New computer with Windows 8. Sometimes problem to save settings: no access to directory c:\Program Files (x86)\totalcmd. Worked in account with administrator rights. Also tried reinstall of TC with settings in c:\users\Paul. No effect.
After upgrading to Windows 8.1 problem continued. Also no success with TC 8.50 Beta 7.
Used Windows 8 configuration program setting "Problem solver for program compatibility" and selected Total Commander as the program with problems.
Result: problem solved .
Which OS did you use before Win8? Since WinVista there is a UAC which restricts your rights so even in administrator account by default your programs are run with user rights until you manually elevate them. So even in admin account your TC can't write to Program Files by default, that's why you need to store settings in user profile or add write permissions for TC/plugins setting files. I think your problem solver simply marked TC as program that requires elevation (and it asks for elevation on launch), but it is not a safe way of using file manager that may be used to launch some third-party programs...
On my old PC's I used Windows XP Pro for many years.
I understand you advice me to reinstall TC with the settings in an user profile for security reasons.
The disadvantage is that I find it easier to locate the settings files in the TC program directory when making a backup.
Anyway, thanks for your valuable comments.
Install TC in your prefered location c:\users\Paul
and add the following in the wincmd.ini under section [Configuration] UseIniInProgramDir=7
Then TC will store all of its setting into the program dir.
You may have to copy over your customized button bar files and other stuff.
Usually I install TC to C:\TOTALCMD, D:\TOTALCMD (or to other drive) and keep configuration files in TC dir (using mentioned option UseIniInProgramDir=7). It will work with full write permissions granted for TC dir for users, but I set read-only permissions and set full ones only for configuration files.