Search files (access denied)

[vixez]

I've tried various methods to search for files, but each time I encounter a "acces denied" error, which stops the search.

Is there a way to scan for files, and skip the files it doesn't have access to, or force access to it?

I want to gather all exe's on a specific drive.

This works, when there are no restricted files/paths

Dim searchResults As String() = Directory.GetFiles(cboDrives.Text, "*.exe", SearchOption.AllDirectories)

[motil]

you'll have to use foreach loop and try catch block

[vixez]

I tried

 Dim searchResults As String() = Directory.GetFiles(cboDrives.Text, "*.exe", SearchOption.AllDirectories)
        For Each File In searchResults
            Try
                ' MsgBox("")
                'HASHCheck(File)
                lblFile.Text = File
                lstFiles.Items.Add(File)
                countfiles += 1
                lblStatusSearch.Text = "Start a scan for files on your drive (" & countfiles & ") in " & time & " seconds"
            Catch ex As Exception
                MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)
                Continue For
            End Try

        Next

If I place

Dim searchResults As String() = Directory.GetFiles(cboDrives.Text, "*.exe", SearchOption.AllDirectories)

inside the try, it stop searching when it encounters a access denied

[Grimfort]

Hows about search forums search+denied

[vixez]

I'm stuck on this line

Try
                MyFiles.AddRange(IO.Directory.GetFiles(Path))
            Catch ex As Exception
                MsgBox(ex.Message)
            End Try

It says it can't get to C:\Documents and settings...

I tried changing the UAC to this, but it didn't work

<requestedExecutionLevel level="requireAdministrator" uiAccess="true" />

Can I make it skip the path it doesn't have access to?
Because it completely stops searching after it encounters the access denied.

[Grimfort]

The link I gave shows an example of an app that does everything you need. Your going to show more of the code you have modified for anyone to advise you. Where is the loop?

[vixez]

This is the complete search code

Public Class FileSearcher
    Dim Dirs As Boolean
    Dim SString As String
    Dim FilesFound As New Specialized.StringCollection
    Private Const IllegalDir As String = "System Volume Information"
    Public Sub New(ByVal StartPath As String, ByVal SearchString As String, Optional ByVal Dirs_Included As Boolean = False)
        Dirs = Dirs_Included
        SString = SearchString
        Call RecursiveSearch(StartPath)
    End Sub

    Private Sub RecursiveSearch(ByVal Path As String)
        
        Try
            Dim MyFiles As New Specialized.StringCollection
            Try
                MyFiles.AddRange(IO.Directory.GetFiles(Path))
            Catch ex As Exception
                MsgBox(ex.Message)
            End Try


            If Me.Dirs = True Then MyFiles.AddRange(IO.Directory.GetDirectories(Path))
            For i As Int32 = 0 To MyFiles.Count - 1
                Try
                    If MyFiles.Item(i).EndsWith("exe") Then
                        FilesFound.Add(MyFiles.Item(i))
                    End If
                Catch ex As Exception
                    Continue For
                End Try

            Next
        Catch ex As Exception
            'Illegal Directory
            MessageBox.Show("I can't seem to access some folders, are you running this as administrator?" & vbNewLine _
+ "If not, right click the application/shortcut and select 'Run as adminstrator'" _
& vbNewLine + "When prompted for permission, choose 'Yes'" & vbNewLine + _
"It's also possible that the given drive doesn't exist" & vbNewLine & _
ex.Message, "Error")

        Finally
            If IO.Directory.Exists(Path) Then

                Try
                    For Each Dir As String In IO.Directory.GetDirectories(Path)
                        If IO.Path.GetFileName(Dir) <> IllegalDir Then Call RecursiveSearch(Dir)
                    Next
                Catch ex As Exception

                End Try

            Else
            End If
        End Try
    End Sub
    Public ReadOnly Property Results() As Specialized.StringCollection
        Get
            Return FilesFound
        End Get
    End Property
End Class