C:\Windows has a windows folder??

Hi All:

I am really puzzeled. Doing a file search and find a (.inf) file in Windows folder and also in Windows\windows folder. Huh?? I open Windows folder and sure enough there is a sub folder, windows.

Path is C:\Windows\windows

Looking in the sub folder I see mostly duplicated entries with the most obvious exception that the update uninstall ($) files are in the sub folder and not in the Windows folder.

I don't remember ever seeing this before. Is this usual behavior? If not, should the folders be merged? If so, cut/paste?? Move to?
and which folder to which folder??

No Johanna, it is not Catastropy getting revenge. And, I'm not ready to reformat, not until I scrap up the money for Pro, I don't want to do it twice.

Any help will be appreciated.

 

LOL, Martin... when are ya gonna learn to stay out of No Man's Land! Viewing Hidden Files, now? You could play games, surf or write a book on your comp for entertainment...but no...you gotta play in the belly of the beast!

I have XP Pro, and I don't have a Windows/windows folders, but this sick Win 98 I'm working on, does. So I would say it is within the realm of possibility that this double Windows thing is "normal ", but there are plenty of people who know far more than me who can answer your question. But my inexpert opinion is to leave them alone!

This sick Win 98 had 411 "problems" detected by Spybot, no internet security on a cable connection for 4 years! and it just now caught a bug that crippled it. It has been used, abused and neglected, and was still chugging along as best it could. Now, how come this piece of junk operated flawlessly (though ssllloooowwwly) for all this time, and the far more advanced machines under Martin's and my care always seem to have problems? I think my problem is that I can't quit my freakin' tweakin'!! I can't bear to leave anything on "default" except that lovely Luna Blue.....

Hope everyone is having a great Monday!
Johanna

 

Well, Miss Johanna, I wasn't just poking around looking for trouble, I was just trying to clear the UDNT error from event manager system. Doing a file search for UDNT and UMAX turned up .inf & .pnf files for these drivers/apps in the two windows files.

Happy to hear somebody else has two Windows files, even if it is in some old, outdated, no good operating system.

Deleting the aforementioned .inf .pnf files cleared the UDNT error.

Unfortunately, it replaced that error with a different one: "unable to load human interface device, the file cannot be found" or words to that effect.

There seems to be no end of this insanitiy.

Martin

 

Martin - you can easily have lots and lots and lots of 'windows' folders on your PC but c:\windows\windows isn't one of them.

C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows would be normal on some systems (and is on mine) but c:\windows\windows indicates that somebody goofed something somewhere at some time.

If you rename it to something else, does the PC continue to operate?

 

Hi Newt: I'll try that, but, what to do if she don't boot? I can do a restore from drive image, including Windows\windows, but can't boot from XP CD and do a repair. She'll boot ok, but XP refuses to repair the installation.

I was kind of thinking to try to merge the two, maybe do a syncronize and delete the #2 windows?? What could go wrong Hi Murphy!

Martin

 

NEWT
What are you trying to do?????

Martin has enough problems without us asking him to rename system folders on an operating PC!!!

Catastrophy might crash, and it will be OUR fault that Martin gets in trouble for littering- the comp being tossed out of a pickup window at 65mph down a Georgia Highway.

Martin, don't do it. If you have to do it, can't stop from doing it, at least set a manual restore point, and say a prayer.

Johanna

 

Hi All: Hey Johanna, don't get so emotional, its only a computer. I can fix it with my eyes closed and one hand tied behind my back! Besides, I have a complete backup on DVD by Drive Image 7. Including C:\Windows\windows probably.

I guess my surprise was warranted when I saw that folder.

Newt says I should rename, which I have no problem with, but gee, I hate to loose 3 days worth of work getting rid of that UDNT error and maybe the Vido card errors. Not sure they'r all gone, but making progress. That's what will happen if the machine will not boot.

You may have read in another post that I can boot from the XP CD, but it refuses to do a repair install. Not that I blame it, probably too confused.

I was thinking maybe syncronize the two files then delete the child. Any thoughts on this? Or merge the two? After all, what could go wrong?

Newt, one thing I noticed was the windows update uninstall files now appear in C:Windows, as well as Windows\windows. In Windows\windows they are compressed (blue) but not in the parent file. any significance?

Any suggestions what to rename the folder. Maybe twin or Duplicate?

At this point, step one is to go put the baby back ribs on the barbecue, after they are done and gone, I'll read any additional posts and go from there.

Thanks to all

Martin

 

Hi All: I renamed the C:Windows\windows file "DUPE" and rebooted with no problem. I then moved the DUPE file to another drive, rebooted, no problem.

Then did sfc /scannow. All seems ok for Windows booting, I have not looked in the event file, but will tomorrow.

Reason I first did not see the $uninstall update files was they are hidden files. I unhid files for some other reason and when I went back to the C:Windows folder, there they were.

I have no idea how the Windows folder got duplicated. I'll bet if I wanted to duplicate it I couldn't.

Next step: delete the Dupe folder?? Anybody see any problem doing this??

Thanks for your input.

Martin

 

Hi Martin,

My first thoughts on reading this post was that if the C:\Windows\windows folder had different and possibly newer files than the C:\Windows, was that it would also have applications pointing to that path, and that doing anything with that folder would cause those applications to fail. But since you say renaming and moving hasn't caused any problems, I'd say leave it for a week or so before deleting (just to make sure).

 

Deleted the C:\Windows\windows folder after rename, reboot, had moved it to another drive.

Had plenty of problems on this machine since, but don't think they are related to the deletion.

I have not yet begun to fight!!! I refuse to surrender to this mechanical/electrical marvel.

Martin

 

What kind of problems are you having now, Martin? Do Dave and I need to make a road trip to Ga to help? (Oh, please say "YES!) It's sleeting here this morning, and this Macon girl is tired of Old Man Winter. I need some sunshine to warm my bones, especially the broken ones!

Johanna

Dave, I'll buy the gas if you drive... can't shift very well left handed! Keep spilling my coffee!

 

Johanna: If you and Dave want to come on down, I'll buy the gas!


Your're still shifting gears? We got our first family car with an automatic transmission in 1941 and have never looked back.

No wonder you're still running 98SE!

Dave sent me a PM to which I related about a dozen BSODs in the last couple of days. The majority of which tell me to "try a different video adapter" and "make sure all hardware and software are installed correctly and you have the current drivers for any new hardware "

Which leads me to believe even more firmly that the event system viewer ATI errors while my card is GeForce with Nvidia drivers is behind all of this.

I got so many BSODs last night I gave up in disgust and went to bed.

Booted up this morning, been running for over 4 hours, no BSODs, no errors in application or system (except ATI), computer running like a fresh install, as fast or faster than ever. Even got 200 more kbps download than I pay for.

My conclusions: 1.Catastrophy saw me take the XP CD out of storage. 2. Catastrophy was able to read my thoughts just before I fell asleep last night and did not want to go through the hassel of a system restore by DI7. 3. The computer fairy snuck in in the middle of the night and fixed everything.

Also, ordered Sable ATI 9800 pro video card from NewEgg, (broke the bank at $210.) going to limp along until receiept (probably Tues.) see what happens after install with same catalyst drivers as previous ATI card. This move will certainly delay my intended move to XP Pro.

Any advice for replacing card. Other than deleting old before installing new? Registry hacks? Driver removal??

Martin:

P.S. Considering upgrading to Athalon 2600 from 2000. Going to post to hardware see if it makes any sense to do that. $87.00 worth of benefits???? (freakin' tweakin')

 

The more I look at Martin's specs, and read through past posts, and see the problems he's overcome, the more I believe he would be better qualified to come fix our little glitches than we would his big ones.

A drive to GA. sounds great, but my sole purpose for doing so would be with a pole in hand to lighten the load on that pond of his!

 

Martin,
My "home" is the hills and mountains of southwestern PA and West-by-God-Virginia. Having a gearshift is handy, especially in the winter time, and so is 4WD. Just for the record, I do not have Win98. I have been running XP Pro for a little over two years now, and all I know about earlier systems is from playing with other people's! The ISP spoof I wrote about on the General Board has dumped more problems in my lap than I really wanted. I just happened to have a 98 comp hooked up when you originally posted about the dupe folder. It had the double Windows, but I left it alone and just fixed the obvious problem.

Get this- my ISP downloaded the removal tools from Symantec, copied them on floppy disks and is selling them for $10 apiece!!!! Of course, no one knows what they are doing, or how to run the removal tool (if they had a link to the Symantec site, they MIGHT have a clue!) so the phone keeps ringing... Ah, gotta respect good old American Capitalism!
Johanna
ps get the 2600. It's only money. And ain't these toys fun???