Windows 7 won't let me access the stuff in C:\Documents and Settings.Is there a way to get in there? Some of the software I've installed insists on putting its config files and other data in there, but I want to point at the folders that are already on the machine with data from XP. I also want to copy in some bookmark files from the XP Firefox installation, but of course it won't let me.If Windows can't do it, I'll use a Linux CD to do the job - but it's a funny world where it needs Linux to sort Windows :)

Documents and settings is just only a link. Please use C:\users instead of doc and settings. Microsoft MVP - Group Policy

Hi, Microsoft has changed the user profile namespace since Windows Vista: The root of the user profile namespace has been moved from Documents and Settings to Users. This means, for example, that the user profile folder for user Tony is now found at C:\Users\Tony instead of C:\ Documents and Settings\Tony. Documents and Settings is a junction in Windows 7, not a folder or shortcut. I have listed some of them. C:\Documents and settings\<user>\Local Settings C:\Users\<profile>\AppData\Local Application Data C:\Users\<profile>\AppData\Roaming Cookies C:\Users\<profile>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies My Documents C:\Users\<profile>\Documents NetHood C:\Users\<profile>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts PrintHood C:\Users\<profile>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Printer Shortcuts Recent C:\Users\<profile>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent SendTo C:\Users\<profile>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo Start Menu C:\Users\<profile>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu Templates C:\Users\<profile>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates Hope it helps.

Unless I am mistaken the OP has an installation of XP already on the system, and wants to copy and paste app data from one drive to another. Are you logged in as an admin, and if so have you tried granting yourself permission to the directory? N.B. I'm doing the exact same thing as you---sharing application data between two OS installs, though in my case it's Vista---and you do need to jump through a few hoops.

Exactly so. I have XP Pro on the same machine, with a vast collection of documents (all backed up on external hard drive). I wanted to access the same set of documents with Win7. The original plan was to copy stuff over to the Win7 hard drive, but that plan was superseded when the Documents "link" didn't allow opening it. I'm not sure what the purpose of the link is, since it doesn't seem to do anything. Maybe it will disappear by the time of the final release.Fortunately, I didn't accept the XP default location on drive C for documents (or indeed all the defaults back to the dark ages) - that drive is not accessible to Win7. I have for many years put my documents on separate logical drives - one for pictures, one for text documents, one for spreadsheets, one for e-mail, and so on. It makes the file manager a bit more complex, but it means I can sort stuff the way I want it, rather than have one large amorphous mass called "My Documents".Once I'd installed the software (all to Drive Win7C), I changed the default locations and can work exactly as before. That works well.The only remaining task is to delete the default directories on Win 7, so that stuff doesn't creep back there unbeknown to me.This forum has been an excellent source of information and help - so much more friendly that certain places where I usually get called an idiot for asking a question. Win 7 is working well - I find myself using it instead of XP Pro, whereas Vista was removed and replaced by XP. Thank you all!

Aren't you using Foxmarks? I love that app. It allows access to my bookmarks from any computer I grace with my presence.An excellent add-on.

Then, has this solved your problem? If so, could you select the post that most nearly answered your question? - John

Keith,Sounds like Windows 7 saw your original Documents and Settings directory and remapped them to the C:\Users directory instead. If this was a fresh installation (no OS on the partition) then the Documents and Settings Link will not show up. Joe

usasma said:Then, has this solved your problem? If so, could you select the post that most nearly answered your question? - JohnDone!Yes, using Foxmarks. An amazing application. At last, all three machines have the same bookmarks, the way I like them. Probably one or two more on the laptop than I need, but I can live with that!

I'm afraid I have a similar problem, but I haven't quite solved it. Here's my situation:I am dual-booting XP and Windows 7. XP is installed on on partition, which also contains my docs, music, pics, vids, etc. I've gotten to the point where I can get into these folders, but, for example, when trying to add music to the iTunes library, I cannot, unless I take each song individually (I have over 5500) and go to: Properties > Security > Advanced > (Continue) and check "Include inheritable permissions from this object's parent". Now, to be blunt, there's no way in hell I'm going to do that 5500+ times.The same deal with my pictures. Unless I go through the aforementioned process, I simply get "Windows Photo Viewer can't open this picture because you don't have the correct permission to access the file location."Now, I've tried a few things further up the line from the individual files, but nothing seems to work... what am I missing???Please help if you can. Thanks.