Solved The access control list (ACL) structure is invalid

[andis59]

There is something wrong with my user account. I have only read rights under ProgramData and under AppData. If I try to change them I get The access control list (ACL) structure is invalid.

I have logged in as another user and there everything works, so it looks like there is something with my first account.

What could have happened and how do I fix it?

// Anders

 

[rraod]

ProgramData folder is a hidden folder which contains the application's settings. This folder is separated from Program Files for better security from Windows Vista onwards. AppData folder is also a hidden folder containing user specific settings. Microsoft has made these folders hidden from users on purpose.

Only Administrators have full permissions for ProgramData and AppData folders. Ordinary users will have read only permissions so that they are prevented from making damaging changes to applications.

Checkup whether your another user is an administrator.

I suggest you leave these folders from making changes, unless you know the implications.

 

[andis59]

The users are in the Administator group.

It started when I tried to install WinZip and I got an error when the installation program tried to create a menu. I got Warning 1909 Can't create .lnk due to read only setting problem.

I have since tried and whenever I, or a program, tries to create a menu link I get this error.

So I concluded that I have only read rights to AppData and ProgramData, and accessing the rights or owner in these directories will give the error: The access control list (ACL) structure is invalid.

If I log in as another user (also administrator) everything works perfectly!

// Anders

 

[rraod]

When you run WinZip installation program, it runs under System credentials. Check whether System (user) has full control for these folders.

Probably your user profile may have been corrupted. If you can, transfer all the profile settings from the present (not working) user id to a good user name and delete the user and its profile.

 

[andis59]

SYSTEM has full rights to the directories.

How do I transfer the profile settings from one account to another?

 

[scr]

Fix a corrupted user profile

Worked for me.

 

[andis59]

unfortunately it didn't work for me.
When I try to copy from my old user it starts to copy but then after a while it just aborts. No error message or anything...

I did the copying using Explorer that I have started as Admin.

I will try to boot in safe mode and do it commando style...

But it looks like it's time to reinstall everything...

// Anders

 

[andis59]

OK, so I have finally succeeded in copying the old user profile to the new.
But..., The desktop is not like the old desktop, it only contains program that has been installed for all users.
Also the Library - Document just contains a fraction of what should be there and is there if I look directly in Users\newUser\Documents

Edit: I have now checked and Document only contains documents that's in \Users\Public\Documents

So nothing in my local Documents are recognized...

Is there something more you need to do??

// Anders

 

[scr]

The method suggested by Microsoft worked for me. I did have to reset my desktop to what it was prior to creating the new account. I created a new Administrator account and all my files transferred over. I would be remiss to suggest anything further do to my inexperience.

Hopefully one of the "experts" here will advise you further.

 

[andis59]

So I have figured out why the desktop doesn't contain the same items as the old user.
I'm running a a Swedish version of Windows 7 and Microsoft has translated the names of the directory! Desktop is named Skrivbord, but when I backup it's still named Desktop, which means that when I restore I get a directory called Desktop, and the OS expects a directory called Skrivbord

I copied Desktop to Skrivbord (got a lot of messages that Desktop already existed...).
Now I have my desktop as I used to have!

Still haven't worked out why Documents only have public and not local, but I'm guessing that is the same problem...

If someone has any ideas please let me know!

// Anders