• How to see C:ProgramData folder

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    #473536

    Good evening!

    I can’t seem to find the C:ProgramData folder via Win Explorer. I have folder options set this way:

    I was able to find it using “Search Everything”, but can’t understand why I can’t access it through Win Explorer. OS is Win 7 64bit.

    Thanks for any advice or comments,
    John

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    Replies
    • #1258327

      I wonder if your hard drive needs to be fully indexed. The initial index is time consuming, but subsequent indexes are not. Type Index in the search box to open the Indexing Options:

      Click on modify to open the second window to set indexed locations.

    • #1258330

      Hi John,

      It is normal when first enabling the viewing of hidden and operating system protected files to only be able to see the formerly hidden folder in the Detail Pane. Only after double clicking the ProgramData folder in the Detail Pane (or restarting Windows Explorer) would you be able to view the folders within the ProgramData folder and see the ProgramData folder show in the Tree Pane. Are you first looking for ProgramData in the Tree Pane rather than in the Detail Pane?

      • #1258403

        Hi John,

        It is normal when first enabling the viewing of hidden and operating system protected files to only be able to see the formerly hidden folder in the Detail Pane. Only after double clicking the ProgramData folder in the Detail Pane (or restarting Windows Explorer) would you be able to view the folders within the ProgramData folder and see the ProgramData folder show in the Tree Pane. Are you first looking for ProgramData in the Tree Pane rather than in the Detail Pane?

        Thanks Gerald,

        That did it. I now see the ProgramData file. It still doesn’t show up when typed into the search box, although I don’t really care about that.

        Ted,

        Thanks for the info; I didn’t know about the indexing. I knew that it occurred, but not that it could be done manually. Below is a picture of mine: sure doesn’t look anything like yours. Interestingly, I removed Symantec and Win Live Mail via Revo some time ago.

        Thanks,
        John

    • #1258386

      Gerald,

      Ah! Veeery Interesting {with heavy fake German accent}.

      Would a Refresh {F5} make it show up in the tree?

      May the Forces of good computing be with you!

      RG

      PowerShell & VBA Rule!
      Computer Specs

    • #1258439

      Hi John,

      I am glad you are able to see the folders within ProgramData now. Even if you have indexed your System Drive (C:), there are folders that will still be excluded from the index. Windows 7 excludes the following from the search index (even if you manually ask for their inclusion in the index):

      The Windows folder and all subfolders

      Windows.old and Windows.000 (seen after doing a custom install upgrade from Vista or XP)

      $Recycle Bin (hidden folder that contains all the deleted files for all the user accounts)

      UsersDefault and its subfolders (this is the user profile template that Windows uses to create profiles for new users on the computer)

      All contents, and subfolders of the Program Files and Program Files (x86) folders

      AppData folder and its subfolders

      The ProgramData folder and all subfolders except the specific subfolder that contains the shortcuts for the shared Start menu. Any program listed within the start menu
      will be included in the Index. If you search for a program in the Start Menu Search box that is very slow at coming up in the search results (it only shows in results after
      you finish typing the name of the program into the search box) then it was not referenced in the Start Menu.

      Also, when I conduct a search for ‘ProgramData’, I get a number of hits from within files that contain the word ‘ProgramData’ in the text, but search does not take me directly to the ProgramData folder. Windows keeps it hidden for some good reasons, so your search results for ‘ProgramData’ is pretty typical.

      RG, pressing ‘F5’ has no effect when I do it. Have you tried it and found it to refresh Explorer so the ProgramData folder shows in the Tree Pane as a result?

      • #1258470

        RG, pressing ‘F5’ has no effect when I do it. Have you tried it and found it to refresh Explorer so the ProgramData folder shows in the Tree Pane as a result?

        Gerald,

        I haven’t tested this particular situation but have noticed that when I add new folders to a library they don’t appear in the tree pane until I press F5 so I thought it might apply here also.

        May the Forces of good computing be with you!

        RG

        PowerShell & VBA Rule!
        Computer Specs

      • #1258683

        Hi John,

        I am glad you are able to see the folders within ProgramData now. Even if you have indexed your System Drive (C:), there are folders that will still be excluded from the index. Windows 7 excludes the following from the search index (even if you manually ask for their inclusion in the index):

        The Windows folder and all subfolders

        Windows.old and Windows.000 (seen after doing a custom install upgrade from Vista or XP)

        $Recycle Bin (hidden folder that contains all the deleted files for all the user accounts)

        UsersDefault and its subfolders (this is the user profile template that Windows uses to create profiles for new users on the computer)

        All contents, and subfolders of the Program Files and Program Files (x86) folders

        AppData folder and its subfolders

        The ProgramData folder and all subfolders except the specific subfolder that contains the shortcuts for the shared Start menu. Any program listed within the start menu
        will be included in the Index. If you search for a program in the Start Menu Search box that is very slow at coming up in the search results (it only shows in results after
        you finish typing the name of the program into the search box) then it was not referenced in the Start Menu.

        Also, when I conduct a search for ‘ProgramData’, I get a number of hits from within files that contain the word ‘ProgramData’ in the text, but search does not take me directly to the ProgramData folder. Windows keeps it hidden for some good reasons, so your search results for ‘ProgramData’ is pretty typical.

        Gerald-

        Thanks so much for the very interesting extra information. I thought that I must have a problem with Win Explorer. It’s always good to learn something new!

        John

    • #1258624

      I find the freeware Everything search application from Voidtools ( http://www.voidtools.com/ ) to be much easier to use and more comprehensive than Windows search unless you want to search content within files.

      Jerry

      • #1258627

        I find the freeware Everything search application from Voidtools ( http://www.voidtools.com/ ) to be much easier to use and more comprehensive than Windows search unless you want to search content within files.
        Jerry

        That is the very reason I like Windows 7 search. I find it easier to search file contents than to try to remember which files actually contain the content I am looking for. Microsoft chose to not allow the indexing of system files because few people actually need to search system files. When I rarely need to find a system file, I usually do not need a search engine to do so, but if I did, I would rely on Everything.

    • #1258697

      You are very welcome, John. I am glad you found it helpful. Merry Christmas!

    • #1258713

      Good evening!

      I can’t seem to find the C:ProgramData folder via Win Explorer. I have folder options set this way:

      I was able to find it using “Search Everything”, but can’t understand why I can’t access it through Win Explorer. OS is Win 7 64bit.

      Thanks for any advice or comments,
      John

      John,
      Hello… If you haven’t already download and install this free “tweaker” Winbubbles http://blog.unlockforus.org/2010/01/winbubbles-2010-customize-and-tweak.html you can set it so you can “take ownership” of any file or folder (right click context menu ) and view whatever you want …no matter what “Windows” thinks
      Regards Fred

      • #1258805

        John,
        Hello… If you haven’t already download and install this free “tweaker” Winbubbles http://blog.unlockfo…-and-tweak.html you can set it so you can “take ownership” of any file or folder (right click context menu ) and view whatever you want …no matter what “Windows” thinks
        Regards Fred

        Hi Fred!

        Looks like fun and I’d like to give it a play. However, I can’t seem to confirm that this app is 64 bit compatible. Would you happen to know if it is?

        Thanks,
        John

        • #1258810

          Hi Fred!

          Looks like fun and I’d like to give it a play. However, I can’t seem to confirm that this app is 64 bit compatible. Would you happen to know if it is?

          Thanks,
          John

          John,
          Hello…. Yes, i am using “Winbubble 1.76 ” ( an older version ) on my Windows 7 64 now. …Didn’t see any reason to “update” as it has worked fine with Vista Home Premium 32 and Windows 7 32 as well. (not a big fan of “updating” if all is well ) Regards Fred

          PS: pretty sure that you can still download 1.76 if you need to…Takes a bit of “digging” around their website to find.

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