AllUsers.Windows folder

In searching for a file this morning, the Search results showed it to be in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users.WINDOWS. But when I use Windows Explorer to look in C:\Documents and Settings\, I see an All Users but not an All Users.WINDOWS. I copied the full path from the Search results into the Address bar, and said Go. Windows Explorer not only went there, but now All Users.WINDOWS appears under C:\Documents and Settings, too.

I need some help in understanding this. Is All Users.WINDOWS backed up during a normal system backup?

Chuck

 

What do you mean by a normal system backup? What software are you using? Look at the backup and see for yourself. If you don't know how to evaluate your backups then they are of no use to you.

 

chuckmg--I cannot duplicate what you report.
I have a C:\Documents and Settings\All Users folder with no .Windows folder in it. If I enter C:\Documents and Settings\All Users.WINDOWS into the address bar and click Enter (Go), I get an error message saying incorrect path.
What file were you searching for? What is in that C:\Documents and Settings\All Users.WINDOWS folder?
I initially thought C:\Documents and Settings\All Users.WINDOWS might be a hidden folder. For example on my PC, there is no Content.IE5 folder showing in the Temporary Internet Files folder, but when I enter "C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5" into the address line, I can view Content.IE5 just fine.
However, as reported, that is not the case for C:\Documents and Settings\All Users.WINDOWS --on my PC anyway.

 

Jim,

I'm running Windows XP Pro. You asked what was in All Users.Windows ... please see the attachment. My boot drive is G since I dual-boot with Win XP64. The attachement shows what is in All Users.Windows. The folders within are a subset of the folders under my user id, Chuck. Similarly for ...\All Users.Windows\Applications; e.g., there is an entry for Microsoft\Office in both; but the contents are different. Intererstingly, the folder All Users is now empty!

I encountered this when I was searching for a file that I knew existed but couldn't find it in any expected place.

Chuck

 

The file might be hidden. Go into tools and scroll down to folder options. Click over in the view and down to "Show Hidden Files and Folders "

JC

 

Vbmark,

Do I note a superciliosus attitude here? At 76, I don't need it! I take an image backup of my boot-drive and cannot look to see what files are or are not there without restoring.

Chuck

 

chuckmg--The folders in your Documents and Settings\All Users.WINDOWS folder are exactly the same as those in my C:\Documents and Settings\All Users folder, except I do not have the Application Data TechSm folder.
My initial reaction is that you somehow have duplicated what used to be your C:\Documents and Settings\All Users folder.
Although I am not totally clear, it seems that your Documents and Settings\All Users folder is now empty.
Perhaps the functions normally performed by the files in Documents and Settings\All Users are now performed by the files in Documents and Settings\All Users.WINDOWS folder. In other words, programs that normally find what they need in Documents and Settings\All Users are now using the Documents and Settings\All Users.WINDOWS folder.
If your programs are performing normally, perhaps just leave things alone?
Having said that here is what Google has to say about a Documents and Settings\All Users.WINDOWS folder
http://www.google.com/search?source...en&q=Documents+and+Settings\All+Users.WINDOWS
So you are not alone in having a Documents and Settings\All Users.WINDOWS folder.
If you want to tell me the name of the file you found in the Documents and Settings\All Users.WINDOWS folder, I can see where it resides on my PC.

 

Jim,

Thanks for the comments and the link to the Google search. I perused a large number of the Google finds. As you noted, I am not alone in having an All Users.Windows folder ... that gives me some solace ... but I didn't find any discussion of why it exists in the first place. So now I'm just going to take your advice:

"If your programs are performing normally, perhaps just leave things alone? "

The file I had been looking for was Acronis's TrueImage.exe.

Many thanks,

Chuck

 

Chuck,

A couple of things... the default installation location for TruImage would be C:\Program Files. If you didn't change the location when you installed (to your G: drive) you may want to check there. Secondly, TruImage will allow you to 'mount' your images and view (or even copy) the files that are contained in that image. TruImage mounts the image and it will show up in Windows Explorer with a temporary drive letter and you can browse through the files the same as if they were on your hard drive. When your done... just 'unmount' the image. HTH

B

 

Mr. B,

Thanks for the response.

"the default installation location for TruImage would be C:\Program Files. " It should be in C:\Program Files ... don't ask me how it got installed in the All Users.WINDOWS folder ... I have no idea. That was why I had to use Search to find it to begin with.

"TruImage mounts the image and it will show up in Windows Explorer with a temporary drive letter and you can browse through the files the same as if they were on your hard drive.When your done... just 'unmount' the image."

Is that true if one chooses to back up a partition, rather than as files? I know one can restore individual files in the latter case.

Chuck

 

You can only 'mount' an image, not the file backups. Not sure what to think about the installation location. If I come up with anything I'll post back.

B

 

Perhaps installation of Win XP 64 did it. Never seen this problem before with XP 32 bit.

 

Mr. B,

Thanks for the input on TrueImage. Wrt installation, I plan to uninstall and re-install it properly under Program Files.

Arie,

I installed WinXp64 Pro on a clean system. When I ran into the unavailability of Epson print drivers for WinXp64 (I do a lot of Photoshop work), I then installed WinXP Pro into a new partition ... which is why it is on the G-drive. You are no doubt right, in general, but this doesn't seem to follow that pattern.

rsingo,

There might still be relationship but as I mentioned above WinXP64 was installed first.

Maybe I'll check with one of the many others having an All Users.Windows folder as identified in the Google Search by Jim Welsh to see what correlation can be derived.

Thanks again to you all for your responses.

Chuck

 

Hi you all,

I went to the Microsoft Windows XP newsgroups and searched on "All Users.Windows" in Windows XP Help and Support. One of four postings, was entitled User Accounts- All Users.WINDOWS??? after reinstall and backup. The question and response follow this msg.

Arie, this is a variant on what you suspected.

Chuck

> Hi everyone. I have XP Pro and I recently reinstalled Windows XP Pro
> and used my external HD and the backup option to restore some files
> to the Users on my computer (Heather and Jeff). The files carried
> over and after some toying around I have this now in C:\Documents and
> Settings\
> Jeff (Folder)
> Heather (Folder)
> All Users.WINDOWS (Folder)
> I've tried renaming the All Users.WINDOWS to All Users (as it used to
> be before the reinstall) but it will not let me. Is there some kind
> of problem on my computer because I find this very odd. Are there
> "overlapping" installations of Windows XP on my computer or
> something? Is there any actions or applications I can use to correct
> this or would I have to try reinstalling Windows XP Pro all over
> again? Thanks in advance.
> Jeff

You have stuff left over from the old installation. You'll probably need to
take ownership of the data before you can delete it.

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/
http://kgiii.info/
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...-us-ms-winxp&lang=en&cr=US&sloc=en-us&m=1&p=1

 

chuckmg--I know this sounds lazy, but "if it works, maybe do not fix it "?

 

Jim,

I know. You're right. I don't intend to go to the bother of fixing it.... but not knowing from whence it came was a continuing challenge.

Chuck

 

chuckmg--

Yes, I know the feeling. But with Arie's and rsinfo's help, now you do know!
And I have learned, too.