appdata-local-Application Data-Application Data-Application Data infinitum ad nauseum. WHY

appdata-local-Application Data-Application Data-Application Data infinitum ad
nauseum. WHY

Why do I have this never ending folder, link, folder, link that never ends ?
I was able to measure how many bytes are in it, over 37 gigs.

Is this why Vista is so slow ? it has to span 70-100 folders just to findthe
config settings for the applications ?

I know it repeats itself more than 10 times. the 70-100 I hope is an
exaggeration. But it's like looking into a mirror of a mirror. There's noend
to it.

example:

C:\Users\ken\LOCALS~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\Application
Data\Application Data..

I just got bored but it goes on and on and on. The folder itself shows 0bytes
using properties, but using total commander it shows over 37 gigs. The link's
properties is a whole different thing.
All of the folders no mattter how many, were created 22 minutes ago. IOW : when
I opened the local settings folder.

 

Hi,

You have a problem with some program that you are running or are trying to
run that is causing this. Applications should run under
%userprofile%\Appdata, not under %userprofile%\local~1\application data. The
bottom level folder may tell you what application it is.



appdata-local-Application Data-Application Data-Application Data infinitum
ad
nauseum. WHY

Why do I have this never ending folder, link, folder, link that never ends ?
I was able to measure how many bytes are in it, over 37 gigs.

Is this why Vista is so slow ? it has to span 70-100 folders just to find
the
config settings for the applications ?

I know it repeats itself more than 10 times. the 70-100 I hope is an
exaggeration. But it's like looking into a mirror of a mirror. There's no
end
to it.

example:

C:\Users\ken\LOCALS~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\APPLIC~1\Application
Data\Application Data..

I just got bored but it goes on and on and on. The folder itself shows 0
bytes
using properties, but using total commander it shows over 37 gigs. The
link's
properties is a whole different thing.
All of the folders no mattter how many, were created 22 minutes ago. IOW :
when
I opened the local settings folder.

 

Yeah like that's going to happen. The below is just from a few seconds of
following the links.

 

Yeah like that's going to happen. The below is just from a few seconds of
following the links.

So, you have a problem with your computer and came in here to ask for help
but don't like the answer you got, right? We can't help you fix it if you
refuse to work a little. It's your computer, so only you can decide whether
or not you really want to get it working correctly. It's kind of like the
joke about the guy that prays to God to win the lottery, every week, but
never buys a ticket. You have to do your part if you want to get any
results.

 

There are limits. I followed it as far as I intended to. The problem was the
folder had the link to itself. You opened the link, you opened the folderetc..
ad infinitum ad nauseum.
IOW: there WAS NO END. The 101st folder opened was the 1st folder. The 101st
link, was the 1st link. The only differences appeared in the path bar, and the
tree. They were the SAME link & SAME folder.
re-opening the same 2 items over and over again, accomplishes nothing.
The DATE was IDENTICAL on the 10th Folder I opened. IOW #10 was not created at
the same time, it WAS the SAME FOLDER.

The folder opened folders that had a folder link that pointed to itself. It was
circular..

 

I think what he means is you should try and see what is going on with your
computer. Are there any files in the directory? Look at the dates on the
folders. Do they correspond to any programs that you were running at that
time?

Did you install something new recently? Another possibility is that it
could be a virus. Is your antivirus up to date? Since it's your computer,
try and see if you can narrow it down a bit more.

There are limits. I followed it as far as I intended to. The problem was the
folder had the link to itself. You opened the link, you opened the folder
etc..
ad infinitum ad nauseum.
IOW: there WAS NO END. The 101st folder opened was the 1st folder. The 101st
link, was the 1st link. The only differences appeared in the path bar, and
the
tree. They were the SAME link & SAME folder.
re-opening the same 2 items over and over again, accomplishes nothing.
The DATE was IDENTICAL on the 10th Folder I opened. IOW #10 was not created
at
the same time, it WAS the SAME FOLDER.

The folder opened folders that had a folder link that pointed to itself. It
was
circular..

 

"Bill Yanaire" clarified...

Thanks! I wasn't too clear at the time - diabetic need-to-eat syndrome. Yes,
there has to be more going on, and we need more info to figure out what
steps are needed to correct it. Sorry I wasn't more specific in my earlier
reply.

 

Might want to check the properties of said folders and see if it lists what
created it.

By the way, "C:\Users\<user>\appdata\local\application data" is, or at least
should be, nothing more than a shortcut.

There are limits. I followed it as far as I intended to. The problem was the
folder had the link to itself. You opened the link, you opened the folder
etc..
ad infinitum ad nauseum.
IOW: there WAS NO END. The 101st folder opened was the 1st folder. The 101st
link, was the 1st link. The only differences appeared in the path bar, and
the
tree. They were the SAME link & SAME folder.
re-opening the same 2 items over and over again, accomplishes nothing.
The DATE was IDENTICAL on the 10th Folder I opened. IOW #10 was not created
at
the same time, it WAS the SAME FOLDER.

The folder opened folders that had a folder link that pointed to itself. It
was
circular..

 

That's a new one on me, just where in properties does it tell you what created
something ?

this is the recursive mess

and it goes on and on and on...

 

Right, it is a recursive mess. My point is that in order to resolve it you
need to figure out what software on your system is trying to make a 'real'
folder out of it (as it is a designated system shortcut, this is not
possible). The properties of the folders, or the lowest level one, might
give clues.

Another thought is to run process explorer and see what software is
accessing that location:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/processexplorer.mspx

That's a new one on me, just where in properties does it tell you what
created
something ?

this is the recursive mess

and it goes on and on and on...

 

And this isn't happening on your Vista ?

This Vista is moving into the same situation I had with XP. I feel a cascading
failure coming on.
It killed a wallpaper gadget that's been working for awhile now the otherday.
Installing the new TV updates went to crap. Apple updated Itunes and it failed
to install correctly. Itunes worked with a download install. I used system
restore on XP. Went to using Acronis instead. Haven't tried a system restore on
vista yet, but what I heard the other day should confirm that vista's system
restore is as bad if not worse than the XP version.
But then why shouldn't it be Vista is just a clone of XP with a shiny wrapper.

I've always felt that M$ updates were the problem with most failures.

 

No, it isn't, and that's the problem. If you install software into Vista
using the same default directories it installed into on earlier versions,
then the software doesn't always work, plus it can sometimes break other
programs trying to use files/folders that the malfunctioning software
install has messed up. That's why several people are suggesting a bit of
research to discover -what- program caused the mess in the first place, so
we can help you fix it, and then fix the other problems it caused.

 

They moved some directories around, added a few more bells and whistles, but
Vista is pretty much a clone of XP. An improved version, but pretty much the
same thing.

I'm using that process explorer, but it has nothing to do with any folders that
I can see, or how to find out what's causing this recursive mess.

FWIW: I see folders in advanced mode which might explain why I see thisfolder
and others don't..

 

Hi,

No, it's not happening on any Vista system that I handle.

Installing the new TV updates went to crap. Apple updated Itunes and it
failed
to install correctly. Itunes worked with a download install.

Well, all sorts of people have been having trouble with Apple software on
Vista, and it's mainly because compatible versions weren't released until
after Vista went into retail. People were not patient enough to wait for
Apple to do what they should have done and installed, or attempted to
install, the older software versions. Many had to format and start over due
to the damage. The same problem can be ascribed to some other software as
well. Basically, something you installed or attempted to install went
bellyup, and what you are seeing is the result of it.

You've got two ways to deal with it, as it's really not doing anything other
than "being there". If it was locking your system up with a loop, then it'd
be a problem, but I don't get the impression that it is. You can ignore it,
or you can restore it.

It's much better, but the basic functionality of it will never be as good as
something like Acronis or other third party software whose only concern is
making and restoring an image backup.

No, it's not, not even close. And I'm not talking about the UI, I'm talking
about what's under the hood.

Actually, the #1 problem is non-compliant device driver files. Mostly
unsigned ones that users force into the system. Then they wonder why the
system goes all higgedly-piggedly. Using software versions not suitable for
the OS is the #2 problem, but it lags far behind the first as there is a lot
of backwards compatibility built in to handle this. Driver files, though
they are bits of software just like programs, have to be written for the OS
they are installed on. Use of ones designed for a different OS will nearly
always cause some instability.



<snip>

 

The wallpaper gadget now works.

the recursive directory is still ridiculous. But the fact is it was happening
on another machine. Here in this group. I have no idea what the thread was or
if it was fixed.

 

I just noted that I have the same problem in my Vista Home Premium, i.e.
a cascading series of Application Data shortcuts under
User/Appdata/Local/.... I deleted the second occurrance of Application
Data in the cascade. A message came up saying that "...the shortcut
didn't exists probably because it was directed to a network..." . I said
OK. Closed Windows Explorer, reopened it and the cascading shortcuts are
gone.

:smile:

 

You got lucky. I did the same thing. and the mess still exists.