Can't Access the Documents and Settings folder

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16-04-2007
glamart

Can't Access the Documents and Settings folder

Any reason why Documents and Settings folder can't be accessed? I
tried to change permissions for the folder (including in Safe Mode)
and got access denied?
Any ideas will be appreciated.
16-04-2007
wwwmikey@gmail.com

Re: Can't Access the Documents and Settings folder

On Apr 15, 9:28 pm, "glamart" <glamar...@NScomcast.net> wrote:
> Any reason why Documents and Settings folder can't be accessed? I
> tried to change permissions for the folder (including in Safe Mode)
> and got access denied?
> Any ideas will be appreciated.

You have to take ownership of the folder before you can edit it. By
default "system" owns the folder not administrator so you do no have
rights to access the folder.
Right click and go to properties then security and give the
administrator ownership.
16-04-2007
dean-dean

Re: Can't Access the Documents and Settings folder

Vista has hidden junctions, which, in Windows Explorer, are shown as hidden
shortcuts, with File Folder properties; they are used, in part, to redirect
program installations that rely on the old XP folder names and XP
locations). "Documents and Settings" is one of those junctions, and not a
folder as such (and yes, when clicked on, will give you an "access denied"
message). For more info, see:

http://www.devsource.com/article2/0,1895,1999637,00.asp

"glamart" <glamartNS@NScomcast.net> wrote in message
news:uaJrKa8fHHA.4064@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Any reason why Documents and Settings folder can't be accessed? I tried to
> change permissions for the folder (including in Safe Mode) and got access
> denied?
> Any ideas will be appreciated.
>
16-04-2007
Bruce Sanderson

Re: Can't Access the Documents and Settings folder

What I don't see in the page dean-dean referred you to is that the folder
called "Users" is essentially a replacement for "Documents and Settings".

The reason you get access denied on the Junctions is becuase of the "Deny"
permission for the "Everyone" group. Some people have suggested removing
this, but Microsoft recommends not doing so becuase it can result in infinte
loops in some applications.

--
Bruce Sanderson MVP Printing
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.

"glamart" <glamartNS@NScomcast.net> wrote in message
news:uaJrKa8fHHA.4064@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Any reason why Documents and Settings folder can't be accessed? I tried to
> change permissions for the folder (including in Safe Mode) and got access
> denied?
> Any ideas will be appreciated.
>
16-04-2007
Rock

Re: Can't Access the Documents and Settings folder

"glamart" <glamartNS@NScomcast.net> wrote
> Any reason why Documents and Settings folder can't be accessed? I tried to
> change permissions for the folder (including in Safe Mode) and got access
> denied?
> Any ideas will be appreciated.

You don't need access to this folder, among others. Why? Because all it
contains is a pointer to the actual folder in Vista where the files are
kept. Vista has certain folders that are the same as in XP. They are in
Vista for compatibility purposes for legacy software, however they don't
hold actual data. They are what is called a junction point (similar to a
shortcut). All it contains is a pointer. You should not change the access
permissions on these folders. It could cause problems for legacy apps.

Any folder that is shown dimmed with the shortcut arrow and gives an access
denied message is one of these. To see the actual folder it points to open
an elevated command prompt (from Start type in cmd, then right click on it
at the top and choose Run as Administrator). Navigate to the folder that
has the folder in question and give the command
dir /al

Junctions are indentified by <Junction> and the folder it points to is
listed at the end of the line in brackets. For Documents and Settings the
real folder is C:\Users.

From a post by Jimmy Brush, MVP, here is a list of all these folders

Windows XP Location Windows Vista Location
\Documents and Settings \Users
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\My Documents \Users\$USER$\Documents
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\My Documents\My Music \Users\$USER$\Music
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\My Documents\My Pictures
\Users\$USER$\Pictures
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\My Documents\My Videos
\Users\$USER$\Videos
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\Application Data
\Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\Cookies
\Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings
\Users\$USER$\AppData\Local
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\NetHood
\Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\PrintHood
\Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Printer Shortcuts
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\Recent
\Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\SendTo
\Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\Start Menu
\Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\Templates
\Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings\Application Data
\Users\$USER$\AppData\Local
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings\History
\Users\$USER$\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\History
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
\Users\$USER$\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files
\Documents and Settings\All Users \ProgramData
\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data \ProgramData
\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop \Users\Public\Desktop
\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents \Users\Public\Documents
\Documents and Settings\All Users\Favorites \Users\Public\Favorites
\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
\Documents and Settings\All Users\Templates
\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Templates
\Documents and Settings\Default User \Users\Default "

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
16-04-2007
Rock

Re: Can't Access the Documents and Settings folder

<wwwmikey@gmail.com> wrote
> On Apr 15, 9:28 pm, "glamart" <glamar...@NScomcast.net> wrote:
>> Any reason why Documents and Settings folder can't be accessed? I
>> tried to change permissions for the folder (including in Safe Mode)
>> and got access denied?
>> Any ideas will be appreciated.
>
> You have to take ownership of the folder before you can edit it. By
> default "system" owns the folder not administrator so you do no have
> rights to access the folder.
> Right click and go to properties then security and give the
> administrator ownership.

You don't need to access that folder (or several others). They are just
junction points that contain pointers to the actual folder where the files
are kept. See my reply to the OP.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
16-04-2007
Joe Guidera

Re: Can't Access the Documents and Settings folder

It's a junction point. You should NOT change it's permissions.

Joe

"glamart" <glamartNS@NScomcast.net> wrote in message
news:uaJrKa8fHHA.4064@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Any reason why Documents and Settings folder can't be accessed? I tried to
> change permissions for the folder (including in Safe Mode) and got access
> denied?
> Any ideas will be appreciated.
>
16-04-2007
glamart

Re: Can't Access the Documents and Settings folder

Great info - thanks to all!
--

<wwwmikey@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1176688880.781081.13190@y80g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> On Apr 15, 9:28 pm, "glamart" <glamar...@NScomcast.net> wrote:
>> Any reason why Documents and Settings folder can't be accessed? I
>> tried to change permissions for the folder (including in Safe
>> Mode)
>> and got access denied?
>> Any ideas will be appreciated.
>
> You have to take ownership of the folder before you can edit it.
> By
> default "system" owns the folder not administrator so you do no
> have
> rights to access the folder.
> Right click and go to properties then security and give the
> administrator ownership.
>
>
16-04-2007
glamart

Re: Can't Access the Documents and Settings folder

I was wondering about "Users" also - thanks!
--

"Bruce Sanderson" <bsanders@newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message
news:0060640A-10BD-4594-922C-7DBB15E9DFFF@microsoft.com...
> What I don't see in the page dean-dean referred you to is that the
> folder called "Users" is essentially a replacement for "Documents
> and Settings".
>
> The reason you get access denied on the Junctions is becuase of
> the "Deny" permission for the "Everyone" group. Some people have
> suggested removing this, but Microsoft recommends not doing so
> becuase it can result in infinte loops in some applications.
>
> --
> Bruce Sanderson MVP Printing
> http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders
>
> It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong
> question.
>
>
>
> "glamart" <glamartNS@NScomcast.net> wrote in message
> news:uaJrKa8fHHA.4064@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> Any reason why Documents and Settings folder can't be accessed? I
>> tried to change permissions for the folder (including in Safe
>> Mode) and got access denied?
>> Any ideas will be appreciated.
>>
>
16-04-2007
glamart

Re: Can't Access the Documents and Settings folder

Good info - thanks!
--

"Rock" <Rock@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:uEiVGv9fHHA.4536@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> "glamart" <glamartNS@NScomcast.net> wrote
>> Any reason why Documents and Settings folder can't be accessed? I
>> tried to change permissions for the folder (including in Safe
>> Mode) and got access denied?
>> Any ideas will be appreciated.
>
> You don't need access to this folder, among others. Why? Because
> all it contains is a pointer to the actual folder in Vista where
> the files are kept. Vista has certain folders that are the same
> as in XP. They are in Vista for compatibility purposes for legacy
> software, however they don't hold actual data. They are what is
> called a junction point (similar to a shortcut). All it contains
> is a pointer. You should not change the access permissions on
> these folders. It could cause problems for legacy apps.
>
> Any folder that is shown dimmed with the shortcut arrow and gives
> an access denied message is one of these. To see the actual
> folder it points to open an elevated command prompt (from Start
> type in cmd, then right click on it at the top and choose Run as
> Administrator). Navigate to the folder that has the folder in
> question and give the command
> dir /al
>
> Junctions are indentified by <Junction> and the folder it points
> to is listed at the end of the line in brackets. For Documents
> and Settings the real folder is C:\Users.
>
> From a post by Jimmy Brush, MVP, here is a list of all these
> folders
>
> Windows XP Location Windows Vista Location
> \Documents and Settings \Users
> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\My Documents
> \Users\$USER$\Documents
> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\My Documents\My Music
> \Users\$USER$\Music
> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\My Documents\My Pictures
> \Users\$USER$\Pictures
> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\My Documents\My Videos
> \Users\$USER$\Videos
> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Application Data
> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming
> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Cookies
> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies
> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings
> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Local
> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\NetHood
> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts
> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\PrintHood
> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Printer Shortcuts
> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Recent
> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent
> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\SendTo
> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo
> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Start Menu
> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Templates
> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates
> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings\Application Data
> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Local
> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings\History
> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\History
> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings\Temporary Internet
> Files
> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary
> Internet Files
> \Documents and Settings\All Users \ProgramData
> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data
> \ProgramData
> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
> \Users\Public\Desktop
> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents
> \Users\Public\Documents
> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Favorites
> \Users\Public\Favorites
> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
> \ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Templates
> \ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Templates
> \Documents and Settings\Default User \Users\Default "
>
>
> --
> Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
17-04-2007
Rock

Re: Can't Access the Documents and Settings folder

You're welcome.

"glamart" <glamartNS@NScomcast.net> wrote
> Good info - thanks!

> "Rock" <Rock@nospam.net> wrote

>> "glamart" <glamartNS@NScomcast.net> wrote
>>> Any reason why Documents and Settings folder can't be accessed? I
>>> tried to change permissions for the folder (including in Safe
>>> Mode) and got access denied?
>>> Any ideas will be appreciated.
>>
>> You don't need access to this folder, among others. Why? Because
>> all it contains is a pointer to the actual folder in Vista where
>> the files are kept. Vista has certain folders that are the same
>> as in XP. They are in Vista for compatibility purposes for legacy
>> software, however they don't hold actual data. They are what is
>> called a junction point (similar to a shortcut). All it contains
>> is a pointer. You should not change the access permissions on
>> these folders. It could cause problems for legacy apps.
>>
>> Any folder that is shown dimmed with the shortcut arrow and gives
>> an access denied message is one of these. To see the actual
>> folder it points to open an elevated command prompt (from Start
>> type in cmd, then right click on it at the top and choose Run as
>> Administrator). Navigate to the folder that has the folder in
>> question and give the command
>> dir /al
>>
>> Junctions are indentified by <Junction> and the folder it points
>> to is listed at the end of the line in brackets. For Documents
>> and Settings the real folder is C:\Users.
>>
>> From a post by Jimmy Brush, MVP, here is a list of all these
>> folders
>>
>> Windows XP Location Windows Vista Location
>> \Documents and Settings \Users
>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\My Documents
>> \Users\$USER$\Documents
>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\My Documents\My Music
>> \Users\$USER$\Music
>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\My Documents\My Pictures
>> \Users\$USER$\Pictures
>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\My Documents\My Videos
>> \Users\$USER$\Videos
>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Application Data
>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming
>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Cookies
>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies
>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings
>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Local
>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\NetHood
>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts
>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\PrintHood
>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Printer Shortcuts
>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Recent
>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent
>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\SendTo
>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo
>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Start Menu
>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Templates
>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates
>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings\Application Data
>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Local
>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings\History
>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\History
>> \Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings\Temporary Internet
>> Files
>> \Users\$USER$\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary
>> Internet Files
>> \Documents and Settings\All Users \ProgramData
>> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data
>> \ProgramData
>> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
>> \Users\Public\Desktop
>> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents
>> \Users\Public\Documents
>> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Favorites
>> \Users\Public\Favorites
>> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
>> \ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
>> \Documents and Settings\All Users\Templates
>> \ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Templates
>> \Documents and Settings\Default User \Users\Default "

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
17-04-2007
dean-dean

Re: Can't Access the Documents and Settings folder

Quoting the article mentioned in my previous post:

"I haven't talked with anyone who has a good idea about why Microsoft made
the "Documents and Settings" folder in Vista a junction. The only idea I've
come up with is that some applications had problems accessing folders with
spaces in the name. You'll find the settings in the "Users" folder now; the
'Documents and Settings' folder is a thing of the past."

"glamart" <glamartNS@NScomcast.net> wrote in message
news:OsLYGECgHHA.596@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>I was wondering about "Users" also - thanks!
> --
>
> "Bruce Sanderson" <bsanders@newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message
> news:0060640A-10BD-4594-922C-7DBB15E9DFFF@microsoft.com...
>> What I don't see in the page dean-dean referred you to is that the folder
>> called "Users" is essentially a replacement for "Documents and Settings".
>>
>> The reason you get access denied on the Junctions is becuase of the
>> "Deny" permission for the "Everyone" group. Some people have suggested
>> removing this, but Microsoft recommends not doing so becuase it can
>> result in infinte loops in some applications.
>>
>> --
>> Bruce Sanderson MVP Printing
>> http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders
>>
>> It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.
>>
>>
>>
>> "glamart" <glamartNS@NScomcast.net> wrote in message
>> news:uaJrKa8fHHA.4064@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>> Any reason why Documents and Settings folder can't be accessed? I tried
>>> to change permissions for the folder (including in Safe Mode) and got
>>> access denied?
>>> Any ideas will be appreciated.
>>>
>>
>
>
18-04-2007
smrtchld104

Re: Can't Access the Documents and Settings folder

I recently installed Vista on a new hard drive, but in a quest to pull
some data pictures and backgrounds off of my old windows xp harddrive i
put it in a usb enclousure. I've since switched back to my XP load and
vista is on a different Physical drive, and nothing else has changed
except for opening my pictures folder in vista. I now can't access the
My pictures folder in XP. It says "access denied" but if i know the
exact path i can open files from command line, but can't browse the my
pictures folder and the size is 0 kbytes.
What did i do to my permissions and i do i reset them in xp to continue
using xp?
Thanks

--
smrtchld104
18-04-2007
Rock

Re: Can't Access the Documents and Settings folder

"smrtchld104" <smartguy10104@yahoo.com> wrote

> I recently installed Vista on a new hard drive, but in a quest to pull
> some data pictures and backgrounds off of my old windows xp harddrive i
> put it in a usb enclousure. I've since switched back to my XP load and
> vista is on a different Physical drive, and nothing else has changed
> except for opening my pictures folder in vista. I now can't access the
> My pictures folder in XP. It says "access denied" but if i know the
> exact path i can open files from command line, but can't browse the my
> pictures folder and the size is 0 kbytes.
> What did i do to my permissions and i do i reset them in xp to continue
> using xp?

This really is best posted in an XP newsgroup since it deals with
permissions in XP, but in any event, in XP from Start | Help and Support
search on Ownership and Permissions or see these articles.

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=308421

How to set, view, change, or remove file and folder permissions in Windows
XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308418/en-us

How to set, view, change, or remove special permissions for files and
folders in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308419/en-us

Also if needed see:
http://www.dougknox.com/
Win XP Tips
How Do I Get the Security Tab in Properties?

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
19-04-2007
Bruce Sanderson

Re: Can't Access the Documents and Settings folder

dean-dean: My apologies, somehow I missed that part!

--
Bruce Sanderson MVP Printing
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.

"dean-dean" <dean-dean@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:uHVv7zKgHHA.3676@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Quoting the article mentioned in my previous post:
>
> "I haven't talked with anyone who has a good idea about why Microsoft made
> the "Documents and Settings" folder in Vista a junction. The only idea
> I've
> come up with is that some applications had problems accessing folders with
> spaces in the name. You'll find the settings in the "Users" folder now;
> the
> 'Documents and Settings' folder is a thing of the past."
>
> "glamart" <glamartNS@NScomcast.net> wrote in message
> news:OsLYGECgHHA.596@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>I was wondering about "Users" also - thanks!
>> --
>>
>> "Bruce Sanderson" <bsanders@newsgroups.nospam> wrote in message
>> news:0060640A-10BD-4594-922C-7DBB15E9DFFF@microsoft.com...
>>> What I don't see in the page dean-dean referred you to is that the
>>> folder
>>> called "Users" is essentially a replacement for "Documents and
>>> Settings".
>>>
>>> The reason you get access denied on the Junctions is becuase of the
>>> "Deny" permission for the "Everyone" group. Some people have suggested
>>> removing this, but Microsoft recommends not doing so becuase it can
>>> result in infinte loops in some applications.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Bruce Sanderson MVP Printing
>>> http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders
>>>
>>> It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "glamart" <glamartNS@NScomcast.net> wrote in message
>>> news:uaJrKa8fHHA.4064@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>> Any reason why Documents and Settings folder can't be accessed? I tried
>>>> to change permissions for the folder (including in Safe Mode) and got
>>>> access denied?
>>>> Any ideas will be appreciated.
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>