Why do I get a security warning in visual studio 2008 when creating a project?

Question

This is the error, it's basically a security warning

(And here's the text grabbed off the dialog box) Security Warning for WindowsApplication4 __________________________I The WindowsApplication4 project file has been customized and could present a security risk by executing custom build steps when opened in Microsoft Visual Studio. If this project came from an untrustwoithy source, it could cause damage to your computer or compromise your private information. More Details Project load options 0 Load project for browsing Opens the project in Microsoft Visual Studio with increased security. This option allows you to browse the contents of the project, but some functionality, such as IntelliSense, is restricted, When a project is loaded for browsing, actions such as building, cleaning, publishing, or opening designers could still remain unsafe. Load project normally Opens the project normally in Microsoft Visual Studio. Use this option if you trust the source and understand the potential risks involved. Microsoft Visual Studio does not restrict any project functionality and will not prompt you again for this project. Ask me for every project in this solution OK L Cancel

When click the more details button get this:

Microsoft Visual Studio __ An item referring to the file was found in the project file “C:\Users\mgriffiths\Documents\Visual Studio 2008\ProjectATemp\Win dowsApplication4\WindowsApplicdtion4\W in dowsApplication4.vbproj”. Since this file is located within a system directory, root directory, or network share, it could be harmful to write to this file. OK

Answer 1

It could be because your users 'Home' folder (Users\LOGINNAME) is a mapped network share. You could try placing your projects in another non-network shared folder...

Answer 2

Sounds like you are running Vista and UAC is also running. Are you an administrator on the computer? One option is to stop the UAC service and try running VS2008 to see if you still get that message. Another option is to take a look at the permissions on the 'C:\Users\mgriffiths' folder to confirm the permissions/system settings.

Let me know if this helps! JFV

Answer 3

I have the same problem, but my project folder is a SYMLINKD.

If I create a project in a non-SMYLINKD folder, I don't have this problem.

Why?

Answer 4

If your javascript file is not "included" in your project, VS can't find it. Try doing a refresh on the folder containing the file. That effectively includes the file in your web project (or site). In solution explorer, highlight the web site project (or site), then click the refresh icon on the solution explorer toolbar.

--Monico

Answer 5

I have the same problem with VS 2008:

1) running the Administrator login on Vista Home 64 2) tried changing the project folders, e.g. directly to 'c:\Projects' 3) UAC is off 4) I own and have full rights to the Administrator user folder 5) this happens with all new projects and existing ones until I click to open normally and check the box to always do this when opening the project 6) Have tried using the VS Uninstallation tool and re-installing 7) the issue does not occur when logged in as another user (I setup a test user account)

Can anyone help??

Answer 6

I'm experiencing the same problem on all projects that are created/opened. Just suddenly started popping up after I moved and hence changed to a larger and different network.

Answer 7

There are several reasons for that security warning dialog box:

• The project file contains one or more non-standard Import elements.
• The project file overrides one or more potentially unsafe targets.
• The project file overrides one or more potentially unsafe properties.
• The project file defines one or more potentially unsafe items.
• The project file contains one or more UsingTask elements.
• Project items are located in a potentially unsafe location.

More details are available on the MSDN Dev Center.

Answer 8

After playing around a bit (I'm using Windows XP), I found that VS resets the All Users Startup directory to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. If this directory doesn't exist, it is reset to '' in the registry, and the error is displayed. Adding this directory corrected the issue. I've customized the location of my user directories, including Startup, and it doesn't seem to care about that (in Windows XP, at least).

Answer 9

I was also getting this issue for EVERY project. A quick, simple fix is to disable it in the registry. For Visual Studio 2008, this is at:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\9.0\Debugger\DisableAttachSecurityWarning

The value should currently be 0. Change it to 1, and you will never see the dialog again. And by never, I mean never, so be careful if you are loading projects where the security warning would actually be useful.

For Visual Studio 2005, you can find the key at the same place, but replacing "9.0" with "8.0".

If that doesn't do the trick, you might want to also make sure that the following two folders exist:

%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\

For some reason, Visual Studio 2008 will complain if it can't open those folders.

Answer 10

I had the same problem and finally found an answer that helped (Todd's answer here went into the right direction). Check out the response in this thread:

We're starting to understand the problem. As a workaround can you please check to see if the following folder exists for your profile?

C:\Users(user)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

If not, please create it and try again. Please post back if this doesn't solve your problem.

We know it is related to a Windows Known Folder not existing for a user profile. If the folder above exists, you can also check to ensure you have the following folders: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762584%28VS.85%29.aspx

Answer 11

@gix;

Creating the folder C:\Users(user)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup did the trick for me (Windows Se7en)

big thnx,

Roy

Answer 12

I had same problem with VS2008 on Windows 7

I've created the path C:\Users\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup and it doesn't help me.

I've found that the right folder is %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup