Can't create a file in drive C's root directory - Windows 8/8.1

Can't create a file in drive C's root directory - Windows 8/8.1

Have you ever experienced your Windows 8/8.1 computer prompting you that you do not have permissions on some folders especially on C drive's root directory even if you're an administrator and have disabled User Account Control?

Solution

In Windows 7 or 8, users (even administrators) are not allowed to create files in the C drive root directory, an error message like “A required privilege is not held by the client” or “access is denied” will be prompted.

To fix this, just turn off the User Account Control (UAC). In Windows 8, do not turn off the UAC via control panel, you must go through the registry.

1. Press “Windows Key + R”, type regedit
2. Locate HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\EnableLUA
3. Update the EnableLUA value to 0 (turn if off)
4. Restart Windows.

Here's the story I got from Microsoft:

1. Microsoft prefers that we leave UAC enabled.
2. If we do choose to disable UAC via the registry, then we must also disable the 'luafv' service as well to stop the UAC File virtualization service errors.

How to disable luafv service

1. HKLM\System\CurrnetControlSet\Services\luafv
2. Set the value of "Start" to 4.
3. Reboot the server. 

Ramifications of disabling luafv

1. You will lose IE sandbox
2. Modern apps (metro) will not work
3. "There is no way we can predict all side effects, but the above two components will surely be affected"
4. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2526083/en-us