File and Registry Virtualization

American Zombie

Moderator
Staff member
Political Access
Joined
23 Jun 2004
Messages
2,964
Programs that try to write data or configuration changes to program files instead of Users\username\AppData\Roaming will not be allowed to and will be virtualized. If you wanted to backup setting or data from a program that is being virtualized you would need to backup the virtual files as the exact same copies in program files will not be allowed to update. This also applies to programs that try to write to changes to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE.
They are redirected to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\VirtualStore. If you wanted to backup registry entries for your program and it has been virtualized you would want to backup virtualstore keys as the same keys at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE will remain unchanged since you installed the program.

To see if your program is being virtualized you can go into the programs folder in program files and if it is being virtualized you will see a button at the top that says compatibility files (see attached).

You can also go to drive:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files. Appdata is hidden so you will need to unhide hidden folders in folder options to see it.

More info about some issues with virtualization can be found in KB927387.

I had scenario 2 problem discussed in the KB where I had unzipped files to a folder in program files but they were not there when I went to find them. I finally found they had been magically redirected to virtualstore.

One way around files being virtualized is to check the box on your shortcut to run this program as an administrator. However, then you may get prompted whenever you try to open that program.
 

Attachments

  • virtual.JPG
    virtual.JPG
    15.4 KB · Views: 133

Members online

No members online now.

Latest profile posts

Also Hi EP and people. I found this place again while looking through a oooollllllldddd backup. I have filled over 10TB and was looking at my collection of antiques. Any bids on the 500Mhz Win 95 fix?
Any of the SP crew still out there?
Xie wrote on Electronic Punk's profile.
Impressed you have kept this alive this long EP! So many sites have come and gone. :(

Just did some crude math and I apparently joined almost 18yrs ago, how is that possible???
hello peeps... is been some time since i last came here.
Electronic Punk wrote on Sazar's profile.
Rest in peace my friend, been trying to find you and finally did in the worst way imaginable.

Forum statistics

Threads
62,015
Messages
673,494
Members
5,621
Latest member
naeemsafi
Back