What determines the return value of Path.GetTempPath()?

Question

Currently, I use Path.GetTempPath() to figure out where to write my log files, but recently I came across a user\'s machine where the path returned was not what

Answer 1

Please try using the following to determine good place for Your data:

Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder folder);

Where Specialfolder

// Summary:
//     Specifies enumerated constants used to retrieve directory paths to system
//     special folders.
[ComVisible(true)]
public enum SpecialFolder
{
  // Summary:
  //     The logical Desktop rather than the physical file system location.
  Desktop = 0,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The directory that contains the user's program groups.
  Programs = 2,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The directory that serves as a common repository for documents.
  Personal = 5,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The "My Documents" folder.
  MyDocuments = 5,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The directory that serves as a common repository for the user's favorite
  //     items.
  Favorites = 6,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The directory that corresponds to the user's Startup program group.
  Startup = 7,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The directory that contains the user's most recently used documents.
  Recent = 8,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The directory that contains the Send To menu items.
  SendTo = 9,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The directory that contains the Start menu items.
  StartMenu = 11,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The "My Music" folder.
  MyMusic = 13,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The directory used to physically store file objects on the desktop.
  DesktopDirectory = 16,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The "My Computer" folder.
  MyComputer = 17,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The directory that serves as a common repository for document templates.
  Templates = 21,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The directory that serves as a common repository for application-specific
  //     data for the current roaming user.
  ApplicationData = 26,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The directory that serves as a common repository for application-specific
  //     data that is used by the current, non-roaming user.
  LocalApplicationData = 28,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The directory that serves as a common repository for temporary Internet files.
  InternetCache = 32,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The directory that serves as a common repository for Internet cookies.
  Cookies = 33,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The directory that serves as a common repository for Internet history items.
  History = 34,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The directory that serves as a common repository for application-specific
  //     data that is used by all users.
  CommonApplicationData = 35,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The System directory.
  System = 37,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The program files directory.
  ProgramFiles = 38,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The "My Pictures" folder.
  MyPictures = 39,
  //
  // Summary:
  //     The directory for components that are shared across applications.
  CommonProgramFiles = 43,
}