Windows "known folders": is there any one of them which is reliably read/write for all users on all versions?

Question

SHGetKnownFolderPath() and its cohorts accept one of the constants defined here, returning the path to a directory.

I'm looking for one of these folders which is reliably writable by all users (including LocalSystem) on XP, Vista, and Windows 7... but I think I'm striking out. It appears that, in fact, there is no single location on the hard drive anymore where you can put a file and be assured that all users can write to it on all these OS versions, without fiddling the permissions first.

Is this true?

What language are you using? C#? – RCIX Apr 23 '10 at 00:29 — RCIX, Apr 23 '10 at 00:29

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 23 '10 at 00:23

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You are correct; there is no such folder.

You will need to create one yourself.

answered Apr 23 '10 at 00:23

SLaks

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If there's not already a folder you can write to already in all versions as a limited user, how do you do it without permissions fiddling on some version? – RCIX Apr 23 '10 at 00:33
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@RCIX: that does seem to be a bit of a catch-22 at first, but I think SLaks is saying that the installation program (or something running as a non-limited or admin user for example) will need to arrange for a folder with the appropriate permissions for everyone to write to. – Michael Burr Apr 23 '10 at 00:41
without testing all possibilities, I can't prove you're right, but I suspect that is true. I can, of course, twiddle permissions, but was hoping to avoid having to do that. It's not a crisis. But as I was searching for this folder, I was struck by this realization: "there is really no public location on a Windows hard-drive anymore". It used to be anybody could delete the whole operating system with a typo! :) – Stabledog Apr 23 '10 at 00:48

RCIX · Answer 2 · 2010-04-23T00:33:48.080

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One option seems to be FOLDERID_PublicDocuments, another could be FOLDERID_ProgramData. If there's a similar function you can use though to get a Documents type folder (for the user) that could work as well.

Edit: this blog post may help you.

edited Apr 23 '10 at 00:33

answered Apr 23 '10 at 00:24

RCIX

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Wrong; that's not writable by limited users. – SLaks Apr 23 '10 at 00:25
Are you sure? I just checked on 7 and Public Documents is writable by Everyone. – jasonh Apr 23 '10 at 00:30
I just checked the Effective Permissions tab in Properties (also on Windows 7) and it isn't. – SLaks Apr 23 '10 at 00:31
Also, if you look up the description for FOLDERID_ProgramData, you'll see that it is for application data for *all users*. It's kind of the point that everyone be able to write to it. – jasonh Apr 23 '10 at 00:31
Something is messed up on your installation then, because mine shows Full Control checked off. I haven't touched that folder before. – jasonh Apr 23 '10 at 00:32
What folder? I don't see that. – SLaks Apr 23 '10 at 00:37
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Odd, i checked Public Documents and SLaks is correct; no boxes are checked off when i input Everyone in the Effective Permissions security dialog. – RCIX Apr 23 '10 at 00:37
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Maybe mine is the messed up one. – jasonh Apr 23 '10 at 01:05
Well thanks everybody for chiming in. Guess I'll use my Plan B :) – Stabledog Apr 23 '10 at 01:07

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 23 '10 at 00:26

0

%ALLUSERSPROFILE%

This will not be writable by low-integrity processes or limited users, however.

answered Apr 23 '10 at 00:26

BlueRaja - Danny Pflughoeft

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Wrong; that's not writable by limited users. – SLaks Apr 23 '10 at 00:26

Windows "known folders": is there any one of them which is reliably read/write for all users on all versions?

3 Answers3