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Windows Vista How to access a user Startup folder?

Discussion in 'Legacy Windows' started by masonite, 2007/07/16.

  1. 2007/07/16
    masonite

    masonite Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I'm a tech who's managed to ignore Vista so far, but now that customers are turning up with this OS on their laptops, I'm running into ignorance problems (mine, that is)

    For instance, I've always slipped Doug Knox's very handy little 'Restore(Auto)RestorePoint.vbs' into XP customers' Startup folder, to ensure that System Restore will always do a daily Restore Point (in my experience, it often doesn't).

    But now, with the added security of Vista, I can't even get into the required folder (which I assume still exists in Vista?)

    Like, here's the path on my XPP machine:
    C:\Documents and Settings\Ian\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

    But, on a customer's laptop, Vista doesn't want me to go there.

    Advice, please :eek:
     
  2. 2007/07/17
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Hello masonite. I am running Windows Vista and I have had a few issues with permissions as well. The only way to gain access to some of those stubborn files or folders is to take ownership of them. :)

    Try this:

    1. Right click on the selected folder then go to properties
    2. Click the security tab
    3. Click advanced
    4. Click the owner tab
    5. Click edit
    6. Highlight your user name and check the replace owner on subcontainers and objects checkbox, click apply then ok. Then press ok on all of the other windows to exit out of them.


    Once thats done see if you can access the startup folder.:)

    A few more questions. Are you trying to gain access to an individual users startup folder or are you trying to gain access to the startup folder for all users? The path for the individuals start up folder in Vista is C:/Users/User Name/start menu/programs/startup. The path for the all users folder is C:/Users/All Users/start menu/programs/startup. If you haven't noticed the 2 paths are almost identical.

    One other thing, in order to be able to see the contents of the C:/Users folder and the start menu folder you will need to show hidden files and folders and unhide protected operating system files. Since you are experienced I am assuming that you know how to do this. Folder options can be found under My Computer, tools, folder options, view tab.

    Just in case, if taking ownership of the folders doesn't work try this:

    1. Go to Start, All programs, Accessories, then right click command prompt and click Run as Administrator.
    2. Once the command prompt opens type this command and press enter.
    net user administrator /active:yes
    3. This command will enable the hidden Administrator account in Windows Vista. Log off your account and log on as the Administrator. After you log on, see if you can gain access to the startup folder in Windows Vista.


    Note: If you try to log onto the Administrator account and it requires a password, do this. Open up Control Panel, click on User Accounts and Family Safety, then click on User Accounts, Click on Manage another account, then click Administrator, Once you are there click Remove a password. Once the password is removed try logging onto the Administrator account again.

    Good luck with your issue and let me know if you were able to gain access to the folders in question. :cool:
     

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  4. 2007/07/17
    masonite

    masonite Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks Evan, I'll check out your suggestions :)
     
  5. 2007/07/17
    Miz

    Miz Inactive Alumni

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    Right clicking on the Start button, left clicking Explore takes me to C:\Users\user name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu. The Startup folder is there.

    The Documents and Settings folder isn't actually a folder, it's a "junction," or link to the Users folder. Most of what was in Documents and Settings in XP is in the Users folder in Vista.
     
    Miz,
    #4
  6. 2007/07/18
    sparrow

    sparrow Inactive

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    Suggest (in Home Premium) you log in as a member of the administrator group, go to control panel and in the users window uncheck the box that turns on UAC. You can turn it on after you've finished, unless the user has adequate security and backup know-how, in which case I leave it off.
     
  7. 2007/07/19
    masonite

    masonite Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Miz and Sparrow: Thank you both very much for those excellent tips; hopefully I should now be able to exercise a little more control over Mr.Gate's last idiot-savant.

    I have another query. It's off-topic, I'm sorry, but I have to do something about it today or tomorrow.

    I want to take a brand-new Acer laptop running Vista Basic, wipe the drive and install XP Pro SP2.

    Apart from issues of XP driver availability, which I'm sure won't be a problem, can anyone think of a reason why this won't work?

    Oh, I guess this action might void the warranty, too, but that's not a concern.

    Comments would be appreciated :)
     
    Last edited: 2007/07/19
  8. 2007/07/19
    charlesvar

    charlesvar Inactive Alumni

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    Hi masonite,
    Can't think of any other than a HD type issue: if it's SATA or SCSI you may need to load a driver with the F6 option while booting from the XP CD.
     
  9. 2007/07/19
    masonite

    masonite Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks for your comments Charles. The pc is nothing fancy - just a budget model Acer Extensa 4214 WXMi.

    I guess it'll depend on whether it came out originally with XP (and now has been superceded with a Vista model) or whether it's been produced specially for Vista.

    Cheers :)
     

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