Using the windows\temp folder for programs? (or use what temp directory in its place)?

I've noticed in Windows XP that the C:\Windows\Temp folder is a protected
system folder, and is "off limits" to most programs (for *their* own
temporary use). In fact, that fact seems to include all subdirectories
under C:\Windows. (This is very different from the previous operating
systems (W95, W98), and seems to create a small problem here for some of my
apps).

So I guess unless one messes around with the "Environment Variables", one
HAS to redirect all software being ported to Windows XP (from Win98/95), or
installed on Windows XP, to use some other temp directory instead for its
application program's temp files. Is that correct? If so, what
directory do most people use for the various program application's temp
files?

C:\Documents and Settings\[user]\Local Settings\Temp
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Bill in Co. wrote:
> I've noticed in Windows XP that the C:\Windows\Temp folder is a protected
> system folder, and is "off limits" to most programs (for *their* own
> temporary use). In fact, that fact seems to include all subdirectories
> under C:\Windows. (This is very different from the previous operating
> systems (W95, W98), and seems to create a small problem here for some of
> my
> apps).
>
> So I guess unless one messes around with the "Environment Variables", one
> HAS to redirect all software being ported to Windows XP (from Win98/95),
> or
> installed on Windows XP, to use some other temp directory instead for its
> application program's temp files. Is that correct? If so, what
> directory do most people use for the various program application's temp
> files?

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote:

>So I guess unless one messes around with the "Environment Variables", one
>HAS to redirect all software being ported to Windows XP (from Win98/95), or
>installed on Windows XP, to use some other temp directory instead for its
>application program's temp files. Is that correct? If so, what
>directory do most people use for the various program application's temp
>files?
>

??

I use whatever the default folder is... and it's worked since DAY ONE.

This is even truer in Vista. I believe the protection began in earnest with
XP SP2 as a security measure against tampering, especially by malware.

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:%23SsKDVuXIHA.6140@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> I've noticed in Windows XP that the C:\Windows\Temp folder is a protected
> system folder, and is "off limits" to most programs (for *their* own
> temporary use). In fact, that fact seems to include all subdirectories
> under C:\Windows. (This is very different from the previous operating
> systems (W95, W98), and seems to create a small problem here for some of
> my apps).
>
> So I guess unless one messes around with the "Environment Variables", one
> HAS to redirect all software being ported to Windows XP (from Win98/95),
> or installed on Windows XP, to use some other temp directory instead for
> its application program's temp files. Is that correct? If so, what
> directory do most people use for the various program application's temp
> files?
>

That is one heck of a path!!! Do we have to use such a thing?
Plus - I'm not sure all older programs can even accept such a path.

Or maybe we can create our own to use.... say like creating a C:\WinTemp
directory. That would be a lot simpler, wouldn't it?


PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> C:\Documents and Settings\[user]\Local Settings\Temp
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>
> Bill in Co. wrote:
>> I've noticed in Windows XP that the C:\Windows\Temp folder is a protected
>> system folder, and is "off limits" to most programs (for *their* own
>> temporary use). In fact, that fact seems to include all subdirectories
>> under C:\Windows. (This is very different from the previous operating
>> systems (W95, W98), and seems to create a small problem here for some of
>> my
>> apps).
>>
>> So I guess unless one messes around with the "Environment Variables", one
>> HAS to redirect all software being ported to Windows XP (from Win98/95),
>> or
>> installed on Windows XP, to use some other temp directory instead for its
>> application program's temp files. Is that correct? If so, what
>> directory do most people use for the various program application's temp
>> files?

But the problem with that is, most programs use by default (or want to use
by default) the C:\Windows\Temp directory for their own temp files (at least
from what I've seen). So what do you use? Something like
C:\Documents and Settings\[user]\Local Settings\Temp like PA Bear posted?

Ugh...

Colin Barnhorst wrote:
> This is even truer in Vista. I believe the protection began in earnest
> with
> XP SP2 as a security measure against tampering, especially by malware.
>
> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:%23SsKDVuXIHA.6140@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> I've noticed in Windows XP that the C:\Windows\Temp folder is a protected
>> system folder, and is "off limits" to most programs (for *their* own
>> temporary use). In fact, that fact seems to include all subdirectories
>> under C:\Windows. (This is very different from the previous operating
>> systems (W95, W98), and seems to create a small problem here for some of
>> my apps).
>>
>> So I guess unless one messes around with the "Environment Variables", one
>> HAS to redirect all software being ported to Windows XP (from Win98/95),
>> or installed on Windows XP, to use some other temp directory instead for
>> its application program's temp files. Is that correct? If so, what
>> directory do most people use for the various program application's temp
>> files?

I don't know about XP but Vista virtualizes any attempt to write to
protected folders and redirects the output to a user folder.

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:O71Q%23suXIHA.5816@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> But the problem with that is, most programs use by default (or want to use
> by default) the C:\Windows\Temp directory for their own temp files (at
> least from what I've seen). So what do you use? Something like
> C:\Documents and Settings\[user]\Local Settings\Temp like PA Bear posted?
>
> Ugh...
>
> Colin Barnhorst wrote:
>> This is even truer in Vista. I believe the protection began in earnest
>> with
>> XP SP2 as a security measure against tampering, especially by malware.
>>
>> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>> news:%23SsKDVuXIHA.6140@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>> I've noticed in Windows XP that the C:\Windows\Temp folder is a
>>> protected
>>> system folder, and is "off limits" to most programs (for *their* own
>>> temporary use). In fact, that fact seems to include all subdirectories
>>> under C:\Windows. (This is very different from the previous operating
>>> systems (W95, W98), and seems to create a small problem here for some of
>>> my apps).
>>>
>>> So I guess unless one messes around with the "Environment Variables",
>>> one
>>> HAS to redirect all software being ported to Windows XP (from Win98/95),
>>> or installed on Windows XP, to use some other temp directory instead for
>>> its application program's temp files. Is that correct? If so,
>>> what
>>> directory do most people use for the various program application's temp
>>> files?
>
>

The date and time was 1/24/2008 4:40 PM, and on a whim, Bill in Co.
pounded out on the keyboard:

> That is one heck of a path!!! Do we have to use such a thing?
> Plus - I'm not sure all older programs can even accept such a path.
>
> Or maybe we can create our own to use.... say like creating a C:\WinTemp
> directory. That would be a lot simpler, wouldn't it?
>
>
> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
>> C:\Documents and Settings\[user]\Local Settings\Temp
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
>> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
>> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>>
>> Bill in Co. wrote:
>>> I've noticed in Windows XP that the C:\Windows\Temp folder is a protected
>>> system folder, and is "off limits" to most programs (for *their* own
>>> temporary use). In fact, that fact seems to include all subdirectories
>>> under C:\Windows. (This is very different from the previous operating
>>> systems (W95, W98), and seems to create a small problem here for some of
>>> my
>>> apps).
>>>
>>> So I guess unless one messes around with the "Environment Variables", one
>>> HAS to redirect all software being ported to Windows XP (from Win98/95),
>>> or
>>> installed on Windows XP, to use some other temp directory instead for its
>>> application program's temp files. Is that correct? If so, what
>>> directory do most people use for the various program application's temp
>>> files?
>
>

Hi Bill,

I redirect my temp folders to one I create, even on workstations we
configure (x:\temp, where x is the drive of your choice). I send
everything to one folder. Right click on My Computer, select Properties,
click the Advanced tab and Environment Variables button. Change the User
variables at the top and the System variables below.

Then I create a batch file to clean the temp folder in the Startup
folder. That way no junk builds up there. And no, it's never
interfered with an install procedure, as the Startup folder is processed
last.

--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.

I think that happens here too, in some instances, but then again, some older
programs can't handle that redirect (at least as I recall). (By older, I
mean programs written in the W95 and/or W98 era).

Colin Barnhorst wrote:
> I don't know about XP but Vista virtualizes any attempt to write to
> protected folders and redirects the output to a user folder.
>
> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:O71Q%23suXIHA.5816@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> But the problem with that is, most programs use by default (or want to
>> use
>> by default) the C:\Windows\Temp directory for their own temp files (at
>> least from what I've seen). So what do you use? Something like
>> C:\Documents and Settings\[user]\Local Settings\Temp like PA Bear posted?
>>
>> Ugh...
>>
>> Colin Barnhorst wrote:
>>> This is even truer in Vista. I believe the protection began in earnest
>>> with
>>> XP SP2 as a security measure against tampering, especially by malware.
>>>
>>> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>>> news:%23SsKDVuXIHA.6140@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>> I've noticed in Windows XP that the C:\Windows\Temp folder is a
>>>> protected
>>>> system folder, and is "off limits" to most programs (for *their* own
>>>> temporary use). In fact, that fact seems to include all
>>>> subdirectories
>>>> under C:\Windows. (This is very different from the previous
>>>> operating
>>>> systems (W95, W98), and seems to create a small problem here for some
>>>> of
>>>> my apps).
>>>>
>>>> So I guess unless one messes around with the "Environment Variables",
>>>> one
>>>> HAS to redirect all software being ported to Windows XP (from
>>>> Win98/95),
>>>> or installed on Windows XP, to use some other temp directory instead
>>>> for
>>>> its application program's temp files. Is that correct? If so,
>>>> what
>>>> directory do most people use for the various program application's temp
>>>> files?

It isn't up to the programs. They are not aware of the redirection. That
would defeat the purpose of the virtualization. The virtualization extends
to even writing registry keys there instead of in the registry itself. MS
has said that this is a temporary measure to give software developers time
to correct their programs and that there is no guarantee that it will be
supported in Windows 7. From what I have heard it won't be. A lot of
legacy software is not going to run in Windows 7 for this and some other
reasons if I understand what is coming up correctly.

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:e3Vr9awXIHA.4896@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>I think that happens here too, in some instances, but then again, some
>older programs can't handle that redirect (at least as I recall). (By
>older, I mean programs written in the W95 and/or W98 era).
>
> Colin Barnhorst wrote:
>> I don't know about XP but Vista virtualizes any attempt to write to
>> protected folders and redirects the output to a user folder.
>>
>> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>> news:O71Q%23suXIHA.5816@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>> But the problem with that is, most programs use by default (or want to
>>> use
>>> by default) the C:\Windows\Temp directory for their own temp files (at
>>> least from what I've seen). So what do you use? Something like
>>> C:\Documents and Settings\[user]\Local Settings\Temp like PA Bear
>>> posted?
>>>
>>> Ugh...
>>>
>>> Colin Barnhorst wrote:
>>>> This is even truer in Vista. I believe the protection began in earnest
>>>> with
>>>> XP SP2 as a security measure against tampering, especially by malware.
>>>>
>>>> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:%23SsKDVuXIHA.6140@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>> I've noticed in Windows XP that the C:\Windows\Temp folder is a
>>>>> protected
>>>>> system folder, and is "off limits" to most programs (for *their* own
>>>>> temporary use). In fact, that fact seems to include all
>>>>> subdirectories
>>>>> under C:\Windows. (This is very different from the previous
>>>>> operating
>>>>> systems (W95, W98), and seems to create a small problem here for some
>>>>> of
>>>>> my apps).
>>>>>
>>>>> So I guess unless one messes around with the "Environment Variables",
>>>>> one
>>>>> HAS to redirect all software being ported to Windows XP (from
>>>>> Win98/95),
>>>>> or installed on Windows XP, to use some other temp directory instead
>>>>> for
>>>>> its application program's temp files. Is that correct? If so,
>>>>> what
>>>>> directory do most people use for the various program application's
>>>>> temp
>>>>> files?
>
>