Controlled Folder Access

Hi.

I've been using Controlled Folder Access recently but I'm having a problem getting one application to change/create files. I use doPDF8 to create PDF files, but when CFA is active, it won't save my work. The notice explaining that something has tried accessing the folder only comes up once. (I assume that if you don't do anything about it, the program trying to access the file is put on the 'black list'.) Turning CFA off and then on again causes the notice to appear once more. However, the notice seems to suggest that it is C:\Windows\splwow64.exe that is trying to access/create the file, but when I put this into the 'allow app control' list, it still doesn't work. The only way I can find to get the PDF file created is to turn off CFA, create the file and then turn it back on again.

Any ideas?

Matt

(Windows 10 ver 1709)

Hi AndreTen.

I don't know the location of the doPDF driver/app; I can't seem to find it. I would definitely want to use doPDF rather than WinPDF.

Matt

Matt316 said:

...the notice seems to suggest that it is C:\Windows\splwow64.exe that is trying to access/create the file, but when I put this into the 'allow app control' list, it still doesn't work. The only way I can find to get the PDF file created is to turn off CFA, create the file and then turn it back on again.
(Windows 10 ver 1709)

1709 is very old. The functioning of Controlled Folder Access has changed little since then but the UI has improve enormously. In 1903 it now tells you exactly what was blocked and allows you to add it to the list of allowed apps with a single click. With 1709 you have to dig deep into the Event log to find out the path and name of the executable you'll need to allow through CFA.

Open Event Viewer, go to Application & Service Logs > Microsoft > Windows > Windows Defender > Operational. Look for Event ID 1123 which will give the full name and path of the executable that was blocked. IDs 1125 and 1127 may also be relevant.

Note that a restart is required before any apps you have added will be allowed through CFA.

AndreTen: Thanks. All of the word processors I use have this problem: Word, Ableword, Open/Libra Writer, etc.

Bree: Thanks. Yes, I know it's old. Unfortunately (at the time) I had a problem with the updating. Windows refused to update itself and (I believe on this forum, as with others) no one could come up with a good way to help me, other than a clean install, which I didn't want to do. Defender seems to update regularly, but nothing else. Sooner or later there may be a problem, but at the moment it's fine.

Matt

Matt316 said:

... All of the word processors I use have this problem: Word, Ableword, Open/Libra Writer, etc.
Bree: Thanks. Yes, I know it's old. Unfortunately (at the time) I had a problem with the updating....

Until you get the update to work the event viewer is the best way to find the path and name of the file than needs to be allowed through CFA. It's not always an obvious one, for your LibreOffice it is soffice.bin, for example.