Comments on: Windows Vista – Virtualized Files http://blogs.scb.rit.edu/dave/2007/02/09/windows-vista-virtualized-files/ Network Administrator and Adjunct Professor Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:20:29 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: dave http://blogs.scb.rit.edu/dave/2007/02/09/windows-vista-virtualized-files/comment-page-1/#comment-12 dave Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:50:01 +0000 http://blogs.scb.rit.edu/dave/2007/02/09/windows-vista-virtualized-files/#comment-12 What I am given to understand about Vista is that the only time files are written to the Program Files directory is when an application is being installed. Even administrator accounts run at a lower level of privileges. When an application installer is called, Vista prompts the user for administrative credentials. If you are logged in with a normal account, you will be asked to enter in the username and password of an administrator. If you are already logged in as an administrator, you will still be asked to elevate your privileges by clicking Continue on a user prompt. Once your privileges have been elevated, the installation of the application will proceed by writing directly to the Program Files directory. Upon completion of the install, the your privileges return to their lower state and any future writes to Program Files will go to the VirtualStore. What I am given to understand about Vista is that the only time files are written to the Program Files directory is when an application is being installed. Even administrator accounts run at a lower level of privileges. When an application installer is called, Vista prompts the user for administrative credentials. If you are logged in with a normal account, you will be asked to enter in the username and password of an administrator. If you are already logged in as an administrator, you will still be asked to elevate your privileges by clicking Continue on a user prompt.

Once your privileges have been elevated, the installation of the application will proceed by writing directly to the Program Files directory. Upon completion of the install, the your privileges return to their lower state and any future writes to Program Files will go to the VirtualStore.

]]> By: jpaecorr http://blogs.scb.rit.edu/dave/2007/02/09/windows-vista-virtualized-files/comment-page-1/#comment-11 jpaecorr Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:30:56 +0000 http://blogs.scb.rit.edu/dave/2007/02/09/windows-vista-virtualized-files/#comment-11 Thank you. I knew it was virtualized I just havent taken the time to dig where. The obvious queston this leaves is "If the program file directory is virtualized for modification, how does the system know whether or not the modification is due to an install or running a program that just needs to modify files located in Program Files"? In other words, if I install a program to program files, how does Vista know whether to create the folder actually in Program Files or to virtulize it? I have seen instances of program where even running "as administrator" it still virtualizes the data, that is why I ask. Thank you. I knew it was virtualized I just havent taken the time to dig where.

The obvious queston this leaves is “If the program file directory is virtualized for modification, how does the system know whether or not the modification is due to an install or running a program that just needs to modify files located in Program Files”? In other words, if I install a program to program files, how does Vista know whether to create the folder actually in Program Files or to virtulize it? I have seen instances of program where even running “as administrator” it still virtualizes the data, that is why I ask.

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