Access Denied - Cannot create a file in a certain directory

Question

When I try to create a file in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp, I get the following error:

java.io.FileNotFoundException: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Progr
ams\StartUp\test.bat (Access is denied)
        at java.io.FileOutputStream.open(Native Method)
        at java.io.FileOutputStream.<init>(Unknown Source)
        at java.io.FileOutputStream.<init>(Unknown Source)
        at Program.testMethod(Program.java:26)
        at Program.main(Program.java:14)

I would like to know why I am getting this error and how to work around it.

When I put quotes around the path as suggested below, I get the following error:

java.io.FileNotFoundException: "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Prog
rams\StartUp\test.bat" (The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is i
ncorrect)
        at java.io.FileOutputStream.open(Native Method)
        at java.io.FileOutputStream.<init>(Unknown Source)
        at java.io.FileOutputStream.<init>(Unknown Source)
        at Program.testMethod(Program.java:26)
        at Program.main(Program.java:14)

Line 26 is:

BufferedWriter w = new BufferedWriter(new OutputStreamWriter(new FileOutputStream("\"C:\\ProgramData\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\StartUp\\test.bat\""), "utf-8"));

Does that directory even exist? It sure isn't a standard one. — chrylis -cautiouslyoptimistic-, Aug 13 '14 at 02:29
Have you tried surrounding the path in quotes since there is a space between Start and Menu? — Jonny Henly, Aug 13 '14 at 02:32
@Draconwolver Do you have the permission to create file in this directory? — Jens, Aug 13 '14 at 11:10
Thanks to everyone who tried to help me. I solved the problem by using [this post](http://stackoverflow.com/a/22110928/3206319 "this post"). — Synchronous, Aug 15 '14 at 11:13

score 6 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 13 '14 at 11:13

This is surely the user access on the C drive. Program data is the restricted folder and can only be accessed by the administrators having complete access to C drive.

This is the restricted area in windows not the problem with the java code. If you check you will not be able to create any new file in this StartUp folder.

To check your access on C drive:

go to the path: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp.
Right click, go to Properties --> Security Tab --> Select the user --> click on edit
Assign proper rights and you will be able to create file there.

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 13 '14 at 11:19

Your original iteration without the quotes is the correct way to denote the file path but based on the exception, you most likely don't have access to create a file in the said folder - you can confirm that by opening the folder in windows explorer and manually creating a file through the right click context menu.

Access Denied - Cannot create a file in a certain directory

2 Answers2