C:\Users\username\Application Data on Windows 7 and Vista got access denied

[albertwt]

Hi All,

 

how can I access the following folder in WIndows 7 and Vista:

C:\Users\username\Application Data

 

i got access denied when I'm an administrator ?

Edit/Delete Message

[albertwt]

ok got it

 

I've tried this as the solution:

1. Right click on the Sallie folder located in C:/Users/username then go to properties

2. Click the security tab

3. Click advanced

4. Click the owner tab

5. Click edit

6. Highlight your user name and check the replace owner on subcontainers and objects checkbox, click apply then ok. Then press ok on all of the other windows to exit out of them.

Edited March 18, 2010 by albertwt

[SYNACK]

It is like this by default, all user personal documents only have NTFS permissions for themselves and the system.

 

If you try to open the \users\username folder it should prompt you to allow admin access which will take ownership of the folders and files, add read write permissions and set the owner back to the original user.

 

You can do this manually by right clicking on the folder, selecting properties, security tab, advanced button, owner tab, edit button, select yourself as the new owner and click the apply to subfolders and files checkbox and click ok.

 

This will make you the owner and have full permissions, you then tweak the permissions as required to allow both you and the user access and if you wish set the owner back to the original user.

 

Edit: Beat me to it, remember to make sure that the original user still has rights as well otherwise this can cause havoc

[albertwt]

Thanks for the explanation mate,

 

I was confused and don't udnerstand why this could be happens :-|

[p858snake]

Thanks for the explanation mate,

 

I was confused and don't udnerstand why this could be happens :-|

Do you have the GP set to add administrators to the list to allow them to view it? by default user profiles are restricted to just themselves.

[albertwt]

no the only GPO that is active in my domain is for WSUS and proxy only.

 

since this is just adhoc once off request, i guess i shouldn't apply the GPO from my DC.

 

Cheers.

[srochford]

It's all part of user access control.

 

If you open a command prompt and try to change into that folder you'll get "access denied" as you've seen. If you right click on the command prompt icon and choose "run as administrator" then you'll be able to change into that folder - you're now using your admin rights and it all works as expected

[Arthur]

C:\Users\username\Application Data[/b]

 

i got access denied when I'm an administrator?

 

You should be going to C:\Users\Username\AppData instead. The "Application Data" folder is only there for backwards compatibility reasons i.e. pre-Vista applications. Unless you have a good reason to do so, the default permissions shouldn't be changed.

 

The website linked below has a good overview of junction points (which is what the old-style paths are) and how they relate to profiles in Vista and 7.

 

http://www.svrops.com/svrops/articles/jpoints.htm

 

[b]Old Path[/b] (2000/XP)                                                  [b]New Path[/b] (Vista/7)

\Documents and Settings	                                            \Users

\Documents and Settings\Default User or                             \Users\Default or
%LOGONSERVER%\NETLOGON\Default User                                 %LOGONSERVER%\NETLOGON\Default

\Documents and Settings\\My Documents                         \Users\\Documents

\Documents and Settings\\My Documents\My Pictures             \Users\\Pictures

\Documents and Settings\\My Documents\My Music                \Users\\Music

\Documents and Settings\\Favorites                            \Users\\Favorites

\Documents and Settings\\Application Data                     \Users\\AppData\Roaming

\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Application Data      \Users\\AppData\Local

\Documents and Settings\\Start Menu                           \Users\\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

\Documents and Settings\All Users                                   \Users\Public

\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu                        \ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop                           \Users\Public\Desktop

Edited March 19, 2010 by Arthur