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How-To Geek Forums » Windows Vista

(Solved) - System Folder - "AppData"

(28 posts)
  • Started 9 months ago by IntergalacticSpaceInvader
  • Latest reply from LH
  • Topic Viewed 1650 times

  • Remove Solved Status

IntergalacticSpaceInvader
Posts: 17

I appear to have accidental moved a System Folder called "AppData" from its rightful location into My Documents. Without realising, I tried to delete it, but a message signalled that "System Files cannot be deleted" or something that effect.

I would like to replace this file to its original destination.

Also, I appear to either have a virus or have deleted important System files as a result of this

Please help.

Posted 9 months ago #
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whs
whs
Posts: 10363

Just move it back where it belongs. What is the problem? And get a member name that is less than 8 letters.

Posted 9 months ago #
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Scott
Scott
Posts: 4148

Don't worry about your member name, I can see if we can lengthen it if you'd like ;)

Posted 9 months ago #
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ScottW
ScottW
Posts: 6609

Open a Run box by pressing Win+R, then enter "shell:appdata". This should open an Explorer window in your AppData folder. What happens if you do this?

Posted 9 months ago #
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whs
whs
Posts: 10363

Scott, this is counterproductive. It is very difficult to quote a members name that does not even fit into the space provided. On my screen, the end of his name does not even show in the posting.

Posted 9 months ago #
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IntergalacticSpaceInvader
Posts: 17

whs, you can call me ISI if you like :L But stop complaining because you do it on all my posts lol

Okay I tried that thing in the "Run" box. Once I clicked "okay", it opened a folder called "Roaming" (which is actualy located inside the "AppData" folder that I referred to above. If you likeI can also describe syntoms of my supposed virus etc?

Posted 9 months ago #
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ScottW
ScottW
Posts: 6609

ISI, the AppData folder is a special folder that holds configuration data for programs. Inside of AppData there are Local, LocalLow, and Roaming folders. Inside those, and especially Roaming, there are folders for the software that you have installed.

Are these folders in the standard location, shell:appdata, or in My Documents\AppData where you accidentally moved them?

Posted 9 months ago #
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IntergalacticSpaceInvader
Posts: 17

SottW, yes you are right, the AppData folder does contain Local, LocalLow and Roaming folders. The AppData folder is not in the standard location "shell:appdata" as you referred to but in My Document.

Also, during this time, I installed Avast Anti Virus and ran a scan before windows started up when I switched on my laptop. The result of this scan revealed 3 infected files and apparently a Trojan virus, which I selected to be Deleted

Posted 9 months ago #
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ScottW
ScottW
Posts: 6609

OK. After the virus threat has been removed, you need to move those folders from My Documents\AppData back over to the shell:profile\AppData folder.

I think that I may have caused some confusion. The AppData folder itself belongs in the shell:profile directory. The shell:appdata shortcut takes you to the AppData\Roaming folder. The point of running shell:appdata was to see if there was an error message if the AppData folder was missing. Of course, Windows will just re-create those folder if they are missing. Just get the data back where it belongs as described in the previous paragraph. If I have left you confused, please ask for clarification.

Posted 9 months ago #
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IntergalacticSpaceInvader
Posts: 17

I forgot to add that I would like to replace the AppData folder back to its original location.

Also, is there any way to check that I have indeed deleted important files etc

In light of your Information Scottw, I did observe that my MSN deleted my saved email addy and that Windows Media Player deleted all my music from itself (although not from the computer)

Also, whenever I tried to run a program that Windows needs to ask for my permission to run (e.g. Disk Cleanup, Disk Defrag) when I clicked yes, the compute would freeze. Clicking Ctrl+Alt+Del would un-freeze this.

Posted 9 months ago #
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ScottW
ScottW
Posts: 6609

The one and only proper location for the AppData folder is in shell:profile. When you moved AppData to another location, Windows re-created the AppData folder in shell:profile. So now you have two so you can't move it back. Instead, move the sub-folders back -- Local, LocalLow and Roaming. You will want to delete the existing ones first or overwrite them.

Posted 9 months ago #
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IntergalacticSpaceInvader
Posts: 17

I understand what you mean by having two copies now. However everytime I try to go to the original folder, it takes me to "C:\Users\Haroun Rashid Khan" where the second "false" copy is.

Also, within "C:\Users\Haroun Rashid Khan" there are two files called ntuser.dat.LOG1 and ntuser.dat.LOG2 which did not used to be here.

Posted 9 months ago #
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LH
LH
Posts: 7521

"C:\Users\Haroun Rashid Khan\" is where it is supposed to be.
(as long as that is your username)

Posted 9 months ago #
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IntergalacticSpaceInvader
Posts: 17

oh okay, after removing the Trojan I didn’t recognise the folder therefore apologies for anytime wasted. Have you know anything of the two files, ntuser.dat.LOG1 and ntuser.dat.LOG2 that are now located in "C:\Users\Haroun Rashid Khan\"

These were not here before and cannot be deleted as they "are open in another program" even when no other program is running so this sounds like it must be a window program.

Posted 9 months ago #
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LH
LH
Posts: 7521

Do not try and delete them. As you say, they belong to windows.

Posted 9 months ago #
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IntergalacticSpaceInvader
Posts: 17

How can I return them to thier original place as they are not from "C:\Users\Haroun Rashid Khan\" originaly

Posted 9 months ago #
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LH
LH
Posts: 7521

They contain the data for the user part of the registry. So have probably remade themselves.

Where did they come from originally ?

Posted 9 months ago #
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whs
whs
Posts: 10363

ISI, I am sorry. I did not mean to flame you. But as you can see from my number of posts, I try to answer many posts and I find it really inconveniant to work with those long member names. I did not even remember that I mentioned that already once before - LOL. But I can deal with "ISI" - no hard feelings, I hope.

Posted 9 months ago #
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IntergalacticSpaceInvader
Posts: 17

LH, I do not have a clue where the files ntuser.dat.LOG1 and ntuser.dat.LOG2 came from. I would like to replace them wherever they are from. However I just dont know.

WHS, you are correct, you do a brilliant job on this site and I salute you :) After this post has been solved, I am going to delete this account and get a new one with only 3 digits in honour of your great work :P

Posted 9 months ago #
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IntergalacticSpaceInvader
Posts: 17

So the question basically is to replace the files ntuser.dat.LOG1 and ntuser.dat.LOG2 to thier original location.

Any Info?

Posted 9 months ago #
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