Cannot create file "c:\User\...\Appdata\Roaming...". Access is denied.

[KumaraB]

Cannot create file "c:\User\...\Appdata\Roaming...". Access is denied.

I'm not sure what's the cause for this, but I believe it has to do with a recent SweetIM malware attack. I tried to fix it. And also did a system restore. Malware is gone, but this thing came up.

The error message comes up upon closing an app (NoteTab Light). It's trying to save some info, but can't. My browser, Opera, now also is unable to recall from the cache when it previously can. Apparently, something has changed that prevents writing to files within that folder. Maybe not just the Roaming folder, but the whole Appdata as well. I can't be sure.

In anyway, I found that I can manually add and edit files in the folder, but apps can't do that anymore. What could be the cause?

 

[Mintos45]

"Access is denied" could mean you're not administrator, or you haven't set the privileges of the action to allow yourself to do so..

 

[KumaraB]

I am logged in as administrator. Everything was working fine till then. In any case, how can I solve this issue?

 

[Mintos45]

I'm not too sure how, Appdata is, as it name says, for application data, so I assume you can't save anything in it (it was already hidden automatically by windows).

 

[pebbly]

Hi KumaraB, Welcome to the forums, You need to take ownership of the files Take Ownership of file - Vista Forums This tutorial will show you how to do it

 

[KumaraB]

Done that. Problem remains. Anything else I can do? I suspect some sort of registry change is the cause.

 

[KumaraB]

I've found out more about the issue. Apps actually can write new files into Appdata. What it can't do is modify existing files. What then could be the cause?

 

[KumaraB]

I found out more. Strangely, by deleting the file that apps can't overwrite, the problem seem to disappear. Let me test this further.

 

[Kaktussoft]

goto %userprofile% in windows explorer
right click appdata and check its security. click advanced

system, administrator, yourself... all have "full control"? Is it "inhereted" from folder c:\users\yourname?

 

[KumaraB]

goto %userprofile% in windows explorer
right click appdata and check its security. click advanced

system, administrator, yourself... all have "full control"? Is it "inhereted" from folder c:\users\yourname?

Yes and yes. On top of that, there's also another Allow type for Administrators (special, not inherited), which appeared after the "take ownership" attempt to solve the problem (but didn't).

 

[Kaktussoft]

rigth click appdata->security->advanced->change permissions. Post screenshot.

 

[edwar]

There are folders, well not really folders they are links, in the Roaming folder that you can not access. Why and what are you trying to save in there and what is the exact path to the folder you are trying to save in.

 

[KumaraB]

rigth click appdata->security->advanced->change permissions. Post screenshot.

Please see attached.

The problem seems to have been solved though. Still don't understand why, but deleting the data files that apps can't overwrite--e.g. C:\Users\admin\AppData\Roaming\NoteTab Light\NoteTab.fpr--enables the app to recreate the file, subsequently it has no more trouble overwriting them. The same applies for Opera's dcache files, and LibreOffice's extension files.

For weird reason, these files seem to have frozen in time. They are all dated 6 Sept, soon after which I did a system restore. So, I suspect that it has to do with the restore, though I can't be sure.

Please note that apps don't have any problem with some other data files.

Anyway, glad that I could somehow fix it.

 

[Kaktussoft]

rigth click appdata->security->advanced->change permissions. Post screenshot.

Please see attached.

The problem seems to have been solved though. Still don't understand why, but deleting the data files that apps can't overwrite--e.g. C:\Users\admin\AppData\Roaming\NoteTab Light\NoteTab.fpr--enables the app to recreate the file, subsequently it has no more trouble overwriting them. The same applies for Opera's dcache files, and LibreOffice's extension files.

For weird reason, these files seem to have frozen in time. They are all dated 6 Sept, soon after which I did a system restore. So, I suspect that it has to do with the restore, though I can't be sure.

Please note that apps don't have any problem with some other data files.

Anyway, glad that I could somehow fix it.

Click "change permissions" in that screen. Put checkmark on both questions at bottom. Now user "admin" (yourself) has full control of all files in that folder and subfolders.

 

[KumaraB]

Done. I wouldn't know if it solves the problem though, as the problem no longer occurs. I'll see how things go.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Done. I wouldn't know if it solves the problem though, as the problem no longer occurs. I'll see how things go.

The default security on appdata was fine. On subfolders as well, I think.
But something changed permissions on files in the folder.

In appdata permissions I see "administrators" - special. What special permissions? screenshot please

 

[KumaraB]

In appdata permissions I see "administrators" - special. What special permissions? screenshot please

Oh that's just due to the Take Ownership thing suggested earlier by pebbly. Shall I remove it?

 

[Kaktussoft]

In appdata permissions I see "administrators" - special. What special permissions? screenshot please

Oh that's just due to the Take Ownership thing suggested earlier by pebbly. Shall I remove it?

yes remove it. and same 2 checkmarks on bottom as told you a few hours ago. Administrators have full control anyway

 

[KumaraB]

In appdata permissions I see "administrators" - special. What special permissions? screenshot please

Oh that's just due to the Take Ownership thing suggested earlier by pebbly. Shall I remove it?

yes remove it. and same 2 checkmarks on bottom as told you a few hours ago. Administrators have full control anyway

That's what I thought. Thanks.