unable to copy folders into program files

This issue is really getting on my nerves: I can copy folders from my program files to other places but I can't copy them back. If I try to copy any folder into my program files, I get a message saying "this action can't be completed the folder or a file in it is open in another program." This can't be true since it doesn't work for ANY folder and it doesn't work after restart either. This might also be the cause for my battle.net issue found in the gaming forum.

 

Do you have UAC enabled? It's a known culprit for preventing you from modifying files in C:\Program Files and C:\Windows. I haven't tried copying a folder into one of those with UAC enabled, but I know it prevents you from, for example, saving Notepad files to either of those locations.

 

I have UAC enabled, and I just tried doing this and received the same messages. It's possible to create a folder and copy it into the Program Files directory (and it's possible to over-write this folder), but not to copy over an existing folder that was installed, like Windows Mail.

 

Manually copying folders and files into the Program Files directory is a big no-no in terms of security. Vista/W7 does a great job here to prevent malicious code from altering any existing applications, and prevents damaging files for applications you may use. What Windows does is allow applications to write to a special folder called the ProgramData folder, and kept isolated so it doesn't damage other applications. Many applications (that are properly coded) will not care where the program data gets written, but there are still some applications that violate good programming practice still these days.

I think enforcing this promotes better security, and should not be circumvented.

 

That is why \Program Data\, and even better yet, Users\username\AppData\ exist.

Logically, \Program Files\ should contain only executables, \Program Data\ only generic supporting files, and Users\username\AppData\ the data created for the specific user's invocation of the program.

 

Huh, I always wondered what Users\username\AppData\ was doing eating up tons of space in C:\Documents and Settings. Kind of annoying that it's inevitably on the C:\ drive, but I see the purpose. +rep

All my favorite games just have you modify files in C:\Program Files (or wherever you installed it) to apply mods, though. So I guess I'll just keep modifying C:\Program Files (or rather, the other locations I install to).

 

There is excruciating detail on the architecture, and a mapping of XP vs Vista HERE.