PROGRAM FILES AND PROGRAMDATA

Could someone please explain (or point me to a web site that contains an
explanation) the difference between C:\Program Files and C:\ProgramData for
Vista Home Premium?

And how do they relate to C:\Program Files that existed in Windows XP and
earlier Windows versions?

Thanks in advance.

Lindsay Graham
Canberra, Australia

Program Data is a "virtualized" folder used by Vista so that programs and
users running with normal rights can work around a security feature of
Vista. Only full Administrator users can write to the Program Files folder,
so any time a program or user with lesser rights wants to write to Program
Files, that action is redirected to Program Data instead.

Use Google to search for a full explanation.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rgharper@gmail.com
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"Lindsay Graham" <LDGraham@aapt.net.au> wrote in message
news:E9615F4F-714C-4117-A0BB-66C92F7552D4@microsoft.com...
> Could someone please explain (or point me to a web site that contains an
> explanation) the difference between C:\Program Files and C:\ProgramData
> for Vista Home Premium?
>
> And how do they relate to C:\Program Files that existed in Windows XP and
> earlier Windows versions?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Lindsay Graham
> Canberra, Australia
>