Access is Denied

[brucemc777]

OK, so I am going to not get irate and do something stoooopid (again).

I am new to Windows 7 and never did the Vista thing.

I am the only user on this installation and I set myself up as an administrator.

In Windows Explorer there are the folders which have the pretty little lock icons on them.

Some of them give me the "Access is Denied" error - "Location is not available" error window, "<Folder path> is not accessible. Access is denied." message.

Right now I am extremely frustrated at this behavior, but there might be some perfectly good explanation as to why there would be a folder and to deny access to it to an administrator; however, as it is the "Start Menu" folder under "ProgramData" and I would like to make an addition to it, I am fuming, and foaming at the mouth right now. I can't understand what the heck the reason would be to deny an administrator access to such a folder.

Could y'all tell me how to access it, and take a stab at 'splaining why the heck MS implemented this "feature" please?

Thank-you!

 

[zigzag3143]

OK, so I am going to not get irate and do something stoooopid (again).

I am new to Windows 7 and never did the Vista thing.

I am the only user on this installation and I set myself up as an administrator.

In Windows Explorer there are the folders which have the pretty little lock icons on them.

Some of them give me the "Access is Denied" error - "Location is not available" error window, "<Folder path> is not accessible. Access is denied." message.

Right now I am extremely frustrated at this behavior, but there might be some perfectly good explanation as to why there would be a folder and to deny access to it to an administrator; however, as it is the "Start Menu" folder under "ProgramData" and I would like to make an addition to it, I am fuming, and foaming at the mouth right now. I can't understand what the heck the reason would be to deny an administrator access to such a folder.

Could y'all tell me how to access it, and take a stab at 'splaining why the heck MS implemented this "feature" please?

Thank-you!

Hi Bruce and welcome

We all went thru the same angst when we first started using win 7. Win 7 stores things in different folders and the folders that are locked have nothing in them but links to where the data actually is. (usually app data on 32bit) They locked them because you know what would happen if they didnt.

The folder that kills most ppl is the documents and settings.

There are apps to change the "locked folders" but if there isnt anything to change why bother.

Ken J+

 

[logicearth]

The "Start Menu" folder right in the root of "ProgramData"? That is just a junction. You really want: "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu"

 

[brucemc777]

Ahhhhhh. Makes more sense now. About the only thing that doesn't make much sense to me is why those links show up as folders at all, but I can live with that. And thanks; found the right place!

 

[logicearth]

They show up as folder cause...broken old applications need to seem that as folders. When they attempt to access say "C:\Document and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs" they are in fact secretly working on "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs" but the application still thinks it is the former path. The reason these junctions are denied access (not even the god SYSTEM account has access) is to prevent scanning software from pulling duplicate files and creating infinite loops.

And folder that denies you access and when you attempt to "continue" but it still doesn't work. That is a sign that folder goes no where and just best to leave it alone.

 

[brucemc777]

The world makes a little more sense now!

Thank-you.

Want to take a crack at http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/43703-no-option-elevate-privledges.html ?

 

[stevieray]

So there are no actual documents or settings in the documents and settings folder? Where do they live nowadays?

 

[logicearth]

So there are no actual documents or settings in the documents and settings folder? Where do they live nowadays?

C:\Users

 

[jp2code]

So, the folder "C:\ProgramData\Documents" remains inaccessible?

 

[Antans]

So, the folder "C:\ProgramData\Documents" remains inaccessible?

This is a junction too. It points to "C:\Users\Public\Documents\"