Windows Live Photo Gallery: Access denied importing photos - Help!

[bradavon78]

O/S: Windows Vista Home Basic SP1

I've not tried using Windows Photo Gallery but when I click on File and Import using Windows Live Photo Gallery (latest version, downloaded today), I get an "Access Denied" (it maybe Access is denied). This happens when I am importing photos from a digital camera to the \Users\Username\Pictures folder.

If I open Windows Live Photo Gallery using the right click and "Run as Administrator" option it imports fine but this then triggers a UAC prompt and surely it shouldn't be necessary?

This is using a friends laptop so I don't want to disable or set UAC to Silent Mode. I forgot to check what the Security tab was set to but it's a fresh/new installation of Vista Home Basic SP1 and it's "his" Pictures folder anyway.

The UAC prompt is annoying but what is more annoying is that it prevents him from using the Autoplay --> "Import using Windows Live Photo Gallery" functionality, as the Import window that opens when he puts his camera in, always open as a Standard/Non-Admin user.

At the moment I've had to tick "Run as Administrator" in the shortcut properties but A: this is overkill and B: it makes the process more complicated as he has to manually open Windows Live Photo Gallery and click File/Import, after clicking on the UAC prompt. I'd prefer he never have to see these.

I'd be grateful if someone can let me know why Windows Live Photo Gallery on Vista needs Admin rights to copy files into the User's own Pictures folder? If I copy photos into this using Explorer it works fine. Thanks.

[nuabdi]

have you turned of UAC?

[nuabdi]

Disable User Account Control (UAC) the Easy Way on Windows Vista :: the How-To Geek
or
Disable User Account Control in Windows Vista

[bradavon78]

Hello. Thanks for the reply.

No I've not disabled it. I don't want to. The user isn't technical, knows little about PCs and as such is precisely the type of user UAC is designed for.

This is the only UAC prompt he is ever likely to see, as such I'd rather work out why Windows Live Photo Gallery needs Admin rights to copy files into the Pictures folder.

They should be fine but I suspect the Permissions on the Pictures folder aren't quite right. It's an odd one when you can copy files into the Pictures folder using Explorer fine. Explorer and Windows Live Photo Gallery should rely on the same level of Permissions.

If I can say, your advice is dangerous. It's unwise to disable UAC as it takes with it most of Vista's security (including IE's protected mode). It's much more than just the nag screens. It's better to set it to Silent Mode (i.e- No Nag screens but security still enabled).

Thanks though. I do appreciate your reply .