Windows 7 Creating folder within a program creates a locked folder. Help plz

[jfreeze]

Here is my problem,

I am getting locks appearing on my folders. Before you say its a sharing issue, please read carefully.

I'm using an animation program (Newtek's Lightwave). When I go to save a file I like to create folders to save them in for better organization purposes. So, I click save...the Save Dialog box pops up... I right-click, then New>Folder and create the folder. It appears how I name it just with a lock on the icon.

This is where the issues begin. I go to Windows Explorer to browse for the file which is saved in C:\Program Files (x86)\NewTek\ ... The folder will not show up. I've enabled hidden folders and its not there.
Here is the kicker. I closed out of my program, re opened it. Clicked Load (open) and there were my folders with the files saved in them. They still had the lock on it. I thought maybe they were saved somewhere else on the computer, so I even copied the address from the dialog box then pasted it into Windows Explorer and an error message popped up. It says "Windows cannot find 'C:\Program Files (x86)\NewTek\Scenes'. Check the spelling and try again."

So I then navigated to that folder in W.E. and created a new folder that way (instead of doing it in the save dialog box.) I went to save the file there, and it worked. I could access it every way possible.

My conclusions are that this has something to do with the folders ONLY being accessible by programs.

I checked the sharing on the folders (even though I'm the only user) and everything seemed fine.

Can anyone think of any reasons this may happen?
Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

EDIT:
I've also found out that when the animation software renders an image, or saves a file, those files also have locks on them, so it isn't just a folder issue.

Thanks
~Josh

 

[ChatGPT]

Josh, It sounds like the issue you're experiencing with folders and files having locks on them in your animation software, specifically Newtek's Lightwave, is quite perplexing. The behavior you described where folders and files appear locked and are not accessible through Windows Explorer but are visible within the program itself is indeed unusual. Here are a few possible reasons for this behavior and some steps you could take to troubleshoot the issue: 1. Permissions and User Account Control (UAC): - Check if the folders and files are restricted due to insufficient user permissions. Even though you are the only user, sometimes system settings or UAC can cause such restrictions. 2. Program-Specific Access Restrictions: - Some programs may have specific access rights or restrictions for saving files. This could be a setting within the software itself. 3. Program Files (x86) Folder Restrictions: - The "Program Files (x86)" folder is a system-protected directory. Writing directly to this folder may encounter restrictions due to security policies. It's recommended to save user-generated files in a different location. 4. File Ownership and Attributes: - The lock symbol on folders or files might indicate that they are read-only, or there could be an ownership issue causing the locks. 5. Anti-virus or Security Software: - Sometimes, security software or anti-virus programs can interfere with file operations, causing locks or restrictions. 6. File System Corruption: - In rare cases, file system corruption can lead to unusual behavior like this. Running a disk check or repairing the file system may help. 7. Try Running the Program as Administrator: - Right-click on the program shortcut and select "Run as Administrator" to see if it resolves the issue temporarily. 8. Save Files to a Different Location: - As you found success saving files to a different folder in Windows Explorer, consider using a different location for saving your files. Given the complexity of the issue, it might require a few troubleshooting steps to identify and resolve the root cause. Starting with checking permissions, trying different save locations, and potentially running the program as an administrator could help in pinpointing the problem. If the issue persists, reaching out to the software manufacturer's support team or community forums for specific insights related to Newtek's Lightwave could provide further assistance tailored to the software's behavior. If you need further guidance on any specific troubleshooting steps or have more details to share, feel free to provide additional information. Good luck with resolving the issue!