Where to put data under Vista? - My Experience and Resources
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 9:40 pm
Scenario:
I have a Three part application.
Part 1: Setup utility.
On first run generates an encrypted encryption/decryption key as a text file.
The setup utility then encrypts inputed values and spits them out as a heavily encrypted settings text file.
Part 2: The Client.
This uses the key text file to decrypt the settings file and allow the values to be used in the Client application.
So the client can be deployed on multiple machines and will work as long as both the settings and key are included with the application file.
On XP I just create a sub directory (includes) under the application and store the Client and the two text files there.
Part 3: This creates a setup program from the contents of the includes directory.
Then came Vista's User Access Control (UAC) and Virtual store.
I've spent hours trying to work out where the best place to store in Vista.
During this time I've come across a few really usefull articles on this topic which I thought I would share.
This is the best most concise description of Where to put data under Vista?
http://www.icetips.com/blog/index.php/2008/10/31/title
There is also a great utility here which list all the Special Folder locations on your computer.
Sons of Thunder Special Folder lists.
http://www.sonsothunder.com/devres/revo ... ile010.htm
Revolutions tutorial on Vista Manifest files.
http://www.runrev.com/developers/tutori ... ows-vista/
To end this off, have a read of this, it explains a lot about Vista and it's problems.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/busin ... ref=slogin
I have a Three part application.
Part 1: Setup utility.
On first run generates an encrypted encryption/decryption key as a text file.
The setup utility then encrypts inputed values and spits them out as a heavily encrypted settings text file.
Part 2: The Client.
This uses the key text file to decrypt the settings file and allow the values to be used in the Client application.
So the client can be deployed on multiple machines and will work as long as both the settings and key are included with the application file.
On XP I just create a sub directory (includes) under the application and store the Client and the two text files there.
Part 3: This creates a setup program from the contents of the includes directory.
Then came Vista's User Access Control (UAC) and Virtual store.
I've spent hours trying to work out where the best place to store in Vista.
During this time I've come across a few really usefull articles on this topic which I thought I would share.
This is the best most concise description of Where to put data under Vista?
http://www.icetips.com/blog/index.php/2008/10/31/title
There is also a great utility here which list all the Special Folder locations on your computer.
Sons of Thunder Special Folder lists.
http://www.sonsothunder.com/devres/revo ... ile010.htm
Revolutions tutorial on Vista Manifest files.
http://www.runrev.com/developers/tutori ... ows-vista/
To end this off, have a read of this, it explains a lot about Vista and it's problems.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/busin ... ref=slogin