Windows 7 Sub-Folders hidden in "Program Files" directory

I have Google searched for an hour now and I am confounded. I am using InnoSetup to install a .NET Winforms application that creates directories and folders on the fly. (I have set the folder options to display hidden files, folders...) Although the files that are added to "created" folders appear within the application, they do not show when using Windows Explorer or even when issuing a Dir from a command prompt. I have also modified the application to display (and delete) the contents of these (seemingly imaginary) folders, so I am sure they exist.

What am I missing?

ron tornambe

Posted 2012-03-17T22:57:18.947

Reputation: 187

2If you have 64 bit Windows 7, look in the C:\Program Files (x86) folder too. – Andrew Lambert – 2012-03-18T00:16:21.587

Answers

The files probably ended up in %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore. I had a similar problem with some programs that saved in a protected (Program Files) folder without elevating properly (UAC), in Windows Vista.

See here for further details.

According to that site, there should be a Compatibility files option in Windows Explorer. I've personally never noticed that before now, but it does appear and it does work.

Screenshot of Compatibility files
(Image sourced from linked site)

Bob

Posted 2012-03-17T22:57:18.947

Reputation: 51 526

Check if the file operation have been redirected. Keep in mind that it takes admin permissions to write to the Program Files folder.

surfasb

Posted 2012-03-17T22:57:18.947

Reputation: 21 453

Great point - I'll have to make some amends. – ron tornambe – 2012-03-18T01:18:27.873

You wrote:

I have set the folder options to display hidden files, folders...

There is 2 kind of "hidden" files ans folders: hidden and "super hidden" such as the system protected files.

It's possible to create such "super hidden" file with the command:

attrib +s +h filepath

In the folder options you may uncheck the option "hide protected operating system files (recommended)" to see them.

The files you're looking for may have theses "super hidden" attributes...

Hope this help. Let us know.

climenole

Posted 2012-03-17T22:57:18.947

Reputation: 3 180

It turns out that .NET (Framework 4) applications running on Windows 7 (and presumably Vista) automatically redirect operations (FileCopy, Delete, etc.) specifying the d:/Program Files folder to a virtual user location (in my case C:\Users\Ron\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files). – ron tornambe – 2012-03-18T04:06:22.223

Actually, it's the OS itself that does this, not the .NET framework. See the "for further details" link in Bob's answer. – Wayne Johnston – 2012-03-19T00:51:41.067