Python os.listDir throws "WindowsError: [Error 5] Access is denied:" on some folders

Question

Basically I have a FileExplorer class written in Python 2.6. It works great, I can navigate through drives, folders, etc. However, when I get to a specific folder 'C:\Documents and Settings/.*'*, os.listdir, on which my script is based, throws this error:

WindowsError: [Error 5] Access is denied: 'C:\Documents and Settings/.'

Why is that? Is it because this folder is read-only? Or is it something Windows is protecting and my script cannot access?!

Here is the offending code(line 3):

def listChildDirs(self):
    list = []
    for item in os.listdir(self.path):
        if item!=None and\
            os.path.isdir(os.path.join(self.path, item)):
            print item
            list.append(item)
        #endif
    #endfor
    return list

Which version of Windows? In Vista and later, C:\Documents and Settings is a junction, not a real directory. — Rod, Feb 05 '13 at 15:30

score 3 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:50

3

In Vista and later, C:\Documents and Settings is a junction, not a real directory.

You can't even do a straight dir in it.

C:\Windows\System32>dir "c:\Documents and Settings"
 Volume in drive C is OS
 Volume Serial Number is 762E-5F95

 Directory of c:\Documents and Settings

File Not Found

Sadly, using os.path.isdir(), it will return True

>>> import os
>>> os.path.isdir(r'C:\Documents and Settings')
True

You could have a look at these answers for dealing with symlinks in Windows.

edited May 23 '17 at 11:50

Community

1
1

answered Feb 05 '13 at 15:37

Rod

52,748
3
38
55

Exactly what I was thinking. This is a good use for exception handling. – Mike Feb 05 '13 at 15:41
Thank you very much, this explains a lot. @Mike, yes, exactly how I'm thinking of working around it - catch the exception. – Radu Feb 06 '13 at 07:31

danodonovan · Answer 2 · 2013-02-05T15:32:53.253

It's probably a permissions setting for directory access, or even that the directory's not there. You can either run your script as administrator (ie access to everything) or try something like this:

def listChildDirs(self):
    list = []
    if not os.path.isdir(self.path):
        print "%s is not a real directory!" % self.path
        return list
    try:
        for item in os.listdir(self.path):
            if item!=None and\
                os.path.isdir(os.path.join(self.path, item)):
                print item
                list.append(item)
            #endif
        #endfor
    except WindowsError:
        print "Oops - we're not allowed to list %s" % self.path
    return list

By the way, have you heard of os.walk? It looks like it might be a short cut for what you're trying to achieve.

Wouldn't os.walk just recursively list all the directory's children, grandchildren, grand-grand children, etc? I want to just show the children. — Radu, Feb 06 '13 at 07:30

Python os.listDir throws "WindowsError: [Error 5] Access is denied:" on some folders

2 Answers2