Windows 10's Controlled Folder Access and 3DMark.

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One feature of Windows 10's Windows Defender Security Center is Controlled Folder Access.

Located under Windows Security->Virus & Threat Protection->Ransomware Protection, enabling this feature will cause Windows to block programs from accessing certain Windows system folders (Documents, Pictures, Videos, Music, and Favorites user account subdirectories) by default, alongside any the end user chooses to add.

However, enabling this will break certain driver and game component functionality by default unless one whitelists the program through Block History or Allow an App through Controlled Folder Access. This includes, but is not limited to Radeon Software, Radeon ReLive game captures, most Unreal Engine 3 games, at least one Frostbite engine game(Battlefield: Bad Company 2), Windows's own ChkDsk functionality when run through a storage drive's Properties->Tools section, and others.

It is being mentioned here because this feature will break 3DMark tests and prevent them from running and saving results unless one whitelists test executables, as these will write to the Documents folder location by default.



Components of 3DMark affected include:

FMSIScan.exe: The SystemInfo scanner.

3DMark.exe: 3DMark launcher executables. Applies to x86 and x64 versions.

javaw.exe: A Java Runtime Environment used with 3DMark. Applies to x86 and x64 versions.

3DMarkWildLifeExtreme.exe: The standalone executable for the Wild Life Extreme benchmark. Prevents it from running and saving results with an error when blocked.

3DMarkWildLife.exe: The standalone executable for the Wild Life and Wild Life unlimited benchmarks. Prevents it from running and saving results with an error when blocked.

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Additional Windows 10 system and other crucial components affected by Controlled Folder Access that need to be whitelisted include:

Chkdsk.exe, PickerHost.exe, and SrTasks.exe: Located under C:\Windows\System32, these provide basic and necessary Windows functionality. Of note is the Chkdsk.exe executable, which is blocked by CFA if run through the File Explorer's C:\ Drive Properties, Tools Tab, Error Checking.

Driver components: NVIDIA and AMD driver components may not function correctly if blocked through Controlled Folder Access. In AMD's case, the RadeonSoftware.exe, AMDRSServ.exe, Videotrim.exe, and AMDCleanupUtility.exe executables must be whitelisted, or else the driver components and even uninstallation of drivers may not function correctly. (Windows Defender's CFA is known to break Radeon ReLive captures.)

I understand that this information is not necessary, but it may be useful as a quick reference for Discussions browsers also seeking technical support. This is why the old thread has been replied to again.