App Data subfolder missing

Hello,

I'm trying to help someone who's saved several pdf files in the following manner:

1. Received in Outlook as an attachment
2. Opened in Adobe Reader or Acrobat
3. >File >Save as >"document name".pdf

The user then cannot find the files. In providing assistance, I duplicated the steps taken, and found that the files are being saved to >"User", >App Data, >Local, >Microsoft, >Windows, >Temporary Internet Files, >Content Outlook, >CP6DU2Q6.

The funny thing is, when I follow the path, there is no >Temporary Internet Files subfolder! I have further discovered that when I search for one of these documents (visible in the >Save As dialog), *if* there are search results for a particular document and I open it, it opens as an Outlook message, even though it's saved as a pdf file.

What is going on here? How can the user retrieve these files saved in a non-existent location? And does he even want to, considering they've saved as Outlook messages???

Has he/she got any 3rd party optimisers on thier system, they do tend to clean temporary files.

Roy

No 3rd party optimizers. We use CCleaner for cleaning temp files, but apparently it hasn't been used in awhile. I've run it and set it to auto run at boot. The missing folder did not show up after cleaning up temp files.

Unhide Protected Operating System Files. (Explorer - Organize - Folder and Search options - View tab)

It will depend on the settings selected when first set-up, they are still in use as part of the "when i close the browser" Do this option.
this applies to cc and internet option settings
Roy

Unhiding protected system operating files did not reveal the App Data folder (which I accessed via %appdata%). I noticed when I went to re-check that the folder called CP6DU2Q6 was gone and a new file with a similar name was in it's place. Since this is all located under >Temporary Internet Files, I can understand why it changed. What I fail to understand is why that folder is not in the specified path.

Roy, I'm not sure what you're telling me to do.

AppData folder is hidden (show hidden files), Temp Internet Files is protected system (show protected system files)

%AppData% starts inside Roaming folder so you have to select AppData in Explorer address bar afterwards to see the 3 folders Local, LocalLow and Roaming. You will see AppData under your user folder though once you enable showing of hidden files/folders.

I guess you are pursuing this to satisfy your curiosity at the moment?

Does a normal pdf file open as Outlook as well? Default File Type Associations - Restore if so for the pdf file type

Temporary file deletion.

Check the settings, in Internet options and CC thats all im saying , they would have been set-up on install .

Roy

CosmicJest,
What version of Outlook?
What version of Adobe PDF Reader?
What security apps are installed?

That is not a sane place to save the file to. It is a sandboxed area (e.g. restricted computer access rights). Once viewing the PDF has completed, either Adobe or Outlook might have removed the folder (and thus the PDF). It is simple enough to test, repeat the steps that saves the PDF. Do not close anything. See if the file is in the location. Be aware that some of the folders in this path will have fake names.

If the file is not in the location that you think you saved it to, use a tool like Process Monitor to try and figure out what app is removing it.

If you don't want to go thru all of that - just save the PDF to a sane place (Downloads folder or Desktop) and be done with it

GokAy said:

AppData folder is hidden (show hidden files), Temp Internet Files is protected system (show protected system files)

%AppData% starts inside Roaming folder so you have to select AppData in Explorer address bar afterwards to see the 3 folders Local, LocalLow and Roaming. You will see AppData under your user folder though once you enable showing of hidden files/folders.

I guess you are pursuing this to satisfy your curiosity at the moment?

Does a normal pdf file open as Outlook as well? Default File Type Associations - Restore if so for the pdf file type

I personally find the App Data folder, specifically the Local and Roaming subfolders, to be very useful when backing up certain programs (e.g. Thunderbird and Evernote), and when cleaning up after uninstalls. I have hidden files set to display at home and at work, but sometimes I forget there's a difference between >Show Hidden Files and >Hide Protected System Operating Files. Oh well, such forgetfulness comes with age and too many things to remember! In any event, the user's computer is now set to show hidden files & hide protected files; however, the >Temporary Internet Files folder continues to be elusive.

I'm following through on this because I want to understand:
1. Why an Outlook email pdf attachment that is opened while in Outlook (double clicking on the pdf file opens Adobe) saves to an unlocateable folder when the user chooses >Save As, and
2. How the user can potentially retrieve the files already saved to that location.

The only pdf files on that computer that open in Outlook are the ones that I can see in the Adobe >Save As drop down menu, but can't be found when I follow the path shown.

UsernameIssues:
Outlook 2010
Adobe Acrobat IX
Norton 360, WinPatrol, MalwareBytes
These programs have all been in place for nearly five years.

I agree it's an insane place to save a file to. I have talked to the user about saving EVERYTHING to the Desktop.