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User Profiles in Windows Vista
In Windows XP, 2000, 2003, user profiles are stored under c:\Documents and Settings.
In Windows Vista profiles are now stored under c:\Users. You will see a c:\Documents and Settings folder in Windows Explorer in Vista, but you will also notice the shortcut icon on this folder, and you will not be able to access this folder. c:\Documents and Settings is now a Junction Point.
Old |
New |
\Documents and Settings |
\Users |
\Documents and Settings\Default User or |
\Users\Default or |
\Documents and Settings\<user>\My Documents |
\Users\<user>\Documents |
\Documents and Settings\<user>\My Documents\My Pictures |
\Users\<user>\Pictures |
\Documents and Settings\<user>\My Documents\My Music |
\Users\<user>\Music |
\Documents and Settings\<user>\Favorites |
\Users\<user>\Favorites |
N/A |
\Users\<user>\Contacts |
N/A |
\Users\<user>\Downloads |
N/A |
\Users\<user>\SavedGames |
\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data |
\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming |
\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data |
\Users\<user>\AppData\Local |
\Documents and Settings\<user>\Start Menu |
\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\ Start Menu |
\Documents and Settings\All Users |
\Users\Public |
\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu |
\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu |
\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop |
\Users\Public\Desktop |
Folders to take note of here are the folders in the All Users path. Many older applications that use out of date methods to resolve system folders, will resolve paths under C:\ProgramData when looking for common locations. For example, the common desktop may be resolved as C:\ProgramData\Desktop, however; this is actually a junction point for C:\ProgramData\Users\Public\Desktop. A dir /aL listing in the C:\ProgramData folder reveals the following Junction Points:
Path |
Points To |
\ProgramData\Application Data |
\ProgramData |
\ProgramData\Desktop |
\Users\Public\Desktop |
\ProgramData\Documents |
\Users\Public\Documents |
\ProgramData\Favorites |
\Users\Public\Favorites |
\ProgramData\Start Menu |
\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu |
\ProgramData\Templates |
\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Templates |