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Folders now missing...they were there yesterday

 
 
Steve Wood
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Posts: n/a

 
      08-29-2007
I just installed Vista. Yesterday when I opened my C drive there were
folders such as Documents And Settings, and what looked like shortcuts to
folders like Local Settings which I was not allowed to open. Now when I
click on the C drive I don't see Documents And Settings. And, when I click
on Administrator I no longer see a lot of shortcut folders or whatever...all
I see are folders that I can click on. This is very disturbing.

I WANT TO SEE EVERYTHING ON MY HARD DRIVE AND HAVE TOTAL ACCESS PLEASE.

Thank you.
 
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PaulB
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Posts: n/a

 
      08-29-2007
First , these are not real folders. They are called junctions and they are
there to interface with older programs. You can only see them if "Hide
protected operating system files" is unchecked.
--
Paul


"Steve Wood" wrote:

> I just installed Vista. Yesterday when I opened my C drive there were
> folders such as Documents And Settings, and what looked like shortcuts to
> folders like Local Settings which I was not allowed to open. Now when I
> click on the C drive I don't see Documents And Settings. And, when I click
> on Administrator I no longer see a lot of shortcut folders or whatever...all
> I see are folders that I can click on. This is very disturbing.
>
> I WANT TO SEE EVERYTHING ON MY HARD DRIVE AND HAVE TOTAL ACCESS PLEASE.
>
> Thank you.

 
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Steve Wood
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Posts: n/a

 
      08-29-2007
Thanks for the reply. I just checked and you are right...something went
behind my back and reset my folder options in all my folders to hide
operating system files...I think it was the last windows update that did
it...is there any information on what else it did behind my back?

So, now let's talk about whether they are real folders or not. For example,
"Documents and Settings". If I left-click on it I get an "Access is denied"
popup. If I right-click I get a Properties multi-tabbed dialog window and
the first thing it says is Type: File Folder. If it is not a folder then why
does it say it is a folder, and why does it tell me access denied? If it is
a junction then it should take me where the new files are stored or provide
me with some information on exactly what it is that I clicked on instead of
telling me "Access is denied".

Also, apparently we need some help for users that are familiar with XP that
has all the information about these "junctions" and other such problems being
sprung on us. All I can find that was installed on Vista is basic help
beginning with how to use a keyboard and mouse...not very helpful for someone
like me who has been developing software and building my own computers since
1983.

"PaulB" wrote:

> First , these are not real folders. They are called junctions and they are
> there to interface with older programs. You can only see them if "Hide
> protected operating system files" is unchecked.
> --
> Paul
>
>
> "Steve Wood" wrote:
>
> > I just installed Vista. Yesterday when I opened my C drive there were
> > folders such as Documents And Settings, and what looked like shortcuts to
> > folders like Local Settings which I was not allowed to open. Now when I
> > click on the C drive I don't see Documents And Settings. And, when I click
> > on Administrator I no longer see a lot of shortcut folders or whatever...all
> > I see are folders that I can click on. This is very disturbing.
> >
> > I WANT TO SEE EVERYTHING ON MY HARD DRIVE AND HAVE TOTAL ACCESS PLEASE.
> >
> > Thank you.

 
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Malke
Guest
Posts: n/a

 
      08-29-2007
Steve Wood wrote:
> Thanks for the reply. I just checked and you are right...something went
> behind my back and reset my folder options in all my folders to hide
> operating system files...I think it was the last windows update that did
> it...is there any information on what else it did behind my back?
>
> So, now let's talk about whether they are real folders or not. For example,
> "Documents and Settings". If I left-click on it I get an "Access is denied"
> popup. If I right-click I get a Properties multi-tabbed dialog window and
> the first thing it says is Type: File Folder. If it is not a folder then why
> does it say it is a folder, and why does it tell me access denied? If it is
> a junction then it should take me where the new files are stored or provide
> me with some information on exactly what it is that I clicked on instead of
> telling me "Access is denied".


(snippage)

Information about junctions:

From MVP Jimmy Brush - Many folders used by earlier versions of Windows
have been moved to a new location or given a new name in Windows Vista.
However, the old folders can still be seen if you have enabled Show
Hidden Files. Notice they are displayed with a transparent icon and a
shortcut symbol.

Although these look like folders, they are actually what is known as a
junction. Junctions behave like shortcuts, but look just like regular
folders. Their purpose is to silently redirect programs that access them
to their Windows Vista equivalent.

Since junctions aren't really folders, it is not possible to access
them, and any attempt to do so will give you an "Access Denied" error.

Here is a list of all of the folders that have been moved in Windows
Vista, along with their new location:
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\Co okies
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings
\Users\$USER$\AppData\Local
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\NetHood
\Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Ne twork Shortcuts
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\PrintHood
\Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Pr inter Shortcuts
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\Recent
\Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Re cent
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\SendTo
\Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Se ndTo
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\Start Menu
\Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\St art Menu
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\Templates
\Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Te mplates
\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\Hist ory
\Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
\Users\$USER$\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temp orary 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

From MVP Keith Miller - With Vista, you have a UserName folder as you
did on XP. It is now found under 'C:\Users' rather than 'C:\Documents
and Settings' (quite an improvement, I think). It has subfolders named
AppData (normally hidden), Contacts, Documents, Downloads, Favorites,
Links, Music, Pictures, Saved Games, Searches and Videos.

Open a command prompt & issue a plain 'dir' command. You will see the
folders I just mentioned. Now use the command 'dir /al'.

You will see a listing of a file-system level shortcuts known as a
Junctions. These are the icons with shortcut arrows that you are
seeing. Their names corespond to the the old XP user folder structure.
They "point' to the coresponding new user folder in Vista. They are
created so that software that was coded with the XP folder structure in
mind would be less likely to 'break'

HTH,

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
 
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PaulB
Guest
Posts: n/a

 
      08-29-2007
Well I can't comment on why various error messages are so cryptic but Google
Vista Junctions and you will find a wealth of information.
--
Paul


"Steve Wood" wrote:

> Thanks for the reply. I just checked and you are right...something went
> behind my back and reset my folder options in all my folders to hide
> operating system files...I think it was the last windows update that did
> it...is there any information on what else it did behind my back?
>
> So, now let's talk about whether they are real folders or not. For example,
> "Documents and Settings". If I left-click on it I get an "Access is denied"
> popup. If I right-click I get a Properties multi-tabbed dialog window and
> the first thing it says is Type: File Folder. If it is not a folder then why
> does it say it is a folder, and why does it tell me access denied? If it is
> a junction then it should take me where the new files are stored or provide
> me with some information on exactly what it is that I clicked on instead of
> telling me "Access is denied".
>
> Also, apparently we need some help for users that are familiar with XP that
> has all the information about these "junctions" and other such problems being
> sprung on us. All I can find that was installed on Vista is basic help
> beginning with how to use a keyboard and mouse...not very helpful for someone
> like me who has been developing software and building my own computers since
> 1983.
>
> "PaulB" wrote:
>
> > First , these are not real folders. They are called junctions and they are
> > there to interface with older programs. You can only see them if "Hide
> > protected operating system files" is unchecked.
> > --
> > Paul
> >
> >
> > "Steve Wood" wrote:
> >
> > > I just installed Vista. Yesterday when I opened my C drive there were
> > > folders such as Documents And Settings, and what looked like shortcuts to
> > > folders like Local Settings which I was not allowed to open. Now when I
> > > click on the C drive I don't see Documents And Settings. And, when I click
> > > on Administrator I no longer see a lot of shortcut folders or whatever...all
> > > I see are folders that I can click on. This is very disturbing.
> > >
> > > I WANT TO SEE EVERYTHING ON MY HARD DRIVE AND HAVE TOTAL ACCESS PLEASE.
> > >
> > > Thank you.

 
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Ronnie Vernon MVP
Guest
Posts: n/a

 
      08-29-2007
Steve

Here is another website that has a lot of information about Junctions in
Vista.

Windows Vista Junction Points:
http://www.svrops.com/svrops/articles/jpoints.htm

--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User


"Steve Wood" <> wrote in message
news:518B3699-3A7E-46E4-A498-...
> Thanks for the reply. I just checked and you are right...something went
> behind my back and reset my folder options in all my folders to hide
> operating system files...I think it was the last windows update that did
> it...is there any information on what else it did behind my back?
>
> So, now let's talk about whether they are real folders or not. For
> example,
> "Documents and Settings". If I left-click on it I get an "Access is
> denied"
> popup. If I right-click I get a Properties multi-tabbed dialog window and
> the first thing it says is Type: File Folder. If it is not a folder then
> why
> does it say it is a folder, and why does it tell me access denied? If it
> is
> a junction then it should take me where the new files are stored or
> provide
> me with some information on exactly what it is that I clicked on instead
> of
> telling me "Access is denied".
>
> Also, apparently we need some help for users that are familiar with XP
> that
> has all the information about these "junctions" and other such problems
> being
> sprung on us. All I can find that was installed on Vista is basic help
> beginning with how to use a keyboard and mouse...not very helpful for
> someone
> like me who has been developing software and building my own computers
> since
> 1983.
>
> "PaulB" wrote:
>
>> First , these are not real folders. They are called junctions and they
>> are
>> there to interface with older programs. You can only see them if "Hide
>> protected operating system files" is unchecked.
>> --
>> Paul
>>
>>
>> "Steve Wood" wrote:
>>
>> > I just installed Vista. Yesterday when I opened my C drive there were
>> > folders such as Documents And Settings, and what looked like shortcuts
>> > to
>> > folders like Local Settings which I was not allowed to open. Now when
>> > I
>> > click on the C drive I don't see Documents And Settings. And, when I
>> > click
>> > on Administrator I no longer see a lot of shortcut folders or
>> > whatever...all
>> > I see are folders that I can click on. This is very disturbing.
>> >
>> > I WANT TO SEE EVERYTHING ON MY HARD DRIVE AND HAVE TOTAL ACCESS PLEASE.
>> >
>> > Thank you.


 
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