Re: Slightly OT: Windows Vista does not allow me to change any files in Program Files folders

["Lech Rzedzicki" <xchaotic -at- gmail -dot- com>]

You'll need admin right at least once for any solution.
Mine would be to to disable UAC (User Account Control), change
ownership and privileges in Program Files and then you can continue
your work w/o the need to elevate the rights to admin, every time.

How ever, have you tried the Run as administrator option? Depending on
how the system is configured, it should allow you to do that.
If it work, you can run notepad.exe as admin and have priviledges to
edit and save pretty much any file on the system.

lech

On Feb 13, 2008 9:53 AM, Yves Barbion <yves -dot- barbion -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
> Hi techwhirlers,
>
> this is slightly OT, but I think relevant for all Windows Vista users.
>
> Sometimes, we need to change the odd configuration file in the installation
> folder of a program. These files are usually in a subfolder of c:\program
> files.
>
> No problem in Windows XP, but, in Windows Vista, we get error messages
> saying that only the Administrator can do this. However, we only have one
> user account in Vista and this user does have admin rights!
>
> I have already checked the Microsoft support site, but the "workarounds"
> suggested by the Microsoft MVP don't make any sense (see below): saving the
> (ini) file elsewhere and then copying it back to the Program Files folder is
> a definite no-no.
>
> Any suggestions for a better workaround/hack? And if anyone knows how we can
> get rid of all those other annoying Vista confirmation messages ("Are you
> sure you want to...?"), please share it with the community.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
>
> --
> Yves Barbion
>
>
>
> _________________________
>
> Answer from Microsoft MVP:
>
> "Hello,
>
> In Windows Vista, even though you are an administrator, the programs that
> run on your computer are not allowed to use your administrator power unless:
>
>
> 1- They prompt you for permission
> 2- You explicitly give them permission (right-click, run as administrator)
>
> The files in Program Files and your root C drive are not writiable by
> non-administrative programs because the files in these areas affect every
> user and the entire system.
>
> Allowing unpriviliged programs write access to these areas would allow them
> to overwrite/replace well-known programs or system-wide configuration data
> used by windows or well-known programs, which is unacceptable for a program
> that does not prompt.
>
> The easiest way to accomplish what you are doing is to save the file to some
>
> place in your user profile (such as documents), and then using windows
> explorer, move that file to program files. This will end up prompting you
> for permission and then allowing things to work.
>
> Alternatively, you can run the program that is doing the downloading "as
> administrator" by right-clicking it and clicking Run As Administrator, and
> this will allow it to save to this area, but the solution above is better.
>
> --
>
> Microsoft MVP"
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
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-- 
Lech Rzedzicki
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

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