scavenge around for my files.

2. I only have one user account on my computer. Why is it that the only user account is not the Administrator account?

logicearth · 04 Feb 2010

Ravanx said:

1. What determines where will the folder (originally meant to be created in program files or app data) end up in? For mirc, it ended up in my AppData, Virtual Store. But for my Vuze, the download folder ended up in My Documents, as Azureus Downloads. I want to know because I don't want to have to go scavenge around for my files.

That depends on the application. mirc is incorrectly designed to write to a location in Program Files---which it should not do---while Azureus is creating a location where it is suppose to the user's directory.

2. I only have one user account on my computer. Why is it that the only user account is not the Administrator account?

Your account is not given Administrative power until you elevate and accept a UAC prompt. This is done because running every application with god power is dangerous.

Ravanx · 11 Feb 2010

Is there any way for me to change the destination folder for the "download" folder? It's frustrating to not be able to use the icon on mirc.

Ravanx · 16 Feb 2010

Does anybody know the answer to my question?