Raymond.CC Blog

We can easily access the SendTo folder in Windows XP at C:\Documents and Settings\username\SendTo. There is no Documents and Settings folder in Vista but there is a Users folder. When I tried to access C:\Users\username\SendTo folder in Windows Vista, I get the error message “Access is denied“.

In order to see the SendTo folder, you first need to uncheck “Hide protected operating system files” from your Folder Options.



Select Yes when you get a window warning that you have chosen to display protected operating system files in Windows Explorer. You can find Folder Options at Control Panel.

Why am I getting the Access is denied error message when trying to access SendTo folder? Well if you go to C:\Users\username, you’ll see shortcuts for Application Data, Cookies, Local Settings, My Documents, NetHood, PrintHood, Recent, SendTo, Start Menu and Templates, but you won’t be able to access any of them. Those folders that looked like shortcuts aren’t really shortcuts. They are called “programmatic junction points“. They’re there so that older applications which look to the location those folders used to be at back in XP will still work; but they aren’t meant for you and me to double click and get forwarded to the proper location. If Microsoft didn’t make so much unnecessary changes in Vista, they wouldn’t need to do this!

Anyway, if you want to access the SendTo folder in Vista, the correct location is:

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows

I discovered this tip while trying to find a fix for an old software to work on Windows Vista.