For all you computer experts...

[Random_Guy]

...Anyone wanna help me?

I've got a HP Pavilion DV5 laptop Windows Vista Home Premium 32 laptop, and for the past few months, I have not been able to install anything onto it.

Whenever I try to install any program, I get an error message saying "Unable to access network location %APPDATA%\".

I've searched everywhere on the Internet, and I've even called HP, but no-one can fix the problem.

Can any of you guys help me?

PS: My last resort is a system recovery.

[Drkdstoyer]

System Recovery would def. do the trick... U probably have a file that is misplaced internally that is causing this (thus something u can't fix either) Sooooo... I would just do sys. recovery if it is that bad :/ hope that helps :)

[Random_Guy]

Okay, thanks. I used a 'Microsoft Fix It' to try and fix my problem, but even that didn't work.

[loves2spoon]

Do a system restore. If you don't have the original system restore CD's you can order them from HP. Or just borrow Windows XP from a friend.

[tsharpfilm]

%APPDATA% sounds like a directory where application data is stored. Maybe you could try locating this directory, and changing the access permissions on it. That might fix the problem.

[Eli]

Install Linux

[Random_Guy]

%APPDATA% sounds like a directory where application data is stored. Maybe you could try locating this directory, and changing the access permissions on it. That might fix the problem.

So I was able to locate the folder, but I'm not sure what to do. Under the 'security' tab, it shows that I have full control over it. Under the 'share' tab, it shows that I'm not sharing it with any networks. Does it have something to do with that? Thanks.

[tsharpfilm]

Install Linux
LOL. I really wanted to say that.

The solution to all Windows problems:
http://www.ubuntu.com

But good luck trying to run iTunes on it.

So I was able to locate the folder, but I'm not sure what to do. Under the 'security' tab, it shows that I have full control over it. Under the 'share' tab, it shows that I'm not sharing it with any networks. Does it have something to do with that? Thanks.
I'm not using Vista now, so I don't know exactly where the settings are. I'm guessing it's a permissions issue because of the error message: "Unable to access network location." You should be able to right click the folder, click properties (I think), and find something there to change the settings.

Edit: Do a Google search for %APPDATA% access denied. It looks like there are others who have had a similar problem.

[Random_Guy]

I've searched everywhere and there isn't a solution that solves my problem yet.

[soup]

google is your friend :)
not using vista but found these couple of things to at least check

http://forums.techarena.in/operating-systems/1127524.htm

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/886549

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/329308

The general answer seems to be this !!!!

The response to "Echo %appadata%" should be

C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming

A space in the user name shouldn't be a problem, but creating a new user may fix the problem because it will create the account with default registry settings which will hopefully have the missing %appdata% information.

If you want to check on this before creating the new user, just for curiosity's sake, check the following Registry key:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Exp lorer\Shell Folders and check the value for AppData in the right hand pane. If it's missing, then that would explain the problem. It should be as listed above, substituting the UserName with the folder name for the user under Users.

Also check the key
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Exp lorer\User Shell Folders

The value of this key should be
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming

More keys to check:
HKCU\Volatile Environement (1)
HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVer sion\Explorer\User Shell Folders (2)
HKU\Sxxxxx\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersi on\Explorer\User Shell Folders (2)
HKU\Sxxxxx\Volatile Environement (1)

The values in (1) should have the full path spelled out, the values in (2) should use the %USERPROFILE% variable in the path. If the value under HKU\.DEFAULT is missing or bad, then creating a new user probably won't work either. If that value is missing, then I would recommend a clean reinstall of Windows because there is no telling what else is messed up also.

[Random_Guy]

Thanks for the help. The first two articles I've already tried and they didn't work for me, while the last one didn't apply to Vista. But thanks for your help, anyway.