What is AppData/Roaming and how did it get into my laptop?

What is AppData/Roaming and how did it get into my laptop? It appeared a few days ago and has caused a lot of havoc with many of the programs I use. I read some things that said it was created by a virus, but I have scanned every nook and cranny of this laptop and there’re no viruses, malware, spyware, etc. Programs are looking for things that WERE in the Application Data/Local folders, but now they’re in AppData/Roaming and the programs don’t know where to look. I’m seriously stumped by this one and I don’t know which forum to post this on. Help. Please!

*original title — AppData/Roaming — I’m completely stumped*

Windows uses the Roaming folder for application specific data, such as custom dictionaries, which are machine independent and should roam with the user profile .

The AppData\Roaming folder in Windows Vista is the same as the Documents and Settings\username\Application Data folder in Windows XP .

The AppData folder in Windows Vista is equal to the Documents and Settings folder in Windows XP. The AppData folder is also hidden in Vista.

To unhide this folder (and others), open the Folder Options in the Vista Control Panel, and on the “View” tab, change the option to “show hidden files and folders”, and click ok.

“The key phrase is, change in location. Vista has a new Users Folder which replaces XP’s Documents and Settings. Within the new folder structure, Vista has a folder called plain ‘Documents’, which replaces XP’s ‘My Documents’ folder. The most important new subfolder is AppData. Also to maintain backward compatibility, Vista has shortcut links to the old XP folders such as Local Settings and Application Data.”

I cannot explain the «Duplicate» data in two different folder locations. Are you sure it’s duplicated?

You cannot access the c:\documents and settings folder because that Path structure is not used in Vista. It’s there mainly for a Junction:

Documents and Settings Folder in Vista – known as “Junctions”

These folders are what is known as a junction. Junctions work like shortcuts, but in Vista’s case look like regular folders with an arrow. The purpose of a junction is to redirect programs that access them to their Windows Vista equivalent. Since junctions aren’t really folders, it is not possible to access them, and any attempt to do so will give you an «Access Denied» error.

Here is a comprehensive list of all the junction folders that have been moved in Windows Vista, along with their new location:

XP: Documents and Settings
Vista: Users

XP: Documents and Settings\$USER$\My Documents
Vista: Users\$USER$\Documents

XP: Documents and Settings\$USER$\My Documents\My Music
Vista: Users\$USER$\Music

XP: Documents and Settings\$USER$\My Documents\My Pictures
Vista: Users\$USER$\Pictures

XP: Documents and Settings\$USER$\My Documents\My Videos
Vista: \Users\$USER$\Videos

XP: Documents and Settings\$USER$\Application Data
Vista: Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming

XP: Documents and Settings\$USER$\Cookies
Vista: Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies

XP: Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings
Vista: Users\$USER$\AppData\Local

XP: Documents and Settings\$USER$\NetHood
Vista: Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts

XP: Documents and Settings\$USER$\PrintHood
Vista: Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Printer Shortcuts

XP: Documents and Settings\$USER$\Recent
Vista: Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent

XP: Documents and Settings\$USER$\SendTo
Vista: Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo
XP: Documents and Settings\$USER$\Start Menu
Vista: Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

XP: Documents and Settings\$USER$\Templates
Vista: Users\$USER$\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates

XP: Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings\Application Data
Vista: Users\$USER$\AppData\Local

XP: Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings\History
Vista: Users\$USER$\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\History

XP: Documents and Settings\$USER$\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
Vista: Users\$USER$\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files

XP: Documents and Settings\All Users
Vista: ProgramData

XP: Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data
Vista: ProgramData

XP: Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
Vista: Users\Public\Desktop

XP: Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents
Vista: Users\Public\Documents

XP: Documents and Settings\All Users\Favorites
Vista: Users\Public\Favorites

XP: Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
Vista: ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

XP: Documents and Settings\All Users\Templates
Vista: ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Templates

XP: Documents and Settings\Default User
Vista: Users\Default

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Local, LocalLow and Roaming folders in AppData on Windows 10 explained

Windows 10 AppData folder includes the following sub-folders – Roaming, Local & LocalLow. This post explains what they are and their functions.

Almost every program you install on your Windows 10 PC creates its own folder in the AppData folder and stores all its related information there. AppData or Application data is a hidden folder in Windows 10 that helps protect user data and settings from deletion and manipulation. To access it, one has to select “Show hidden files and folders” in the folder options.

One can directly paste the following in Windows File Explorer and hit Enter to open it:

When you open the AppData folder, you will see three folders:

1. Local
2. LocalLow
3. Roaming.

If a program wants to have a single set of settings or files to be used by multiple users, then it should use the ProgramData folder – but if it wants to store separate folders for each user, programs should use the AppData folder.

Let us see what are Local, LocalLow and Roaming folders and what are their functions.

Local, LocalLow & Roaming folders

Each of these folders has been created by Microsoft intentionally for the following reasons:

• Better performance during log in
• Segregation of application’s data based on the usage level.

Local folder

The Local folder mainly contains folders related to installing programs. The data contained in it (%localappdata%) cannot be moved with your user profile since it is specific to a PC and therefore too large to sync with a server. For example, Internet Explorer temporary files are stored under Temporary Internet files or the Cookies folder. Also, there is a folder of Microsoft where you can find the history of Windows activities.

LocalLow folder

This LocalLow folder contains data that can’t move. Besides, it also has a lower level of access. For example, if you’re running a web browser in a protected or safe mode, the app will only access data from the LocalLow folder. Moreover, the LocalLow folder is not created on the second computer. Therefore, any applications that access the LocalLow folder may fail.

Roaming folder

The Roaming folder is a type of folder that can be readily synchronized with a server. Its data can move with user’s profile from PC to PC — like when you’re on a domain you can easily log into any computer and access its favorites, documents, etc. For instance, if you sign into a different PC on a domain, your web browser favorites or bookmarks will be available. This is one of the main advantages of Roaming profile in a company. The user profile data (copy to the server), the custom data is always available regardless of any system the employee uses.

In short:

ProgramData folder contains global application data that is not user-specific and is available to all users on the computer. Any global data is put in here.

AppData folder contains user-specific preferences and profile configurations and is further divided into three subfolders:

1. Roaming folder contains data that can move with the user profile from a computer to a computer
2. Local folder contains data that cannot move with your user profile.
3. LocalLow folder includes low-level access data, eg. temporary files of your browser when running in a protected mode.

What is roaming data in windows 10? — (FAQ)

Category: what . Last Updated: 1 months ago . Views: 5

ANSWER

Starting with Windows 10 build 17643, if your device has a SIM (cellular), Microsoft updated Data Usage Settings to let you know how much data you are using while roaming. The roaming usage info will appear once you start using roaming data

What Are The Local, LocalLow, And Roaming Folders On ?

If you open the run box on Windows 10 and paste %AppData% in it, or if you open File Explorer and paste the same thing in the location bar, it will take you to a folder named AppData. This folder is present in very single user profile folder configured on a Windows 10 PC. Inside it there are always three folders; Local, LocalLow, and Roaming.

What is a roaming profile and how does it work? Microsoft’s roaming profiles give IT administrators a basic option to provide users with their personal settings and data on any device or virtual desktop connected to the corporate network. Windows maintains a profile for each user who logs into the OS.

What Is Data Roaming? Roaming refers to the continued data service you get when you go outside of your mobile operator’s coverage area. In other words, you’re roaming when you literally roam away from your covered zone — the area where your wireless carrier provides data services.

How to Enable or Disable Cellular Data Roaming in Windows 10?

If you do allow roaming, you can use cellular data when your Windows 10 device is in a roaming area. Depending on your data plan, …

What Does It Mean When Data is «Roaming? So, what is data roaming, and why would you ever enable it if it could incur these charges? Hidden within your phone’s settings, you may have come across a setting called «data roaming«. If you went to enable it, you might have seen a pop-up message saying that this may incur significant network charges.

How to Enable or Disable Cellular Data Roaming in Windows 10? Selecting Don’t roam will prevent data roaming charges by automatically turning off your cellular data connection when entering a roaming area. If you do allow roaming, you can use cellular data when your Windows 10 device is in a roaming area. Depending on your data plan, you might pay more for data you use when roaming. This tutorial will

How can I access Application Data folder in Windows 10 ?

Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\ \Application Data\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator [version] Settings\en_US\AIPrefs change 10 to whatever you want: /maxRecentFiles 10 . So I tried this, but ofcourse I cannot access Documents and Settings.

What Is the AppData Folder in Windows? The Roaming folder contains data that would “roam” with a user account from computer to computer if your PC was connected to a domain with a roaming profile. This is often used for important settings. For example, Firefox stores its user profiles here, allowing your bookmarks and other browsing data to follow you from PC to PC.

What is the difference between the AppData Roaming, Local ? AppData folder contains user-specific preferences and profile configurations and is further divided into three subfolders: 1. Roaming folder contains data that can move with the user profile from a computer to computer 2. Local folder contains dat

What Is Data Roaming? The good news is that data roaming doesn’t include the data, messages, and calls you to send or receive while on a Wi-Fi network. So, if you’re going abroad and you want to minimize the costs, make sure to watch Netflix, chat, and surf the web while on a Wi-Fi network.

Is it safe to delete all AppData\Roaming\…?

I’m using Windows 10. I’ve just followed the instructions on Apple Support (Remove and reinstall iTunes and related software components for Windows 7 and later — Apple Support) to uninstall my iTunes completely, in hope of saving space on my C drive as it’s already almost full, within my first month of usage.I’ve also uninstalled my iCloud. However, my C drive …

What Is the ProgramData Folder in Windows? Application Data Folders: Most applications store their settings in the Application Data folders at C:\Users\username\AppData\, by default. Each Windows user account has its own Application Data folders, so each Windows user account can have its own application data and settings if programs use this folder.

How To Use Enterprise State Roaming ESR Windows Autopilot? Enterprise State Roaming -ESR – Windows Autopilot 1. User 1 login to Client 1. Enterprise State Roaming settings from client 1 synced with Azure data center (Azure Regions). Before roaming settings leave the computer, it gets encrypted using RMS, which is inbuilt to Windows 10. This encryption activity happens behind the scene.

What is the ProgramData folder in Windows 10? Windows 10 creates a number of system files and folders to support the running of the operating system. The ProgramData folder is one of those important system folders. It contains all the data

Should AppData be Redirected or Left in the User Profile ?

That means faster logons since less data needs to be copied. Logoffs benefit to some extent, too, but not as much as logons, because with roaming profiles only changed files are copied back to the file server during logoff. Data sharing between sessions.

How to Download and Fix Roaming.lock Errors? This file is considered a Game file, and was first created by Microsoft for the Windows 10 software package. The release of roaming.lock introduced for Windows was on 08/01/2012 in Windows 8. The most recent version [file version 10] was introduced on 07/29/2015 for Windows 10. Roaming.lock is included with Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 8.

Last modified: February 28 2021

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