New: Wise Duplicate Finder (Jan 23, 2023), Platform 23.1 (Jan 11, 2023)
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I've been trying to install VLC on my PC - it's Vista Business. I keep getting this message: "Error opening files for writing
C:\VLCPortable\..."
I can abort, retry or ignore. If I ignore, the next error message comes up with a different file name. And so on.
What can I do?
Thx,
a p
Could you look to confirm that the installer made a C:\VLCPortable directory? If not, are you able to make a directory with that name using Explorer?
If the directory doesn't exist and you can't create it, I'd guess you're restricted by UAC or something from doing that.
If my guess is correct, we can speculate about how to proceed...
the installer didn't create the folder itself, but I've already tried that. Didn't help, though - same error messages.
actually, looking at your post again - what I did was: I created a folder: C:\program files\VLCPortable. But that was not what you meant, was it?
Sorry to say I don't really know what a directory is or how I make one... Could you help?
Thx
a p
Sorry -- "directory" is another name for Folder (or actually, Folder is a new name for Directory, since someone decided that Directory was not clear and that Folder is).
If you tested by creating the "C:\Program Files\VLCPortable", but the installer is trying to install in "C:\VLCPortable", the results of your test might not apply. Or perhaps you have tested in both "C:\" and "C:\Program Files"m with the same results?
Both "C:\" (also known as the root) and "C:\Program Files" are special directories in many ways. If a nasty program can write to either of those places, it might be easier for it to take over your computer or delete important information. So sometimes there are special security controls on them. That was my first thought. But if you can create "C:\program files\VLCPortable" but not install there, that's odd.
Right click and select Run as Administrator. I don't recommend installing to program files however. You will have to grant VLC administrator privileges every time you start it if you want it to save settings. I'd install it to C:\Users\%USERNAME%\SomeFolder.
Hey, thanks a bunch. C:\VLCPortable has worked now. It's strange though, I think, most programmes are installed into C:\program files? Well, anyway, VLC's running.... I'm finally reunited with Brad Pitt... 
But these are portable apps. They can be installed everywhere and anywhere. The ones you are thinking of are the base local apps, which in this case is VLC itself. Also, many portable apps behave differently when installed into C:\Program Files or a subdirectory (folder within Program Files).
That's a result of permissions in Vista. In XP an admin has full write access to all of C. In Vista, I think it's quite different.
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