Win 7 Ultimate duplicate User Files: Normal?

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  1. Posts : 22
    Windows 7 Ultimate x32
       #1

    Win 7 Ultimate duplicate User Files: Normal?


    Hi, 1st post so if you're feelin cranky go ahead, I've thick skin and a sense of humor (left it in my commodore floppy drive though, just a sec, I'll get it...)..

    Would like to know:
    1. Is it broke?
    2. Do I have 35,225 or 70,450 files on my hard drive?
    Conventional wisdom would lead me to 1. No and 2. 35,225 files.

    Toshiba U505-2002
    Pentium Dual Core CPU T4400 2.20 GHz
    4GB Ram (LOL!)
    Windows 7 Ultimate, 32 bit
    100gb hard drive, 70gb available, external 500gb plus various usb sticks, etc.

    The following two directories (with sub-dirs) 'exist' on my laptop:
    (no complex explanation of why or how this is 'standard', just want to know if it's 'normal'

    C:\Documents and Settings (35,225 Files)
    Sub Directories:
    Administrator
    Default
    Jim
    owner
    Public
    Seven

    C:\Users (35,225 Files)
    Sub Directories:
    Administrator
    Default
    Jim
    owner
    Public
    Seven

    Experience taught me, long ago, that the ANSWER, the WHY is hardly ever worth the time it takes to figure it out cuz it's really the FIX that one is most earnestly seeking, and I'm indifferent to pursuing the Phi Beta Kappa Sigma Cum Loudly learning curve since Windows 3.0 arrived, as long as there isn't, never was, nor ever will be a problem that hasn't been resolved with the proper tools, foot, hammer, etc., and/or knowledge of HOW to fix it..

    For example, I don't have a single CLUE as to WHY my previous laptop began working again AFTER I tossed it out my fourth floor apartment window, missing the dumpster I was aiming for but I could hear my recording of John Belushi swearing that it wasn't HIS fault about 3 minutes after following my shrinks advice and heaving-ho then punching my sofa cushions... sigh!

    Sooooo... Yes No... 35 or 70 thousand files?
    THANKS VERY MUCH IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP OR ONE-LINERS THAT I CAN RECYCLE...
    O:) 3:) <3 :O :v <(") (^^^) :) 8| (y)
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #2

    Not normal.

    What handy-dandy, super cleanup, speedup, wonder software did you install?

    What software did you use to show that info?

    Possible is that the 3rd party super program is reporting incorrectly.

    Download TreeSizeFree, use same to display your C drive folders & subfolders,
    Make a snip using the snipping tool of the display
    Upload the snip.

    For treesize free:
    JAM Software - Windows Freeware

    to make a snip:
    Make a snapshot (Snip)
    WIN | type SNIP | ENTER | New
    Drag the cursor around the area you want to snip.
    File | Save as | select save location and name | Save

    WIN=key with the Microsoft logo on top.


    ===================
    to upload:
    Post a File or Screenshot in Seven Forums
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 5,642
    Windows 10 Pro (x64)
       #3

    You shouldn't even have access to Documents and Settings...
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #4

    logicearth,
    100% correct which I why I suspect a 3rd party program or other questionable activity.

    Let's see what we will see.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 22
    Windows 7 Ultimate x32
    Thread Starter
       #5

    For what it's worth (and NOT including any presumptive expertise exceeding that of my 11 year old nephew) I am 64, got my first TRASH-80 PC at 17, my fingers have touched a keyboard, daily, for the past 47 years.
    I missed three years of grade school but I caught up at the Library.
    So what you will see that you see is pretty much what you perceive correctly: a voluntary state of ignorance in the more advanced areas of operating systems and modern hardware. This MAY be coming to an end as your selection of tutorials is nothing short of AWESOME.

    I, as the 'Secret Administrator', have taken ownership of most files and folders while 'sharing' all of the files on my PC. which I have done continuously for the 30 or 31 computers I have owned and operated.

    Only had one problem (although my friends have been less fortunate), last year, Bronk Virus, this laptop.
    Used KASPERSKY RESCUE DISK 10.0 to deal with that and although I found remnants weeks later, no attributable problems since.


    Here is a list from my Program Files Directory.. (a list of Dir/Files in my root is below)
    -if you do not recognize any that concern you please let me know and I'll give you the C.V. on them...

    Code:
     
    Used these for YEARS, some for over ten years...
     
    1BY1
    7-ZIP
    CATHY
    CCLEANER
    ERUNT
    HIJACKTHIS
    IRFANVIEW
    JETAUDIO
    K-LITE CODEC PACK
    MICROSOFT FRONTPAGE
    MICROSOFT OFFICE
    MOZILLA FIREFOX
    SCANDIR
    SPYBOT - SEARCH & DESTROY
    SYSFILELISTER
    TURBO NAVIGATOR
    TXTCOLLECTOR
     
    Used these a few times, not much interest
     
    AWATCH
    BIGTIME
    MYEVENTVIEWER
    PINGVIEW
    PROCESSACTIVITYVIEW
    PROCESSEXPLORER
    SIMPO PDF TO TEXT
    UNINSTALL TOOL
    UNLOCKER
    WIN MALSOFTREMOVE
    FOXIT READER
    ICONSEXT
    IP SCANNER
    MOZILLA THUNDERBIRD
    NETRESVIEW
    NETROUTEVIEW
    NETSPEEDMONITOR
    NETSTATMONITOR
    NETWORK STUMBLER
    WIFIINSPECTOR
    WIRELESSNETVIEW
     
    Reviewed most of these without installing
    Unless they can solve a problem I've no interest:
     
    ADDRVIEW
    AUTOMODE
    AUTORUNS
    CPORTS
    CPROCESS
    DCHPWATCHER
    DEVMANVIEW
    DNSDATAVIEW
    DOWNTESTER NIRSOFT
    DRIVERVIEW
    DVD MAKER
    ENHANCEWIN7
    FALCON
    FAVIEW
    FILELIST CMD
    FILETYPESMAN
    FOLREP
    GRANKCMD
    INTERNET EXPLORER
    JAVA
    MACADDRESSVIEW
    MICROSOFT GAMES
    MICROSOFT VISUAL STUDIO
    MICROSOFT.NET
    MSBUILD
    NETBALANCER
    NIRCMD
    NIREXT
    NK2EDIT
    PERFPING_201
    PINGER
    PORTPEEKER
    REGFILEEXPORT
    RESOURCESEXTRACT
    SCAN
    SEARCHMYFILES
    SERVIWIN
    SG TCP
    SNREMOVE
    SOCKETSNIFF
    SPECIALFOLDERSVIEW
    TOSHIBA
    UACTS_X86
    VISTUMBLER
    WHATINSTARTUP
    WHOSIP
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    WINDOWS MAIL
    WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER
    WINDOWS NT
    WINDOWS PHOTO VIEWER
    WINDOWS PORTABLE DEVICES
    WINDOWS SIDEBAR
    WINLISTER
    WINPREFETCHVIEW
     
    These I mostly ignore (not WLAN)
     
    COMMON FILES
    CONDUIT
    INSTALLSHIELD INFO
    INTEL
    REALTEK WLAN DRIVER
    REFERENCE ASSEMBLIES
    UNINSTALL INFORMATION
     
     
    ROOT DIRECTORY
     
    $RECYCLE.BIN 
    ADMIN 
    AUTORUN.INF 
    BOOKMARKS 
    DEVICE 
    DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS 
    INTEL 
    KASPERSKY RESCUE DISK 10.0 
    MSO_TEMP 
    PERFLOGS 
    PROGRAM FILES 
    PROGRAMDATA 
    RECOVERY 
    SYSTEM VOLUME INFORMATION 
    TEMP 
    TWWGPC_TEMP 
    USERS 
    WINDOWS 
    config.sys 
    pagefile.sys
    Last edited by Brink; 25 May 2012 at 11:47. Reason: code box
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 742
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1
       #6

    C:\Documents and Settings is not a real folder but only a link (Junction Point) to C:\Users. Windows 7 OS creates this link (with attributes Hidden, System and Directory) only for backward compatibility for older XP programs which look for this location to copy configuration files. Windows 7 OS does not need this folder. Hence it is hidden and locked.

    You can see this folder only when you remove the check mark for Hide protected operating system files in Folder options. But you can not open this folder from windows explorer (Lock symbol on folder icon).

    Third party explorers like xplorer2 will allow you to open it to show the same contents as C:\Users.

    In reality the files are stored only in C:\Users and not in C:\Documents and Settings. This behavior is normal for Windows 7 OS.
    Last edited by rraod; 25 May 2012 at 12:53. Reason: Added (Junction Point)
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 22
    Windows 7 Ultimate x32
    Thread Starter
       #7

    File listing in Excel


    karlsnooks said:
    logicearth,
    100% correct which I why I suspect a 3rd party program or other questionable activity.

    Let's see what we will see.
    Attached please find an Excel worksheet with a list of files, paths, sizes, dates and times just from scanning with ScanDir (skybird.net/ScanDir) copied to a text file using SysFileLister and then pasted to Excel.
    These files are ONLY from C:\Documents and Settings

    I tried that 'come buy this program if you really want it to be productive' tree thingy but found the non-hooked freeware programs that I have been using for years adequate enough for the moment.

    Trying to remove that FILE LIST zip file... as it's superfluous...
    Win 7 Ultimate duplicate User Files: Normal? Attached Files
    Last edited by JimHarmon; 25 May 2012 at 13:05. Reason: Solution provided by rraod, thank you..
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 2,171
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #8

    Why do you have an autorun.inf in your root directory?

    As others have mentioned, the C:\Documents and Settings folder is visible, but not traversable on a stock w7 system. It's simply a junction to C:\Users for unaware programs, it's security settings are set such that they prevent these unaware programs from getting into an endless loop if they try to traverse the folders.

    Unsure of what happens when you take ownership as you did; it's typically best not to make any modification to their properties (there are quite a few of these junctions and symbolic links on your system).
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 22
    Windows 7 Ultimate x32
    Thread Starter
       #9

    rraod said:
    C:\Documents and Settings is not a real folder but only a link (Junction Point) to C:\Users. Windows 7 OS creates this link (with attributes Hidden, System and Directory) only for backward compatibility for older XP programs which look for this location to copy configuration files. Windows 7 OS does not need this folder. Hence it is hidden and locked.

    You can see this folder only when you remove the check mark for Hide protected operating system files in Folder options. But you can not open this folder from windows explorer (Lock symbol on folder icon).

    Third party explorers like xplorer2 will allow you to open it to show the same contents as C:\Users.

    In reality the files are stored only in C:\Users and not in C:\Documents and Settings. This behavior is normal for Windows 7 OS.
    AHA! The light goes on... that sounds very very familiar, kewl, thank you very very much for your cogent assistance... Looking around to see if I can 'score' your reply....
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 22
    Windows 7 Ultimate x32
    Thread Starter
       #10

    [QUOTE=F5ing;1937525]Why do you have an autorun.inf in your root directory?

    Never confirmed this however it seemed a harmless effort at the time: with that folder in my root I understood that another FILE of the same name cannot be run and/or added thus helping in some small way to avoid the less erudite of those wishing to, well, destroy computers... your opinion?
      My Computer


 
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:35.
Find Us