can not find the "program data" folder.

Hi Sandy

The Program Data folder replaced the All Users folder in previous versions of Windows.

Open Windows Explorer. Click Organize / Folder and Search Options / View Tab.

Select the Show Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives option and click Apply/OK.

Navigate to C:\Users. In that folder, you will see a folder named All Users with a Shortcut Arrow or padlock overlay icon. This is a Symbolic Link that points to the ProgramData folder. Right click that folder and select Properties to see this data.

Your programs are not being installed just to the ProgramData folder. This folder is used to allow any user (All Users) to access a program that is installed that allows any user to operate that program.

Many times, when you install a program, you will see an option to install the program for the current user only or to install for all users.

Another way you can see this is to click the Start Button, right click All Programs and select Open All Users. This will open Windows Explorer to the

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu folder.

Let us know if you have more questions.

Regards

Yes program data is a hidden folder, because it contains, as its name suggests, data of programs and really shouldn't be touched, unless you know what you're doing.

You should be installing programs to program files, that's the proper default place for programs to be installed. And since program files isn't a hidden folder, you can easily find it in my computer.