Why are many folders locked in Win8?

I came directly from an XP Pro environment to Win8 having skipped both Vista and Win7. What is the deal with having so many folders locked up where you don't even see them let alone have access to them?

Not even the Applications folder in Program Files is visible unless you take ownership. I spent almost two hours last night taking ownership of various folders that would normally be already owned by the Administrator in an XP environment.

Why did MS do this? Why couldn't they just have hidden these system folders like they did in XP and previous versions with you having to specify "Show Hidden Files & Folders" in the folder options menu?

Inquiring XP users want to know.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Consumer Preview
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satellite A105-S4397
    CPU
    Intel Centrino Duo 1.73 GHz T2250 2MB L2, 533MHz FSB
    Motherboard
    Mobile Intel 945GM Express
    Memory
    4GB PC4200
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel GMA 950
    Sound Card
    On-board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.4" built-in
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    160GB 5400RPM Hitachi
    PSU
    15VDC@5A or 12VDC at 6600MaH Li
    Case
    Plastic
    Cooling
    Smallest fan on the planet
    Keyboard
    Querty Eng/German
    Mouse
    Yes, but I've set traps
    Internet Speed
    10M
    Other Info
    Clean install from a corrupted and virus laden Vista original factory install on this ancient laptop.

    Runs like it was at Indy!
You have to see it as a security to avoid an accidental delete. Mainly everyone run as admin.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 enterprise x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pc-Quebec / Area 66
    CPU
    i7-3960X Extreme Edition
    Motherboard
    Rampage IV Extreme
    Memory
    Gskill 4x4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    4 x HD 7970
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Screen Resolution
    2560*1600
    Hard Drives
    C:\Intel series 520 SSD , 250 GB
    D:\ WD 750 black with Intel 40gb SSD cache Intel RST
    E:\ WD 2TB Black
    PSU
    Corsair AX 1200
    Case
    TT Mozart TX
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Logitech G-15
    Other Info
    Windows 8 VM is install on his own SSD.
Michael

There are many, many changes, The introduction of libraries for one and the different locations of the things you are used to seeing and accessing. It makes WCP both more secure and more difficult to stuff up.

There is also now a "trusted installer" that owns the setup process. Even Admins are locked out of it (under most circumstances)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WCP
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    2@ 4.9 Hz
    Memory
    64 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 9600
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    300gig internal and a bunch ext
    Cooling
    not much
    Keyboard
    Built-in
    Mouse
    Logitch Anywhere Mx wireless mouse
    Internet Speed
    50 down 1.5 up
Thanks for the reply. Yes, many new things to learn. I see a lot of familiar things, just not where I expect them to be. In some cases as I wrote above I don't see some things I'm used to seeing.

I'll have control of that installer too, by the end of the week.

Essentially, MS is saying that they don't trust anyone not to be ignorant enough to delete an important file or folder from their system. I didn't hear of these concerns in XP.

After using for three days now nearly constantly, I canhonestly say this is the only thing I don't like about Win8. I guess I wouldn't have liked Vista or Win7 either.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Consumer Preview
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satellite A105-S4397
    CPU
    Intel Centrino Duo 1.73 GHz T2250 2MB L2, 533MHz FSB
    Motherboard
    Mobile Intel 945GM Express
    Memory
    4GB PC4200
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel GMA 950
    Sound Card
    On-board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.4" built-in
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    160GB 5400RPM Hitachi
    PSU
    15VDC@5A or 12VDC at 6600MaH Li
    Case
    Plastic
    Cooling
    Smallest fan on the planet
    Keyboard
    Querty Eng/German
    Mouse
    Yes, but I've set traps
    Internet Speed
    10M
    Other Info
    Clean install from a corrupted and virus laden Vista original factory install on this ancient laptop.

    Runs like it was at Indy!
Thanks for the reply. Yes, many new things to learn. I see a lot of familiar things, just not where I expect them to be. In some cases as I wrote above I don't see some things I'm used to seeing.

I'll have control of that installer too, by the end of the week.

Essentially, MS is saying that they don't trust anyone not to be ignorant enough to delete an important file or folder from their system. I didn't hear of these concerns in XP.

After using for three days now nearly constantly, I can honestly say this is the only thing I don't like about Win8. I guess I wouldn't have liked Vista or Win7 either.


I bet you will have control and let me know if you need help.


Ken
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WCP
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    2@ 4.9 Hz
    Memory
    64 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 9600
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    300gig internal and a bunch ext
    Cooling
    not much
    Keyboard
    Built-in
    Mouse
    Logitch Anywhere Mx wireless mouse
    Internet Speed
    50 down 1.5 up
Many folders are not what they appear to be - they are special types of shortcuts or more properly called Junctions (or symbolic links), and they are there for compatibility with XP and earlier OS directory structures, so that older applications can still put stuff in the right places, even though Vista and Windows 7 and beyond now have different places to put stuff.

Google NTFS Junctions symbolic links to become an expert in this topic. :)

I agree that it's daft to have to see them, but you get used to them. It is of little use to change permissions and ownership in most cases since they lead nowhere.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP COMPAQ Presario CQ57
    CPU
    AMD E- 300 APU with Radion HD Graphics 1.30GHz
    Motherboard
    inbuilt
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio on-board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    notebook
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Seagate ST9500325AS
    Google drive 15GB
    Skydrive 25GB
    BT Cloud
    PSU
    external 20v
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    pretty good
    Keyboard
    inbuilt
    Mouse
    touchpad
    Internet Speed
    BT Infinity Unlimited - 80 up 20 down =70/16 really
    Browser
    Chrome Canary usually
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    no Start menu modifications
    Upgraded with no issues to 8.0 and to 8.1
Thanks. I'll have a` look at that after work tonight.

I guess that depends upon where you want to go. I've managed to change the Map icon on the Metro desktop with one of my choosing after taking ownership of that folder
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Consumer Preview
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satellite A105-S4397
    CPU
    Intel Centrino Duo 1.73 GHz T2250 2MB L2, 533MHz FSB
    Motherboard
    Mobile Intel 945GM Express
    Memory
    4GB PC4200
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel GMA 950
    Sound Card
    On-board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.4" built-in
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    160GB 5400RPM Hitachi
    PSU
    15VDC@5A or 12VDC at 6600MaH Li
    Case
    Plastic
    Cooling
    Smallest fan on the planet
    Keyboard
    Querty Eng/German
    Mouse
    Yes, but I've set traps
    Internet Speed
    10M
    Other Info
    Clean install from a corrupted and virus laden Vista original factory install on this ancient laptop.

    Runs like it was at Indy!
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