Jtdylktuy

I am the sole user of my system, also my user account has Admin powers, and for most power I can do anything I want...

Except, edit files in Program Files or Program Files(x86) folders, and I have LOTS of apps and games that require manual editing of configuration files, also I like to program, and to mod games, and also can't edit files there.

My "solution" so far is just not install anything on those folders, also workaround by editing files elsewhere and pasting them on the target later.

These both have problems: one, lots of stuff are already on those folders, the second problem is that is lots of work to copy and paste files all over the place every time I need a tiny little change.

So how I change Program Files folders (both of them) to just let me do whatever I want?

Bonus: How I do that in a way that applications also have full access? Many games break when installed on Program Files, Steam and GOG forums are full of "solutions" that involve just not installing games there, because when you do, they break, because of silly permissions.

Rather than opening up permissions to let you do whatever you want, what you need to do is open an administrator-level explorer window and programs:

To open an administrator-level Windows Explorer window:

1. Search for cmd.exe, right-click on it, and select Run as Administrator.


2. Type cd "C:Program Files"
   


3. Type start .
   

To edit a plaintext file (i.e. a file that can be edited with notepad) do this:

1. Search for cmd.exe, right-click on it, and select Run as Administrator.


2. Type cd "C:Program Files[directory of file to be edited]"
   


3. Type notepad [filename]
   

Alternatively, follow these instructions (credit to WikiHow - with some changes):

1. Open notepad.


2. Copy and paste this code into notepad:

[version]

signature="$CHICAGO$"


[NotepadAsAdminInstall]

CopyFiles = NotepadAsAdmin.Files.Inf

AddReg = NotepadAsAdmin.AddReg


[DefaultInstall]

CopyFiles = NotepadAsAdmin.Files.Inf

AddReg = NotepadAsAdmin.AddReg


[DefaultUnInstall]

DelFiles = NotepadAsAdmin.Files.Inf

DelReg = NotepadAsAdmin.DelReg


[SourceDisksNames]

55="Notepad as Admin","",1


[SourceDisksFiles]

NotepadAsAdmin.INF=55


[DestinationDirs]

NotepadAsAdmin.Files.Inf = 17


[NotepadAsAdmin.Files.Inf]

NotepadAsAdmin.INF


[NotepadAsAdmin.AddReg]

HKLM,%UDHERE%,DisplayName,,"%NotepadAsAdminName%"

HKLM,%UDHERE%,UninstallString,,"rundll32.exe syssetup.dll,SetupInfObjectInstallAction DefaultUninstall 132 %17%NotepadAsAdmin.inf"

HKCR,Shellrunas,,,"%NotepadAsAdminAccel%"

HKCR,Shellrunascommand,,,"%11%notepad.exe ""%1"""


[NotepadAsAdmin.DelReg]

HKLM,%UDHERE%

HKCR,DirectoryShellrunas

HKCR,DriveShellrunas


[Strings]

NotepadAsAdminName="Notepad as Admin PowerToy (Uninstall)"

NotepadAsAdminAccel="Open with Notepad as Administrator"

UDHERE="SoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstallNotepadAsAdmin"

3. In notepad, go to File -> Save As... and select All files. Save to the desktop as NotepadAsAdmin.inf.


4. Close notepad.


5. Right-click on NotepadAsAdmin.inf on the desktop, and select Install from the context menu.


6. You should now be able to select any file anywhere, right-click it, and select `Open with Notepad as Administrator from the context menu.

This method was said to work with Windows Vista and 7, but I don't know if it will work with 8, 8.1, but I have tested it on Windows 10, so I assume it will work with 8 and 8.1. Alternatively, you can download a pre-made installer for this (provided through my DropBox) here. You do not need DropBox to download this file.