Windows Vista & Windows 7 use a more comprehensive security model than previous versions of Windows, especially a new feature called User Account Control (UAC). This feature is designed to prevent a user of the machine from doing things which might potentially break the computer - and the part that protects the Program Files folder is a little bit of a problem for WoW players.

The Virtual Store is a hidden folder in the Users folder.

Many applications/programs written before Windows Vista (including World of Warcraft) got used to being allowed to write files or change files wherever they wanted, but Vista doesn't allow this. Because applications (like games!) are not normally allowed to write or make changes to files into the Program Files directory, Windows Vista re-directs those files to a place called the Virtual Store.

If your copy of World of Warcraft is installed in the Program Files folder, you almost certainly have your Interface\AddOns and WTF folder (where WoW saves its settings) in the Virtual Store.

Patch 3.0.2 and Wrath of the Lich King Expansion:

Now, along comes Wow Patch 3.0.2, and knowing that people were having problems with WoW being installed in the Program Files folder, Blizzard decided to help Windows Vista users by moving the game to a new place. When you install Patch 3.0.2 or the Wrath of the Lich King expansion and you're running WIndows Vista with World of Warcraft installed to your Program Files folder the installer/patcher will ask to move your WoW install.

The new path is going to be "computer\[user name]\users\public\games\World of Warcraft." User name is of course the Windows Vista user account of the user logged in at the time of the install.

If you've installed your copy of WoW somewhere else (like me, D:\Games\World of Warcraft) you will be unaffected by this change.

More information on the Virtual Store:

The Virtual Store is a hidden folder in the Users folder. Your typical path for a World of Warcraft installation would look like this:
C:\Users\<name>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\World of Warcraft\.

For the technical explanation, read all about the UAC and the Virtual Store at these links:

Link 1 - the don't confuse me with technology version:
http://help.lockergnome.com/vista/Virtual-Store-ftopict16837.html

Link 2 - The Real Scoop:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc138019.aspx

Link 3 - Shirik's WoW Interface Guide on this subject with pictures!
http://www.wowinterface.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14650

● To get to the Virtual Store:

Go to the "Program Files" folder, then your World of Warcraft folder and click "Compatibility Files" on the menu bar. This will take you to where the AddOns and WTF folders are. (If you're on Vista 64 bit versions, you'll have a "Program Files (x86)" folder - WoW will most likely be in there, if so, navigate to the AddOns or WTF folder before looking for the "Compatibility Files" button.

● How to Show Hidden Files/Folders: (do this only to help see hidden folders, not to fix anything).

1. Click the Start Button, and choose "Control Panel" from the menu.
2. Choose "Appearance and Personalization."
3. Under "Folder Options" choose "Show hidden files and folders."
4. Click the "View" tab.
5. Find the item labeled, "Hidden files and folders" and click the circle next to "Show hidden files and folders."
6. Click the "Apply" button.

To make troubleshooting easier for yourself you can do a couple of things:

1. (Easy, Secure, Best) - Move your World of Warcraft installation to a new location, outside of the Program Files folder. For example, on my PC I have WoW installed in D:\Games\World of Warcraft. You can move your entire WoW folder to anywhere else on your computer that you like. This prevents the whole UAC/Virtual Store issue entirely.

If you do this, you will need to modify the shortcut (icon) you use to run WoW. Richt-Click on the icon and chose "Properties" from the menu. Change the "Target" property to match your new path. This will not break your WoW install in any way. WoW is pretty self-contained, and any registry entries it needs to update it will do at run time. As an added benefit of this, patching can often be easier since the patch files won't get moved to your virtual store.

2. (Easy, but not secure) - You can, if you're an Administrator on the computer, allow WoW to run as an Admin, giving it special rights to write to the Program Files folder. Right-Click the icon you use to run WoW and choose "Run as Administrator" from the menu. This is not recommended because it essentially disables the protection of UAC.

More about Patch 3.0.2
Note: If you told the installer/patcher to move WoW during the 3.02 patch, you might have a few things left over in your C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft folder. Those might still have "Virtual Store" copies. You may need to do some digging around to make sure all your AddOns and settings got properly moved.

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Q u o t e:
Yes, When I installed the new Patch it wanted to create a new "Public" folder that it put WoW in. I downloaded all my Addons into that new folder, and have no issues with the addons, but the Macros dont save. I was reading that post that was linked, Do I just move my WOW folder out of the Public folder and onto the C:\ Drive (Not in Program Files)? Thank you for your help.

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If you're missing AddOns or Macros after the 3.0.2 patch then most likely:

1. You have a C:\Programs Files\World of Warcraft folder which has in it an Interface and WTF folder.

2. Inside the WTF folder will be your old settings, including AddOn saved variables and macros - they might also be in the Virtual Store - see the instructions in post #1 (above) for getting to your Virtual Store. These are from before the patch.

3. You can move the contents of the folders from your Virtual Store to your new WoW Install directory computer\[user name]\users\public\games\World of Warcraft to get back any old settings/macros, etc.

More on Finding Your AddOns after Patch 3.0.2 or Wrath of the Lich King is installed

● Right-click on the icon for WoW (usually on your desktop) and chose "Properties" from the menu.
● On the "Shortcut" tab, look in the "Target" box. This will show you where the game is installed.

Now that we know where the game is installed answer the following questions:

● Is WoW installed in Program Files\World of Warcraft?
● Is WoW installed in Users\Public\Games\World of Warcraft?

If WoW is installed in Program Files\World of Warcraft you want to move it as I covered earlier in this thread.

If WoW is installed in Users\Public\Games\World of Warcraft you need to make sure you:

● Install your AddOns in Users\Public\Games\World of Warcraft\Inteface\AddOns
● If you have old copies of things in the Program Files folder, you will have old settings hidden from view in the Virtual Store as I covered in the first post.

Personaly I have totaly disabled the UAC...Yes it is great if you got other family members on the PC doing other things..but if you are the only one and YOU know what you are doing disable it....it is annoying to have this window pop up...

control panel >>users>>>click on UAC...then uncheck the box i believe..

This will totaly disable the UAC and make life a little simpler on you...

The only thing you need UAC enable for is when you go to install Adboe Acrobat reader...you will get a junkie error message ...and it bascily needs you to turn it on....

I have been running Vista since it was code name LongHorn and i am MCTS certified in vista..and i have never need to run anything in Admin mode...other thing as a side note that might help alot of things is disable the Windows Firewall...and no going to the control panel and firewall and clicking disable doesnt turn it off...

Go to Admin tools, services and look for Windows Firewall and open it ..Select Disable and stop...this will help with any minor networking issues you might have

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Q u o t e:
Personaly I have totaly disabled the UAC...Yes it is great if you got other family members on the PC doing other things..but if you are the only one and YOU know what you are doing disable it....it is annoying to have this window pop up...

control panel >>users>>>click on UAC...then uncheck the box i believe..

This will totaly disable the UAC and make life a little simpler on you...

The only thing you need UAC enable for is when you go to install Adboe Acrobat reader...you will get a junkie error message ...and it bascily needs you to turn it on....

I have been running Vista since it was code name LongHorn and i am MCTS certified in vista..and i have never need to run anything in Admin mode...other thing as a side note that might help alot of things is disable the Windows Firewall...and no going to the control panel and firewall and clicking disable doesnt turn it off...

Go to Admin tools, services and look for Windows Firewall and open it ..Select Disable and stop...this will help with any minor networking issues you might have

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Can I have some of the crack you're smoking?

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Q u o t e:


This thread isn't for the tech geeks who know what they're doing. Those kinds of people would've been able to figure this out themselves. This thread is for the average users who are the very people needing UAC and windows firewall the most. It's almost like you're trying to get people infected with keyloggers.

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WOW i feel insulted saying i am going to infect people with Keyloggers....The windowsa fire wall is total udder junk...sitting there messing with the windows firewall, i had more issues with that than i did with my Linksys router...

The windows Firewall is so restrictive that it can casue issues

BUt eh what do i know i was simply passing helpful info to others...

BTW UAC will save you on older viruses and Keyloggers...but the newer ones are alrdy working thier ways around it...

Plus most people i tolk to alrdy run a router with a built in firewall..there is no need in using a second firewall like windows...it will just cause more issues and headaches...

but take it for what it is worth

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Q u o t e:
BTW UAC will save you on older viruses and Keyloggers...but the newer ones are alrdy working thier ways around it...

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The only way to work around it is to shut it off, which, of course, requires clicking accept.

So, no. Further you really have no clue about security.

I'd rather not drag this thread offtopic any further, so I'll just leave it at that.

Security of your home computer is a complex and layered subject.

• How much security is right for you?


• How much risk are you willing to take?


• What sort of security measures make sense for your risk factors?

Most of these issues are beyond the scope of what I am trying to do here. I'm trying to help people get their AddOns working properly under Windows Vista, and explaining only what they need to do that, while providing some links for people who want to know more.

For a very through guide on home computer security one should visit the CERT Home Network Security guide @ http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/home_networks.html

UAC was designed for people that aren't 100% hardcore about protecting their computer, and analyzing everything that gets downlaoded before downloading it. Those people are the exception, not the rule. While disabling UAC will in fact make your life easier, and result in you being annoyed less often, it will also make things easier for corrupt / infected files to make their way into your system.

UAC On: Evil file tries to run something in the background that it shouldn't be running. YOu get a prompt asking if you want to run the file and give it admin privileges. YOu click no, and no harm done.

UAC Off: Evil file wants to run something in the background that it shouldnlt, and instead of prompting you, the computer just lets it, because it is running as you, and you are an admin. Welcome to zombie computer...

As long as you avoid those "bad" websites, I honestly think you have nothing to worry about.

I've been running Vista for almost a year now with UAC off and have no such issues. Full open ports, no firewall, no virus detection, nothing.

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Q u o t e:
Windows Vista uses a more comprehensive security model than previous versions of Windows, especially a new feature called User Account Control (UAC). This feature is designed to prevent a user of the machine from doing things which might potentially break the computer - and the part that protects the Program Files folder is a little bit of a problem for WoW players.

Applications are not allowed to write files into the Program Files directory, however, this is a practice many programs written before Windows Vista (including World of Warcraft) still follow. When this happens, Windows Vista re-directs those files to a place called the Virtual Store. Vista is not broken, it's doing its level best to protect you.

If your copy of World of Warcraft is installed in the Program Files folder, you almost certainly have your AddOns and WTF folder (where WoW saves its settings) in the Virtual Store.

The Virtual Store is a hidden folder in the Users folder. Your typical path for a World of Warcraft installation would look like this:
C:\Users\<name>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\World of Warcraft\

(<name> should be replaced with the name you use to logon to your computer).

You can read all about the UAC and the Virtual Store at these links:

Link 1 - the don't confuse me with technology version:
http://help.lockergnome.com/vista/Virtual-Store-ftopict16837.html

Link 2 - The Real Scoop:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc138019.aspx

* To get to the Virtual Store:
Go to the "Program Files" folder, then your World of Warcraft folder and click "Compatibility Files" on the menu bar. This will take you to where the AddOns and WTF folders are. (If you're on Vista 64 bit versions, you'll have a "Program Files (x86)" folder - WoW will most likely be in there, if so, navigate to the AddOns or WTF folder before looking for the "Compatibility Files" button.

* Make your life easier:
To make troubleshooting easier for yourself you can do a couple of things:

1. (Easy, Secure, Best) - Move your World of Warcraft installation to a new location, outside of the Program Files folder. For example, on my PC I have WoW installed in D:\Games\World of Warcraft. You can move your entire WoW folder to anywhere else on your computer that you like. This prevents the whole UAC/Virtual Store issue entirely.

If you do this, you will need to modify the shortcut (icon) you use to run WoW. Richt-Click on the icon and chose "Properties" from the menu. Change the "Target" property to match your new path.

This will not break your WoW install in any way. WoW is pretty self-contained, and any registry entries it needs to update it will do at run time.

As an added benefit of this, patching can often be easier since the patch files won't get moved to your virtual store.

2. (Easy, but not secure) - You can, if you're an Administrator on the computer, allow WoW to run as an Admin, giving it special rights to write to the Program Files folder. Right-Click the icon you use to run WoW and choose "Run as Administrator" from the menu.

This is not recommended because it essentially disables the protection of UAC.

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TL;DR - If you have vista, install WoW directly to C:\

I Cant get the addons folder at all it was never in the wow folder

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Q u o t e:
I Cant get the addons folder at all it was never in the wow folder

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It exists, it's just in the Virtual Store, as I covered above. You can't see the Virtual Store directly unless you're an admin. You have to follow the steps above.

I still can't get it to work or get to the virtual store. I can't even find the "Compatibility Files" button i feel like a retard. :(

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Q u o t e:
I still can't get it to work or get to the virtual store. I can't even find the "Compatibility Files" button i feel like a retard. :(

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Are you an administrator on the computer in question?


The easiest solution for just about ANYONE running WoW under Windows Vista is -

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Q u o t e:

1. (Easy, Secure, Best) - Move your World of Warcraft installation to a new location, outside of the Program Files folder. For example, on my PC I have WoW installed in D:\Games\World of Warcraft. You can move your entire WoW folder to anywhere else on your computer that you like. This prevents the whole UAC/Virtual Store issue entirely.

If you do this, you will need to modify the shortcut (icon) you use to run WoW. Richt-Click on the icon and chose "Properties" from the menu. Change the "Target" property to match your new path.

This will not break your WoW install in any way. WoW is pretty self-contained, and any registry entries it needs to update it will do at run time.

As an added benefit of this, patching can often be easier since the patch files won't get moved to your virtual store.

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I'd just do this if you're having trouble doing anything else.

yea i'm the only one using the computer its my laptop.


and does that mean that i have to reinstall everything over again or can i just move it

Im a total nub with computers how do i move the entire WOW.... and i don't know how to get it to the D