Where to install data files for Win 7 64 bit app

[halw]

Where should program data files be installed (Windows 7 64 bit) so that a standard user can acess (read, modify, etc.) them?

Back in (good old ) XP days, I placed executables and data files in C:\Program Files\My App. But under Win 7, these can't be accessed by a standard user. In Win 7 (64 b), I've tried placing them in C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\My App, but this permits access by an Administator, not a Std User. So that is no good? Any suggestions? (or helpful tutorials from you to me )

halw

[dilettante]

The standard answer is to have your installer create an application folder under the new ProgramData folder (also known as CommonAppDataFolder, which exists as far back as Win95 with the Desktop Update) and set full access to the Everyone group on this folder, then place your files there.

Your program can then look in this application data folder and all users will have full access to files created there.

These have actually been the rules for a long, long time.


I went looking for it, there is a FAQ article here on the topic:

Where should I store the files that my program uses/creates?