Duplicate files in XP

Dumb question--
I notice that WinXP puts the same file in numerous folders. I do not mean just the Documents and Settings\Default User and D&S\MyName folders, I mean like in System32 and I386 and Software Distribution and Window NT\Applications, etc., etc. Which is the real file to click on to open the app or to create shortcuts from?
P.S. If anyone has the time, why does XP do this?
P.P.S. I come from many years of Win98. So much simpler then.

 

For the most part they are all 'real'.

\system32 (or similar) should be your current working copy and the one to use.

\I386 is a repository from the install CD (or the PC maker with some OEM machines) and is a copy of the .cab file contents from the original install version or slipstreamed version but basically whatever your PC was staged with. If you lack an install CD or just want the convenience, you can run SFC (system file checker) against that folder rather than against the XP CD.

\others - if you have system restore turned on it needs a place to cache copies of the system files in case of need. Same with some of the other 'duplicate' file copies.

Basically, if you have plenty of drive space and things are running OK I'd leave the dups alone. But you could probably blow away most of them and not do any damage.

 

Newt--That explanation was helpful, but does not answer all my curiosity.
For example, do a search for wordpad.exe. I have four such files. None are in System32 nor in I386. Try it yourself. (I have WinXP Home.)
The one used by the shortcut in Start|All Programs is from C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories\wordpad.exe. I think that was the Windows default setting.
I especially liked your idea about using I386 instead of the WinXP CD in the case of a restore, but wordpad.exe, to take one example, would not be included.

 

C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories\wordpad.exe
C:\WINDOWS\$NtServicePackUninstall$\wordpad.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\wordpad.exe

I only have the ones above on XP-pro SP1 with Office XP loaded. The top item is certainly the master, working copy. One is part of SP1 and the last is a sign that wordpad.exe is included in the system file protection so if I were to delete C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories\wordpad.exe it would quickly be replaced by a copy of the one in the dllcache.

My general suggestion here would be that if you have plenty of free drive space and no problems, just ignore the extras. If you are low on drive space, buy a larger drive. I noticed some duplicates with NT4, even more with 2K, and yet a few more with XP. Longhorn may have even more or they may figure out how to get by with fewer. Unless something is busted, I'm gonna worry about fishing though and ignore the multiple-file thing.

 

Newt--
1) You are very right about not worrying about space on my new PC. So from that point of view, I should not care about multiple copies of files.
2) You have the ability to know which of the files is the master. I do not. That bothers me. Indeed, in Win98, I assumed that the file in System or System32 was the master. In WinXP, with Documents and Settings, I386, WindowsNT\Accessories, etc., I have no clue.
3) Your earlier post suggested what sounded like a real good tip for restoring files, if needed--using the I386 folder. But wordpad.exe is a basic Windows file and would not be restored, if I used that idea.
Would like to hear further from you, assuming you bring along a laptop on your fishing trip.

 

I was under the impression this was done because of the users assigned to the sytem, such as "Administrator ", "Guest ", User #1, etc. (Kind of like a Networking scenario).

Newt,

Do you run your system with "Hide Protected Operating System Files (recommended)" unchecked in Tools\Folder Options\View Tab? You got my curiousity aroused.

 

irdreed - I do indeed run with the system forced to show me everything. I like to see file extensions, system files, and all the other stuff XP wants to protect me from (or maybe protect from me? )

I also use AgentRansack for all my searches. Faster and lots smarter than any of the native M$ search tools with the added benefit that I can click a button to send search results to the clipboard as ASCII text for pasting elsewhere.

 

irdreed--I unchecked that box in the Folder Options|View tab. Nowwith a Search I get another wordpad.exe file in C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386.
Maybe that is the master file?
Or at least that means I could use Newt's idea of using I386 as a source to restore files?
Still nothing in
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\wordpad.exe

 

Welshjim

Try this:

As Newt says:

I just thought that method would open up a "Pandora's Box ". But Newt's smarter than me so he has got it covered.

 

I run with everything shown too. Funny thing is, I only come up with 2 wordpad.exe's.

C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories\wordpad.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\wordpad.exe

 

I tend not to concern myself too much with duplicate Windows files. I guess I (maybe wrongly?) expect MS to have these files duplicated for a valid reason, even if it won't be needed for my setup/usage of the PC, rather than from sloppy programming, or post install/updating cleanups that didn't do their job properly.

Now if a third party programme leaves stuff everywhere, then I get a little more concerned.

 

Dave - are you running SP2? I think my 3rd copy is there and that SP replaced most of the stuff that came with the XP OS.

This load was staged with XP-pro SP1a on the install CD so the thing has to be part of SP2.

 

Not yet.

 

I came up with 3 wordpad.exe

Program Files\WindowsNT\Accessories
Windows\SevicePackFiles|i386
Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\ whole bunch of numbers

The first two were created the day of the reinstall (Aug 27) and the third is Aug 4th, before the crash, before SP2, before the reformat of C drive. All three claim to be modified Aug 4, 2004 (the day I was "attacked" by wuauclt, I think.) All three are the same size, 210 KB, and Wordpap works fine. Of course, this computer is also booting with a blank boot.ini file, so take my info w/ a pinch of salt!

Johanna

Dave, when ya gonna go Pro??? What are you waiting for anyway? Free time? With our kids, it ain't gonna happen for, oh, maybe 10 years...

 

My four wordpad.exe files are those mentioned by Johanna and PeteC. I feel better that neither of them has the system32 version, either
The big disappointment is that wordpad.exe, as at least one example, does not appear in C:\i386, so would not be restored by the method suggested by Newt.