Accessing "Application Data" in Windows 7.
Guys I've installed Windows 7 operating system on my PC and I need to access "Application Data" folder to back up some files. I can't access this folder and it gives some error message like this:
C:\Users\Ani\application data is not accessible.
Access is denied.
please help.
Thank you in advance.
Answers
- Anirudh51 said:
Guys I've installed Windows 7 operating system on my PC and I need to access "Application Data" folder to back up some files. I can't access this folder and it gives some error message like this:
C:\Users\Ani\application data is not accessible.
Access is denied.
please help.
Thank you in advance.
Hi anirudh51Application Data is not an actual folder, it is a Junction which is only there for backward compatibility. A Junction is a shortcut that redirects files and programs to a different location.
This particular Junction points to the C:Users\username\AppData\Roaming folder.
There is a good explanation of Junction Points at the following website.
Windows Junctions
Hope this helps.
Thank You for testing Windows 7 Beta
Ronnie Vernon MVP- Proposed As Answer byRonnie VernonMVP, ModeratorTuesday, March 03, 2009 3:36 PM
- Marked As Answer byRonnie VernonMVP, ModeratorWednesday, March 04, 2009 6:37 AM
All Replies
- Are you able to browse to the folder to see it?
If not you need to go to the control panel and select folder options>view>show hidden files, folders and drives and select the box.
hopefully your problem is as easy as that. - Anirudh51 said:
Guys I've installed Windows 7 operating system on my PC and I need to access "Application Data" folder to back up some files. I can't access this folder and it gives some error message like this:
C:\Users\Ani\application data is not accessible.
Access is denied.
please help.
Thank you in advance.
Hi anirudh51Application Data is not an actual folder, it is a Junction which is only there for backward compatibility. A Junction is a shortcut that redirects files and programs to a different location.
This particular Junction points to the C:Users\username\AppData\Roaming folder.
There is a good explanation of Junction Points at the following website.
Windows Junctions
Hope this helps.
Thank You for testing Windows 7 Beta
Ronnie Vernon MVP- Proposed As Answer byRonnie VernonMVP, ModeratorTuesday, March 03, 2009 3:36 PM
- Marked As Answer byRonnie VernonMVP, ModeratorWednesday, March 04, 2009 6:37 AM
- Thanks Ronnie,
I had another reason to go into the Application Data folder (override a configuration file) and this explained the workings and allowed me to achieve what I set out to do.
Regards
Ian
Asrock K8NF6P, AMD64 3200+, 1.5GB RAM, Palit Geforce 8400GS 256MB, 500GB Maxtor SataII, Asus 1814BLT optical Application Data is an environment variable that is programmatically set. If you open a command prompt and type set, you will then see all of the environment variables that are available to you.
Application Data is represented by the environment variable %appdata%. In Windows 2K/XP/2003 it pointed to c:\documents and settings\%username%\application data. In Vista and Windows 7, it now points to c:\users\%username%\appdata\roaming.
If you ever need to refer to the Application Data directory, just type %appdata% in the Run dialog box, the Start menu search box, or at the command prompt. Also, if you are looking to use it in a batch file or a script, you definitely want to make use of the environment variable.
- Open the Control Panel. Open Appearence and Personalization. Open Folder Options. Select the General tab. Select Show All Folders. Accept and close.

