Dozens of Application Data folders nested/embedded

[John Dohe]

While trying to delete a troublesome app (AI Suite III (3) ) I found within my User profile was Application data folder that held yet another Application data folder and another Application data folder and another Application data folder. . .

Each folder was actually a shortcut. I got 23 layers deep until I simply could not open the final Application data folder.

This last folder was not a shortcut, but Win7 would not, or could not, open it even though I'd taken ownership, gotten all the permissions, auditing, etc.

I suspect that maybe the file name is simply too long.

I further suspect that this is done intentionally by someone knowing windows filename length limitations, which leads me to suspect foul play at play.

C:\Users\(username)\AppData\Local\Adobe\Application Data\Adobe\Application Data\Adobe\ . . . repeats like 23 times until I finally get to an Application Data folder that isn't a shortcut to another one.

All the subfolder shortcuts are subfolders of Adobe:


https://imgur.com/JXeWjpf

https://imgur.com/Kz4u3ap


The final, non-shortcutted, Application Data subfolder I cannot open nor can I take ownership.

When I try to take ownership (using a TakeOwnership utility) I get a popup, Explorer.exe, telling
me the filename is too long:

http://


Any idea whats going on?

Is this normal Adobe behavior?

Should I be worried?

Is there a fix?

Thanks!

 

[hang-the-9]

Seems like a bug in the adobe setup, can easily happen if someone does an append instead of a replace in some location. Uninstall Adobe products, likely just reader and maybe flash, delete that folder if it's still there, reboot and re-isntall.