Cannot Find Windows 7 Documents & Settings?

By Nakodari on Oct 26 2009 13 Comments

I have been reading various complains in almost every forum regarding Windows 7’s Document and Settings. Most complains are that they cannot access this folder. These users are those who migrated from Windows XP to Windows 7, thus skipping Windows Vista.

What they should know is that Documents and Settings does not exist, when you try to open it you will be shown an “Access Denied” error. Even changing the permission won’t help.

Microsoft replaced ‘Documents and Settings’ folder with ‘Users’ folder in Vista(thus same is the case in Windows 7). So if you want to access the Documents & Settings, you are actually looking for Users folder. ;)

Update: Reader Guillaume points out that there is a junction link. It is true but remember that not everyone gets redirected. For e.g, see screenshot below:

access is denied

Want to ask any other question? Don’t hesitate to contact me. Enjoy!

  • http://www.asymmetrics.nl/ Guillaume

    Huh? What are you talking about? There's a perfectly valid junction link to Users for compatibility reasons, so it you go to C:Documents and Settings, then you'll end up in C:Users, not problem at all! Same thing with C:Documents and SettingsAll Users, which points to C:ProgramData…

    • Nakodari

      Check my reply above. I have added an update to clarify my point. :)

      • http://www.asymmetrics.nl/ Guillaume

        Ah, my bad, I [i]can[/i] directly use the junction dir from within Total Commander, but indeed not from within Explorer (now I remember). No user has the rights to access it, not even admins, judging from the Security tab, which makes me wonder how the redirection then goes (for some legacy applications that might have 'Documents and Settings' hardcoded). Somehow I can take ownership of the link (takeown /f) but it still prohibits me from changing the permissions. Stuff like C:Documents and Settings%username% [i]does[/i] work on the other hand. Strange behavior.

  • http://www.asymmetrics.nl/ Guillaume

    Huh? What are you talking about? There's a perfectly valid junction link to Users for compatibility reasons, so it you go to C:Documents and Settings, then you'll end up in C:Users, not problem at all! Same thing with C:Documents and SettingsAll Users, which points to C:ProgramData…

  • Nakodari

    Check my reply above. I have added an update to clarify my point. :)

  • http://www.asymmetrics.nl/ Guillaume

    Ah, my bad, I [i]can[/i] directly use the junction dir from within Total Commander, but indeed not from within Explorer (now I remember). No user has the rights to access it, not even admins, judging from the Security tab, which makes me wonder how the redirection then goes (for some legacy applications that might have 'Documents and Settings' hardcoded). Somehow I can take ownership of the link (takeown /f) but it still prohibits me from changing the permissions. Stuff like C:Documents and Settings%username% [i]does[/i] work on the other hand. Strange behavior.

  • http://www.asymmetrics.nl/ Guillaume

    Huh? What are you talking about? There's a perfectly valid junction link to Users for compatibility reasons, so it you go to C:Documents and Settings, then you'll end up in C:Users, not problem at all! Same thing with C:Documents and SettingsAll Users, which points to C:ProgramData…

  • Nakodari

    Check my reply above. I have added an update to clarify my point. :)

  • http://www.asymmetrics.nl/ Guillaume

    Ah, my bad, I [i]can[/i] directly use the junction dir from within Total Commander, but indeed not from within Explorer (now I remember). No user has the rights to access it, not even admins, judging from the Security tab, which makes me wonder how the redirection then goes (for some legacy applications that might have 'Documents and Settings' hardcoded). Somehow I can take ownership of the link (takeown /f) but it still prohibits me from changing the permissions. Stuff like C:Documents and Settings%username% [i]does[/i] work on the other hand. Strange behavior.

  • abdallah

    I found a solution to show the Documents and Settings
    yesterday i open it
    look!
    1. go to Organize
    2. folder and search option
    3.choose show all hidden files,folder and ….
    4.open my computer and choose c:
    5. right click on Documents and Settings then properties
    6. choose security then advanced
    7. on Permission choose change permission
    8. for example if your account name is “windows” select it and choose Edit …
    9. give yourself full access and check the check box to apply it to all the folder
    Documents and Settings contain .
    note : if not do this issue for any folder do you want to open it
    10 . enjoy !! windows 7

    • mike

      I’m realy stuck. I believe I have done everything correctly, but when I go to C:
      Organize
      folder and search, show hidden files,

      I STILL do not visually see documents and settings anywhere.

      I have Windows 7 Professional edition

      Help!!!

      • Kerry

        okay,
        you should choos hide protected system… after the step 2. of upstairs solution.
        I’m a chinese boy.O(∩_∩)O

  • nancy

    The last set of directions did not work for me. Properties shows c:\documentsandsettings as a short cut. New win7 64bit user