Check application folders

This function checks the application folders.

This window is displayed when the GPS program is started, in case of anomalies in the application folders (see also GPS folders and files)

Example:

The information message displayed in the example indicates that the GPS folder, which should exist only inside the ProgramData folder, is also found in the VirtualStore folder.

The VirtualStore folder has been introduced by Microsoft for Windows Vista and later operating systems to virtualize write operations for files that the application tries to write to folders but for which it does not have create / write permissions.

General description of the problem

If, for any reason, the current user is denied access to the ProgramData folder by the operating system, file creation and writing in the GPS program will be automatically redirected to the VirtualStore folder.

Should this happen, the GPS program is able to detect this anomaly and warn the user with this information window.

You can continue anyway, but you should have the problem solved as soon as possible by specialized personnel who must have an expert knowledge of the operating system configuration and installation.

In such cases, two databases or two configuration files might exist in two different folders.

This situation can lead to unpredictable results if the operating system configuration (and consequently the folder write permissions) is modified.

Details about the GPS data folder

The GPS data folder contains folders and files that are used to store the database and other configuration information (see also GPS folders and files).

The physical path on Windows Vista and later operating systems is usually as follows:

C:\ProgramData\MxGPS

The ProgramData folder might be hidden; to view it in Windows Explorer, it is necessary to enable the view of hidden files and folders (e.g., in Windows Vista, go to: Organize / Folder and search options / View / Show hidden files and folders).

The physical path on operating systems which are earlier than Windows Vista is usually as follows:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application data\MxGPS

If the data folder also exists in VirtualStore (the problem described above), the physical path might be this one:

C:\Users\(user)\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\ProgramData\MxGPS

where (user) is the computer user name.

Open data folder Button

This button opens a Windows Explorer window to view the GPS data folder, which is usually: C:\ProgramData\MxGPS

Open data folder in VirtualStore Button

This button opens a Windows explorer window to view the virtual GPS data folder, which is usually: C:\Users\(user)\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\ProgramData\MxGPS

Autocorrect Button

This button invokes a special GPS feature that automatically corrects files after saving a copy to a folder.

The features calls up the MxGpsSupport.exe support program, which requires special authorizations from the operating system to be executed; for this reason, an user confirmation request will be displayed with a message like this:

Unidentified program wants access to your computer

Click the Allow button.

The MxGpsSupport.exe support program will now do the following:

it will close the GPS
it will create a save location in VirtualStore, called MxGpsSave, whose full path is usually the following: C:\Users\(user)\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\ProgramData\MxGpsSaved
it will move the files from "data folder in VirtualStore" to "data folder"
if a file is duplicated, it will check which one is the least recently used and move it to the "save location" while the most recent file is moved to the "data folder"
it will grant the current user access rights to those files in the "data folder" which have no access rights
it will delete the "data folder in VirtualStore"
it will restart the GPS program, which will not display the Check application folders window, provided all operations have been successful.