Documents & Settings... + Other issues

[AstaLaVista]

So, little by little I am learning about the differences in XP and Vista. Well, one of them is that Vista no longer uses Documents & Settingsfolder, but a Users folders.

If this is true, why do I have a D&S folder under my Vista boot when I do a explore and why can't I open it if I am the administrator?

Not really killing me but it sure is bugging the heck out of me.

Thanks

While trying to help another member here, I noticed that there are some remmants of games and apps that I have recently deleted still on my registry. I use Tune Up Utilities 2008 and I thought this would have taken care of this junk but, apparently, I thought wrong... how do I get rid of the junk files in my registry w/o messing it up?

 

[Barman58]

Re: Documents & Settings...

Hi astalavista,

In vista you will find what look like folders for all the usual suspects from XP My documents Documents & settings and so on

These are not folders but what Microsoft calls Junctions (on other operating systems they are known as symbolic links)

They are basically a type of shortcut used to point programs looking for the old locations to the correct vista location

They are not editable even by the admin

You can create them yourself - do a search on "vista symbolic links" on MS site to get full info

If you type "mklink /? at a command prompt you will see some of the options available

hope this helps

 

[Dwarf]

Hi AstaLaVista,

These 'folders' are not true folders in the normal sense of the word, rather they are there so that older applications will continue to work in Vista. When such a program needs to access this folder, the request is automatically redirected to the appropriate user folder. These 'folders' are also known as 'junctions', and the reason why they are not accessible is that thay don't actually exist - they are virtual.

 

[AstaLaVista]

Ahhhh, gotcha.

thanks

Now, any help on my other problem with the registry junk?

 

[Dwarf]

Hi AstaLaVista,

Have a look at the free versions of the programs at these links:
CCleaner - Home
Free Registry Cleaner, Disk Cleanerhttp://www.wisecleaner.com/download.html

 

[roy69]

Always review what the registry cleaner has to say, do not use automatic settings as this can kill your computer.
Always back up the registry before editing.
If in doubt dont make any changes, a slow computer is better than a dead one.

 

[AstaLaVista]

I did use CCleaner last night and it told me it fixed a few problems with the registry but, it did not get rid of the remmants of the games/apps I had uninstalled a few days ago... I am at a loss with this issue.

I know I could go into the registry and manually clean it but it is going to take me a long time to do so and, even after that, how do I really know that all the pertinent files belonging to those games/apps were removed?

The more I use the PC the more careful I am with installing games or craps but still, there are times when you need to do so and not being able to totally get rid of it by uninstalling them is ticking me off.

 

[dmex]

I know I could go into the registry and manually clean it but it is going to take me a long time to do so and, even after that, how do I really know that all the pertinent files belonging to those games/apps were removed?

Hi ALV,

dont bother with Registry Cleaners...Vista`s registry is only loaded on disk and never into memory so there`s no use using a registry cleaner to remove 1K (about 6000 Entry's) of junk considering theirs no performance increase in doing so plus the dangers associated with just one incorrectly removed entry can be too high (happens very regular with registry cleaners) My advice is dont believe their marketing crap and avoid them altogether because saving 1K of diskspace just doesn't outweigh the risks

Steven

 

[AstaLaVista]

Rats, part of my stress relief routine is running the Tune Up utility 1-Click Manintenance.

Oh well, I'm sure I am going to find something else to do... is just that is killing me inside knowing those pesky things are there, taunting me, mocking me... ya know! :D