Discussion:
Is root directory a protected data area?
(too old to reply)
Micky
2016-04-10 17:48:19 UTC
Permalink
Is the root directory of the windows/system drive a protected area in
Vista or Win7?

I have an early recollection of that being the case, or at least of
having trouble updating files there, but I can't find it online.

All I can find on this is "In short, UAC monitors a list of
“protected” folders and registry locations (\Program Files, \Program
Files (x86), \Windows, and HKLM\Software); any time an application
attempts to write to one of those locations, it redirects the attempt
to the user’s “virtual store”." - See more at:
http://www.blackbaudknowhow.com/tech-tips/windows-7-user-account-control-uac-%E2%80%93-what-is-it.htm#sthash.ORUyWKRR.dpuf
B00ze
2016-04-10 17:51:29 UTC
Permalink
Post by Micky
Is the root directory of the windows/system drive a protected area in
Vista or Win7?
Only if UAC is enabled, then all you can do on the root of C:\ is to
create folders (not files). If UAC is turned off, or if you log on using
the built-in Administrator account, then you can create files in the root.
Post by Micky
I have an early recollection of that being the case, or at least of
having trouble updating files there, but I can't find it online.
[snip]

Regards,
--
! _\|/_ Sylvain / ***@hotmail.com
! (o o) Member:David-Suzuki-Fdn/EFF/Red+Cross/SPCA/Planetary-Society-
oO-( )-Oo Giddyup, Beverly! -Picard
Micky
2016-04-10 17:55:53 UTC
Permalink
Post by B00ze
Post by Micky
Is the root directory of the windows/system drive a protected area in
Vista or Win7?
Only if UAC is enabled, then all you can do on the root of C:\ is to
create folders (not files). If UAC is turned off, or if you log on using
the built-in Administrator account, then you can create files in the root.
Thanks for the quick response. That's what I thought but I couldn't
find it on the web. I only found that one list which was apparently
wrong.

So, if you were me and you had UAC turned off, would you put backup
logs in your root directory, as I used to do, or for any reason would
you not? One conceivable reason: Would you allow for some unlikely
time in the future when I turned UAC on again and then lost my first
set of logs afterwards, and maybe was so confused I didn't know why?
Post by B00ze
Post by Micky
I have an early recollection of that being the case, or at least of
having trouble updating files there, but I can't find it online.
[snip]
Regards,
B00ze
2016-04-10 19:14:16 UTC
Permalink
Post by Micky
Post by B00ze
Post by Micky
Is the root directory of the windows/system drive a protected area in
Vista or Win7?
Only if UAC is enabled, then all you can do on the root of C:\ is to
create folders (not files). If UAC is turned off, or if you log on using
the built-in Administrator account, then you can create files in the root.
Thanks for the quick response. That's what I thought but I couldn't
find it on the web. I only found that one list which was apparently
wrong.
So, if you were me and you had UAC turned off, would you put backup
logs in your root directory, as I used to do, or for any reason would
you not? One conceivable reason: Would you allow for some unlikely
time in the future when I turned UAC on again and then lost my first
set of logs afterwards, and maybe was so confused I didn't know why?
Why not put them in a folder, this way all your logs are neatly stored
in one place? I have UAC disabled (it's useless) but I still use folders
to keep things on C:\ - As a general rule I don't put files in the root
of any drive; in the FAT days there was a limit to how many files you
could store in the root, but no limit inside folders...

Regards,
--
! _\|/_ Sylvain / ***@hotmail.com
! (o o) Member:David-Suzuki-Fdn/EFF/Red+Cross/SPCA/Planetary-Society-
oO-( )-Oo You CAN trust the government ... ask the Indians!
Micky
2016-04-11 15:05:31 UTC
Permalink
Post by B00ze
Post by Micky
Post by B00ze
Post by Micky
Is the root directory of the windows/system drive a protected area in
Vista or Win7?
Only if UAC is enabled, then all you can do on the root of C:\ is to
create folders (not files). If UAC is turned off, or if you log on using
the built-in Administrator account, then you can create files in the root.
Thanks for the quick response. That's what I thought but I couldn't
find it on the web. I only found that one list which was apparently
wrong.
So, if you were me and you had UAC turned off, would you put backup
logs in your root directory, as I used to do, or for any reason would
you not? One conceivable reason: Would you allow for some unlikely
time in the future when I turned UAC on again and then lost my first
set of logs afterwards, and maybe was so confused I didn't know why?
Why not put them in a folder, this way all your logs are neatly stored
Okay.
Post by B00ze
in one place? I have UAC disabled (it's useless) but I still use folders
to keep things on C:\ - As a general rule I don't put files in the root
of any drive; in the FAT days there was a limit to how many files you
could store in the root, but no limit inside folders...
I know about that, but I've never gone over about 40 files in the
root. What I don't like is having many subdirectories one level
below the root. But I did it anyhow. I could have put the logs in
Data, but I don't back up logs so I made it Alogs so it would be at
the top and easy to find.

Thanks
Post by B00ze
Regards,
Paul
2016-04-10 18:06:05 UTC
Permalink
Post by Micky
Is the root directory of the windows/system drive a protected area in
Vista or Win7?
I have an early recollection of that being the case, or at least of
having trouble updating files there, but I can't find it online.
All I can find on this is "In short, UAC monitors a list of
“protected” folders and registry locations (\Program Files, \Program
Files (x86), \Windows, and HKLM\Software); any time an application
attempts to write to one of those locations, it redirects the attempt
http://www.blackbaudknowhow.com/tech-tips/windows-7-user-account-control-uac-%E2%80%93-what-is-it.htm#sthash.ORUyWKRR.dpuf
It's recommended not to write there.

And you'll eventually find an OS that
stops you from writing there.

*******

The main reason most people write to C: ?

1) Start a Print to File.

2) A dialog box pops up, asking for a path
for the output. However, it isn't the normal
navigation dialog with icons and partitions and
so on. It just has room to type in a path.

3) A user has to quickly think up a path to use,
by typing something like "C:\output.prn". If
Microsoft would fix their stupid print to file
setup so it used the larger dialog, users wouldn't
end up writing to the root of C: out of frustration.

Paul
Micky
2016-04-10 18:32:30 UTC
Permalink
Post by Paul
Post by Micky
Is the root directory of the windows/system drive a protected area in
Vista or Win7?
I have an early recollection of that being the case, or at least of
having trouble updating files there, but I can't find it online.
All I can find on this is "In short, UAC monitors a list of
“protected” folders and registry locations (\Program Files, \Program
Files (x86), \Windows, and HKLM\Software); any time an application
attempts to write to one of those locations, it redirects the attempt
http://www.blackbaudknowhow.com/tech-tips/windows-7-user-account-control-uac-%E2%80%93-what-is-it.htm#sthash.ORUyWKRR.dpuf
It's recommended not to write there.
Okay.
Post by Paul
And you'll eventually find an OS that
stops you from writing there.
Okay.
Post by Paul
*******
The main reason most people write to C: ?
1) Start a Print to File.
2) A dialog box pops up, asking for a path
for the output. However, it isn't the normal
navigation dialog with icons and partitions and
so on. It just has room to type in a path.
3) A user has to quickly think up a path to use,
by typing something like "C:\output.prn". If
Microsoft would fix their stupid print to file
setup so it used the larger dialog, users wouldn't
end up writing to the root of C: out of frustration.
Paul
Yes, I think those all have applied to me.

Thanks.
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