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Application can find 'Downloads' folder when debugging but not on IIS

I have an application that allows the user to upload a file (saving it to in a folder located in the wwwroot of the ASPNETCORE application). From here they can make edits to it and then they can choose to export the file as a csv/ xml/ xlsx which downloads the file to the user's 'downloads' folder.
While debugging in Visual Studio this all works fine however when I publish and deploy the application to IIS I am getting the exception
Error saving file C:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\Downloads(FILE NAME)
Could not find part of the path C:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\Downloads(FILE NAME)
This is the current way I am getting the downloads folder:
FileInfo file = new FileInfo(Path.Combine(Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables(#"%USERPROFILE%\Downloads"), data.Filename + "." + data.FileType));
However I have also tried the solution that Hans Passant has answered to a similar question here. Both solutions worjk fine while debugging locally however as soon as I publish them, this one produces the exception:
Value cannot be null. Parameter name: path1
Which I presume is thrown at this point here when I try and save the file to the user's download folder.
using (var package = new ExcelPackage(file))
{
var workSheet = package.Workbook.Worksheets.Add("ExportSheet");
workSheet.Cells.LoadFromCollection(exports, true);
package.Save();
}
I don't really know how I would be able to reproduce these exceptions seeing as locally using Visual Studio it all works fine.
Has anyone else came across this issue while trying to download a file?
UPDATE: When the application is running on IIS, it seems to be using that as the user profile instead of the actually user, so when it tries to navigate to the Downloads folder, it cannot find it. How can I force it to use the user's profile?
LoadUserProfile is already set to True.

Web applications have no knowledge of the end-user's computer's filesystem!
So using Environment.GetFolderPath or Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables in server side code will only reveal the server-side user (i.e. the Windows Service Identity)'s profile directories which is completely separate and distinct from your web-application's actual browser-based users OS user profile.
As a simple thought-experiment: consider a user running a weird alien web-browser on an even more alien operating system (say, iBrowse for the Amiga!) - the concept of a Windows-shell "Downloads" directory just doesn't exist, and yet here they are, browsing your website. What do you expect your code would do in this situation?
To "download" a file to a user, your server-side web-application should serve the raw bytes of the generated file (e.g. using HttpResponse.TransmitFile) with the Content-Disposition: header to provide a hint to the user's browser that they should save the file rather than try to open it in the browser.

google chrome browser - read/write settings in C#

I need to build a console program to read and update the chrome browser setting.
Where should I start?

Check if you can modify the following file.
Location - c:\Users\\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Preferences
This file contains a few settings. I have never done this so not sure if you can modify the file. But looks like a good start. Also, not sure if chrome rebuilds the file. (It was updated when I opened chrome while this file was open on my machine).

Chrome settings are stored in the registry, so here to read/write the registry and here for the list of available settings.
RegistryKey key = Registry.CurrentUser.CreateSubKey(#"SOFTWARE\OurSettings");
/// Reading value
var value = key.GetValue("Setting1");
/// Setting value
key.SetValue("Setting1", "This is our setting 1");
Be aware by Google's warning if you are not developing this for internal use :
These policies are strictly intended to be used to configure instances of Google Chrome internal to your organization. Use of these policies outside of your organization (for example, in a publicly distributed program) is considered malware and will likely be labeled as malware by Google and anti-virus vendors.

Set write permission on folder create

Hi I have been trying to properly configure IIS 6 to give write permisiosn for about 2 days now and I can't seem to find any good resource on this.I am a bit new to ASP.NET and until now I never had to work with IIS.
What I am trying to do is upload a file to the server.Each user on the server will have his own special folder witch will be created automaticly via C#.Now when I try to upload the file I get this error:
Access to the path 'D:\Projects IDE\Visual Studio\MyWork\Websites\Forum\Images\avatar\userAvatars\aleczandru' is denied
This is my code for creating the folder for each user and saving the file:
private void addImageToApp()
{
string path = "~/Images/avatar/userAvatars/" + User.Identity.Name;
createPath(path);
if( Directory.Exists(HostingEnvironment.MapPath(path)))
{
try {
UploadImage.SaveAs(HostingEnvironment.MapPath(path));
MultiViewIndex.ActiveViewIndex = 0;
}catch(Exception ex)
{
AvatarDetails.Text = ex.Message;
}
}
}
private void createPath(string path)
{
string activeDir = HostingEnvironment.MapPath("~/Images/avatar/userAvatars");
if( !Directory.Exists(Server.MapPath(path)) )
{
string newPath = Path.Combine(activeDir, User.Identity.Name);
Directory.CreateDirectory(newPath);
}
}
All I could find on the internet is that I have to add write permision via folder/properties/security/... while that is all good and fine I can not do this for each folder.
Up to this point I am not really sure that IIS is the one I need to configure I am a bit lost at this.
What do I have to do to give folders write permisions automaticly on folder create?
And if anyone has a good article or tutorial that shows how to do this please share it with me all the info I could find were very basic.
EDIT
I have added the network service account to the Images folder with full permision and have set the application's pool Identity to NetworkService but I still get the same error
EDIT
I have messed around with SQL-SERVER for the last couple of days in order to make this work so I might have missconfigured something form what I understand NETWORK SERVICE is stored in SQL-SERVER master.db database.I seem to be having two network service logins may this be the problem?I remember when I first checked it I had none now I have two:

Simply, when your asp.net application running you can open Task Manager and find process w3wp.
W3wp process like any other has user identity (by default - application pool identity - DefaultAppPool(like application pool name)).
And if it so, you should add write permissions for user named DefaultAppPool. To do it you should open security tab in folder's properties window, then change->add and type IIS AppPool/DefaultAppPool and choose local machine.
This post should help you!

This has nothing to do with IIS, brother. All you need to do is, open your IIS. Go to Application Pool. Right click on the Application Pool your website is running with. Select "Advanced Settings" and see the entry made against IDENTITY. Change it to use NetworkService. This will mean that you will be running your website under NETWORK SERVICE account now on.
Now right-click your root images folder, i.e., "Images". Select PROPERTIES. Select SECURITY. Add user NETWORK SERVICE, and give it FULL RIGHTS permissions on the folder.
Now whenever you create a folder and file under this "Images" folder through your code, it will automatically inherit permissions from its parent and you will allow you to do whatever you want (Add/Delete).
I hope this answers your question. If yes, then please mark it as "answered".

Access denied error

I am trying to delete the excel file from a specipic location . but can't deleting. having error :
Access to the path 'C:\mypath\sample.xlsx' is denied.
I write a code as :
protected void imgbtnImport_Click(object sender, ImageClickEventArgs e)
{
try
{
string strApplicationPath = HttpContext.Current.Request.MapPath(HttpContext.Current.Request.ApplicationPath);
string strXLStoredDirectoryPath = strApplicationPath + "/Information Documents/";
DirectoryInfo di = new DirectoryInfo(strXLStoredDirectoryPath);
string fileName = flUpldSelectFile.FileName;
if (!File.Exists(strXLStoredDirectoryPath))
{
Directory.CreateDirectory(strXLStoredDirectoryPath);
di.Attributes = FileAttributes.Normal;
}
string strCreateXLFileDestinationPath = strXLStoredDirectoryPath + fileName;
if (File.Exists(strCreateXLFileDestinationPath))
{
File.Delete(strCreateXLFileDestinationPath);
}
flUpldSelectFile.SaveAs(strCreateXLFileDestinationPath);
di.Attributes = FileAttributes.ReadOnly;
}
catch (Exception)
{
throw;
}
}
please guide.........
-***********************************************************************
Still problem there . it is not resolved . getting UnauthorizedAccessException. as access denied to deleting file. I m tired now . please help; I tried many things..please help
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Is may be iffect of VSS ? i am using that

UPDATE:
Part of your issue might be what is saving/creating this file. If you're using a built in "Save" or "SaveAs" feature the underlying file stream might still have a lock on the file. writing your own save logic with a FileStream wrapped in a Using statement will help dispose the stream right when you're done thus allowing you to further manipulate the file within the same context.
if flUpldSelectFile.SaveAs(strCreateXLFileDestinationPath); is the only logic that saves the file then get rid of the built in SaveAs functionality. write your own save logic using a FileStream wrapped in a Using block.
In your example i can't see what flUpldSelectFile is so i am assuming it is a System.Web.UI.WebControls.FileUpload control. Here is an example of rolling your own save logic.
using (FileStream fs = new FileStream(strCreateXLFileDestinationPath, FileMode.Create))
{
byte[] buffer = flUpldSelectFile.FileBytes;
fs.Write(buffer, 0, buffer.Length);
}
As stated previously, use this tool to find out if there is a lock on the file by another process.
ORIGINAL
Pop open this wonderful tool and search for that file to see who/what has it locked
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx
(source: microsoft.com)

If your code is working under IIS , Note that ASPNET user doesn't have access to computer files, you should give access to it, that is not recommended, or store you files in the place where ASPNET user have access
see here

Try a combination of these 2 steps:
Set the IIS application pool to run under an account with privileges such as a domain account or local user account (not a default account like local service or local system). Instructions for IIS7.
Turn impersonation on in the web.config file, in the <system.web> section:
<identity impersonate="true"/>
<identity impersonate="true" userName="contoso\Jane" password="password"/>

I think the message is clear, you do not have authorization to delete the file or it is opened by another application. I bet 2$ you can't delete the file manually either.

As others have said, this is because IIS runs your application as a user with restricted access rights. This is a wise security precaution, so that your system is less vulnerable to malicious attacks.
What you need to do is to give the ASPNET user access to the specific folder. You do that from the security tab in the properties of a folder. The user you need to give full control to depends on the version of IIS you are using. In Windows XP it is ASPNET. In Windows Server 2003, 2008 and Windows Vista, 7 it is NETWORK_SERVICE.
See also this question for more details.

Make sure the file isn't opened or
locked by another user/process.

Make sure ASPNET user has access on the file\folder (check the file\folder's property using windows explorer and go to security tab. check if ASPNET user is added there).

One of two things are happening. Either the file is already open, or the permission of the user running IIS does not have the proper permissions.
Either way, this utility ProcMon: Proc Mon
will help you determine the issue. Run ProcMon, kick off your process to try and delete the file. Then go back to procmon. Hit Ctrl-E to turn off the capture, then Ctrl-F to find. Enter the name of the file you're trying to delete. Then once you've found the correct line with the access denied (or similar error) Double click on the the line to get further information. When you click on the Process tab, it will show you the exact user that is trying to delete the file.
So, if it is a file permission issue, you now know the exact user, and can therefore go to the file system right click on the folder that houses the file you are trying to delete, and grant that user permissions to read/write/update that folder.
Second, if the file is locked open instead of a permissions issue, you will have to find out what process is holding open the file. If you are also writing this file in another part of your code, perhaps you are not closing it properly or releasing the object reference.

Have you verified that the file does not have the read-only attribute set?

I don't think we have enough info to be helpful. What is the security context (identity) during the call to Delete? Is the application impersonating the end user? If it is, how are they authenticated? If by Windows / Active Directory, then you'll need to verify that user's access rights to the specific file. If by Forms login, then you should probably not impersonate and verify that the AppPool's security context has the appropriate access rights.

Access denied to path , when uploading image to folder in server

Am getting error when you are going to upload the file on specified folder in the server. Here I am going to upload P6100083.jpg in storeimg folder. When I am going to upload I am getting the following error:
Access to the path 'C:\inetpub\vhosts\bookmygroups.com\httpdocs\storeimg\P6100083.jpg' is denied.
Can anyone help me... How to use permisiion and were to use...
My code is while uploading image
if (FileUpload1.HasFile)
{
float fileSize = FileUpload1.PostedFile.ContentLength;
float floatConverttoKB = fileSize / 1024;
float floatConverttoMB = floatConverttoKB / 1024;
string DirName = "storeimg";
string savepath = Server.MapPath(DirName + "/");
DirectoryInfo dir = new DirectoryInfo(savepath);
// string savepath = "C:\\Documents and Settings\\ssis3\\My Documents\\Visual Studio 2005\\WebSites\\finalbookgroups\\" + DirName + "\\";
if (fileSize < 4194304)
{
string filename = Server.HtmlEncode(FileUpload1.FileName);
string extension = System.IO.Path.GetExtension(filename).ToUpper();
if (extension.Equals(".jpg") || extension.Equals(".JPG") || extension.Equals(".JPEG") || extension.Equals(".GIF"))
{
savepath += filename;
FileUpload1.SaveAs(savepath);
}
}
}
Thanks in advance

I have no success making my upload or any write operation on filesystem work on IIS7.
Still getting the error: Access to the path is denied.
My AppPool is running under Network Service. I have granted all kinds of accounts Full Control (Network Service, Network, IIS_IUSR, Administrator, Users, Everyone), restarted the webservice several times, studied all IIS7 settings, googled for two hours and nothing works.
IIS7 and WS2008 s-u-c-k-s. Sorry for the term. Anybody can help?
I just wanted to add: I noticed that in the upload's destination folder's Properties there's this checkbox named "Read-only (Only applies to files in folder)" and it's checked. It cannot be unchecked, comes back checked after unchecking and clicking the OK button. Is that IIS7 guarding it?
Editing this message to add the SOLUTION: My admin has turned off the silly UAC "the security confirmation feature" on our server, restarted the machine and it works now. No "write" access rights for "Network Service" or any other IIS-used account was needed. When accessing the file system in a ASP.NET web application using the integrated authentication and having the impersonation set to true in its web.confing, the file system seems to be accessed by the authentified end-user's account, not by the Network Service account which the AppPool is running under. (Many people tell you to set Network Service permissions, but that is not true.) So you need to set the "write" permissions for your end-users (usually domain users: "DOMAIN\domain users") on your particular folder.
Oh yea, and the "Read-only (Only applies to files in folder)" checkbox mentioned above does not seem to have any effect. However Microsoft says "some programs might have problems writing to such folder and you should use command line statement "attrib -r -s" to get rid of the Read-Only attribute" -- but it won't work. It will stay there checked-grayed. But don't worry about that. Microsoft becomes more and more silly every day.

Indead, it's a server issue.
You need to verify if the user underlying your application pool has write access to the directory.
If you use IIS7, you have a new feature that helps you give custom write to this user and dun need to change the user.
Look at this link:
http://www.adopenstatic.com/cs/blogs/ken/archive/2008/01/29/15759.aspx
Hope this helps.

This is a server issue. Make sure you have the necessary rights to write files.
Btw, since you call ToUpper() on extension there's no reason to test for ".jpg".

If you are using Plesk Panel, go to file manager of Plesk Panel. List files and folders inside "httpdocs". Each file and folder has a lock icon at the very right. Click that of "storeimg" folder to change permissions. Click advenced button. Give full permission to these:
Plesk IIS WP User (IWPD_214(your_login_name))
Plesk IIS WP User (IWPD_214(your_login_name))
And click OK.

First you check the permission is enable or not if not then go to that folder which folder has to be use for containing files then right click on folder then there will be display folder properties then click on security there will be display multiple number of user which user have to be permit then click allow that all permission will be activated.

First, make sure your code runs fine locally (I assume that something you've already done).
Then deploy to your TEST or UAT environment. If you're having issue there, then this is a configuration issue. Make sure the service account under which your website's app pool is running has access to the folder.
Please make use of C# method Path.Combine() to build up your path and avoid issues with leading or trailing / and \.