Duplicate Files

[jzadroga]

Can anyone explain this to me? In windows 7 on my C: I have a users folder and a documents and settings folder that both contain the same files and sub folders. They seem to be mirrors of each other to me. If I save a file it is placed in both places. At first I thought on folder just pointed to the other but the drives capacity shows that there must be two duplicate files.

 

[indianacarnie]

Welcome to the forums!

Hmmmmmmmmm........... your post made me check my C drive. Nope, no Doc.& Setting's folder.... someone more knowledgeable will have to tell you why the documents and settings folder is there. I've had "misplaced files" before and after a bit I just got tired of seeing them and did a reinstall which "fixed" the problem. I'm sure there's a less drastic solution available though. In the meantime, have you ran an sfc/scannow? Here's a tutorial on how to do that if you haven't before, just click on the link : http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

 

[Ztruker]

Did you upgrade from XP to Win 7? If so, that's where the duplication came from. Win 7 only uses Users, never Documents & Settings.

 

[jzadroga]

I think the system was originally XP. So does that mean I can delete documents and settings? When ever I make a change in one folder the other is affected the same way

 

[MilesAhead]

I show a "Documents and Settings" folder on my W8 machine. It's a preinstalled W8 Laptop. Could be it's just a hard link. I wouldn't delete anything unless you are seeing double disk space usage.

 

[LMiller7]

In Windows 2000 and XP the user profiles were stored in the "Documents and settings" folder. For a number of reasons this was changed in Vista and later to the "Users" folder. For compatibility with older applications that hard coded access to it the "Documents and settings" folder was provided as a junction. This is not a real folder and is by default hidden. Even if hidden folders are made visible Windows explorer will not allow access to it. There is no duplicate storage of files appearing in both.