Accessing Files

mystik · 14 Jun 2019

I stayed away from upgrading my main PC to Windows 10 as long as I could. I just don't like some things about it. It's fine for my HTPC, which has been running it for a long time, but I have problems every time I have tried to switch my main PC to it.

I have finally taken the plunge. It has been a few days now...the longest I have ever made it.

But, some things are really bothering me. Here's an example.... I have an image file in my c:\ root. If I open it in Paint Shop Pro, make a change, and try to save it, it won't save. I imagine this is a permissions issue. However, if I save it as a new filename, it seems to work, but then I can't find the image. If I try to open it in that same program, it shows and I can open it, but I can't find it using either File Explorer or Directory Opus.

Any ideas? Thank you.

Try3 · 14 Jun 2019

mystik said:

Any ideas?

Yes, stop.

Don't try to create or edit any files in the OS drive's root folder. Windows 10 is not designed to cope with this. The only things you can usefully create there are folders.

Denis

spunk · 14 Jun 2019

As stated, do not save files to the C:\ drive, but rather, if it is a Picture file which you may call an Image (ie) .tiff, .jpg, .png etc, then save it in the C:\Users\[UserName]\Pictures folder. or create a folder on the Desktop and save it there.

Ztruker · 15 Jun 2019

I just tried this and get:

spunk · 15 Jun 2019

Don’t start or end your filename with a space, period, hyphen, or underline.
Save your file in a Folder on the C: drive, Desktop or in a Directory (ie) Pictures, Music, Downloads etc

eluphay · 15 Jun 2019

i had issues accessing files inside a folder in the c drive, but only random ones, i.e some were fine and others were not, they all came from a previous installation, and i had to change the permissions of the folder and all its sub-contents in order to be able to access them, what is causing that, and out of curiosity why does windows no longer allow access to single files in the root C, not that I've ever done that, I've always had them in a folder if their on the c drive, they've only ever been root on any other drives, not c, and even then, i don't do that much either, its messy, it just makes it harder to organise my files.

spunk · 16 Jun 2019

Your issue is you are using a Hyphen or Dash - for the first character of your file name. Windows will not allow it. As that is reserved for Windows files only.
You can save files to the C: drive, but the space is limited. You can only save so many files and then you reach the limit for the Root drive. You can Create folders on the C: drive and save files to them or use the Directories that are already a part of Windows (ie) Pictures, Downloads etc
If you had files from a previous install, Windows would assume that they are from another user and you do not have permission to access these files, even if you use the same User Name. Most times if you click to allow permission, Windows will allow you access, in some cases, you may need to change the permissions on the folder itself.

Ztruker · 16 Jun 2019

spunk said:

Your issue is you are using a Hyphen or Dash - for the first character of your file name. Windows will not allow it. As that is reserved for Windows files only.
You can save files to the C: drive, but the space is limited. You can only save so many files and then you reach the limit for the Root drive. You can Create folders on the C: drive and save files to them or use the Directories that are already a part of Windows (ie) Pictures, Downloads etc
If you had files from a previous install, Windows would assume that they are from another user and you do not have permission to access these files, even if you use the same User Name. Most times if you click to allow permission, Windows will allow you access, in some cases, you may need to change the permissions on the folder itself.

A hyphen or dash is not a restricted first character in Windows. It's valid everywhere. The problem is Windows places special restrictions on the root of the boot drive, C:\ in this case in an attempt to prevent malware I would guess. Try it if you don't believe me. I have hundreds of them in various places.

I just tried a copy and paste of Lobster.jpg to C:\, same error:

Barman58 · 16 Jun 2019

Rich, you are correct, as usual

there were a few types of malware developed a few years ago that utilized the $ share system to gain edit access to the drive root, Microsoft looked at a number of options but settles on the rather heavy handed permission route

It may be possible to override the limitation using the full administrator to add specific access rights to a user, but for security purposes, unless it is essential, it's best left as is

Ztruker · 16 Jun 2019

Thanks Nigel. I'm okay with how it works. I never put anything in the root so MS can do whatever they want with it.

Some people disagree and think since it's their computer they should be allowed to do what they want with it. In theory I agree. In reality that way leads to disaster.