4 ms·

On the other end, when Windows first started having multiple users and locking down write access to system directories (*), lots of video games (and some other

On the other end, when Windows first started having multiple users and locking down write access to system directories (*), lots of video games (and some other programs besides) decided to just dump their files anywhere. Just looking at my own system, I see all of the following used: %userprofile%\Documents (which used to be called "My Documents") %userprofile%\Documents\My Games %userprofile%\Documents\Saved Games %userprofile%\Documents\SavedGames %userprofile%\Saved Games %appdata% %userprofile%\AppData\LocalLow %localappdata% As far as I can tell, there's no rhyme or reason to any of this. I know the three AppData folders have distinct meanings, but I don't think video game developers are using them according to their proper meanings. Also, I'm being generous with my use of variables above. Some programs have hardcoded the drive letters and paths. * = I'm well aware of the real history of Windows NT but from the consumer perspective it went from 98/Me -> XP

ndegruchy 1y ago
Yeah, the Windows directory story is a mess. Of all the vaunted backwards compatibility they offer, there are some very strange user-facing breaks that don't make much sense. The Home directory structure being one of them. %APPDATA% is _fairly_ consistent for the past ~20 years. Local and LocalLow are odd distinctions, but have some interesting backgrounds. I don't find many programs abusing them. Roaming being the only real oddball that I find preferences for that aren't overridden by one of the other two folders.
ack_complete 1y ago
Unfortunately, there is a reason. During the Vista timeframe, Microsoft published guidance recommending that game developers use the Documents folder for save games, as part of the push to make games compatible with UAC and non-elevated user accounts. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/dxtecharts/gaming-with-least-privileged-user-accounts https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/dxtecharts/g... > What this means is that you should not place save games in \Program Files, instead they should go in a sub-folder in \My Documents.

ndegruchy 1y ago

Yeah, the Windows directory story is a mess. Of all the vaunted backwards compatibility they offer, there are some very strange user-facing breaks that don't make much sense. The Home directory structure being one of them. %APPDATA% is _fairly_ consistent for the past ~20 years. Local and LocalLow are odd distinctions, but have some interesting backgrounds. I don't find many programs abusing them. Roaming being the only real oddball that I find preferences for that aren't overridden by one of the other two folders.

ack_complete 1y ago

Unfortunately, there is a reason. During the Vista timeframe, Microsoft published guidance recommending that game developers use the Documents folder for save games, as part of the push to make games compatible with UAC and non-elevated user accounts. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/dxtecharts/gaming-with-least-privileged-user-accounts https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/dxtecharts/g... > What this means is that you should not place save games in \Program Files, instead they should go in a sub-folder in \My Documents.