Windows 10: 2004 update and controlled folder access conflicts

I have two machines (one x86, the other x64) that got offered the May 2020 Update at launch on the 27th May. I let Windows Update install 2004 on both.

After the upgrade neither machine would let me edit an existing text document in my Documents folder. Well, I could open it in Notepad and make changes but it wouldn't let me save them to the document. Instead it would open the 'Save as' dialog, and that wouldn't let me save to Documents (or any folder beneath it) either.

Cutting a file from elsewhere and trying to paste into Documents triggered a pop-up saying I needed to use Administrator rights to do it.





I couldn't even right-click in Documents and create a new text file. It said the file could not be found.

Oddly, only Documents was affected, none of these problems existed in Pictures, Videos, Desktop or any of my other user folders.


It turned out to be Controlled Folder Access that was over-protective (to the point of paranoia) of the Documents folder (and only the Documents folder). Here is its reaction to trying to create a new text document, it blocked explorer.exe.





Fortunately the fix was simple. Just turn off Controlled Folder Access, then turn it back on again. Everything was back to normal after that.

This bug may have been a consequence of having Controlled Folder Access already on before the upgrade (the next machine that gets offers 2004 I'll turn it off before upgrading and see if it makes any difference).

:)

 

2004 update and controlled folder access conflicts

I have two machines (one x86, the other x64) that got offered the May 2020 Update at launch on the 27th May. I let Windows Update install 2004 on both.

After the upgrade neither machine would let me edit an existing text document in my Documents folder. Well, I could open it in Notepad and make changes but it wouldn't let me save them to the document. Instead it would open the 'Save as' dialog, and that wouldn't let me save to Documents (or any folder beneath it) either.

Cutting a file from elsewhere and trying to paste into Documents triggered a pop-up saying I needed to use Administrator rights to do it.





I couldn't even right-click in Documents and create a new text file. It said the file could not be found.

Oddly, only Documents was affected, none of these problems existed in Pictures, Videos, Desktop or any of my other user folders.


It turned out to be Controlled Folder Access that was over-protective (to the point of paranoia) of the Documents folder (and only the Documents folder). Here is its reaction to trying to create a new text document, it blocked explorer.exe.





Fortunately the fix was simple. Just turn off Controlled Folder Access, then turn it back on again. Everything was back to normal after that.

This bug may have been a consequence of having Controlled Folder Access already on before the upgrade (the next machine that gets offers 2004 I'll turn it off before upgrading and see if it makes any difference).

 

Controlled Folder Access is off. Shouldn't this be on?

Suggestion to also read

• this article (ignore ads):
  How to Protect Your Files From Ransomware With Windows Defender’s New “Controlled Folder Access”
• and this thread:
  Controlled Folder Access Feature in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update Questions?
  

 

How to get the Windows 10 May 2020 Update version 2004

Both my machine that were offered (and accepted) 2004 in windows update upgraded without a problem. Then the fun started - I was denied access to my own Documents folder!

Fortunately I found a fix, but I almost got to the point of rolling back to 1909 before I found it.

2004 update and controlled folder access conflicts