Access Denied Error

Question

I have just reset my computer after most folders became locked down and inaccessible. After reset the folders My Music, My Video, My Pictures, My Documents are all Access Denied. This is the same problem the computer had when I first bought it new three years ago. Since I couldn't use the folders I didn't and just left them alone but it is annoying that this problem has cropped up again and that so many people seem to have this problem. I understand now that it is a rights and privileges issue but am not really game to fiddle too much after losing so much data with the lock down which may have been due to me fiddling with administrator's right etc. Is there an easy way to fix this. I now feel quite uncomfortable with Access Denied folders still in the system?

Answer 1

The normal user folders in Windows 10 are Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos and appear under This PC as well as your User folder on the Desktop and under C:\Users<UserName>.

If you have Explorer set to show hidden & system files, you will see icons with shortcut arrows: My Documents under your Userprofile and My Music, My Pictures and My Videos in the Documents folder.

These aren't actual folders, they're junction points (for backward compatibility with older software) that point the folders mentioned at the beginning.

Notice the 'L' (Link) attribute when listied in PowerShell:

PS C:\Users\keith\Documents> gci -directory -force -filter "MY*"

Directory: C:\Users\keith\Documents

Mode                LastWriteTime         Length Name

----                -------------         ------ ----

d--hsl         18/05/18     15:51                My Music

d--hsl         18/05/18     15:51                My Pictures

d--hsl         18/05/18     15:51                My Videos

Keith

Answer 2

You're welcome. Thanks for the feedback.

Keith

Answer 3

Thank you for your very prompt answer.  It provides an understanding I was looking for.  It would cause less consternation if the files were hidden as well but that's as is . Thanks.