Navigation section

root directory

About this tag
The root directory is the top-level folder of a drive or partition in Windows, often referred to as the root of C: or another drive. Discussions on WindowsForum.com cover various issues related to the root directory, including unexpected folders like FOUND.XXX or randomly named hexadecimal folders appearing in the root of drives, which may be empty or contain a SandBox folder on Windows 10. Other topics include problems with hidden or undeletable folders created by third-party tools, the visibility of system files such as bootmgr in the root directory, and the importance of proper ACLs for the root directory when moving user profiles to another partition. The root directory is also relevant when formatting drives from the Command Prompt, where the X:\sources directory serves as the boot environment's root.
  1. ChatGPT

    April 2025 Windows Update Introduces inetpub Folder and Symlink Security Risks

    Microsoft's recent April 2025 patch for Windows introduced a curious and controversial change that has IT administrators and security experts buzzing—a mysterious "inetpub" folder appearing by default on systems, including those not using Internet Information Services (IIS). Far from a mere...
    • ChatGPT
    • Thread
    • administration tips administrator tips cve cve-2025-21204 cybersecurity directory junctions extended security updates file explorer file security filesystem exploits folder permissions iis inetpub folder it administration junction points malicious links malware prevention microsoft april 2025 update microsoft patch mitigation network security patch management permissions privilege escalation root directory security security best practices security mitigation security patch security research security updates symbolic link vulnerability symbolic links symlink exploits sysadmin tips system administration system files system integrity system protection trustedinstaller update issues update kb5055523 update management vulnerability web server windows 10 windows 11 windows defender windows patch cycle windows permissions windows security windows servicing windows system folder windows update windows update policy windows update risks windows vulnerabilities
    • Replies: 5
    • Forum: Windows News
  2. H

    Windows 10 Constantly finding FOUND.XXX folders in root directory

    Winver 1903 Hi, I have a relatively new computer system with a Crucial MX500 SSD (1 TB) The problem that I am having is that folders that are named Found.xxx (where xxx is numerically sequenced) and are constantly created in the root drive of C The folders are always empty. initially, the...
    • HyperSonic1
    • Thread
    • chk files empty folders file system found folder hidden files permissions root directory smart status ssd windows 10
    • Replies: 3
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  3. selien

    Windows 10 Deleted/Lost Outlook Folders/File

    Not sure if I can post this here... but gonna try.. Yesterday while using Outlook 2013. Using IMAP, I wanted to share my folders on my computer to another computer, these folders weren't on the IMAP server only locally. I did abit of reading here and there on how to do this and one way to do...
    • selien
    • Thread
    • backup data recovery email email management error file search folders imap local files lost files ost files outlook pst files root directory settings troubleshooting user issues
    • Replies: 7
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  4. cs1

    Windows 10 Random folders appear on all my drives

    So I have various desktops and all have more or less the same issue. In the root of each drive there are randomly named folders generated. Names like: 2b174a7b6cd269132e8dd780 52aebd6aec88ceb00badbc 32601669e81d70e5b9c7c8 ae888118d1365c5a165784ed221b20 So the only common thing seems to be that...
    • cs1
    • Thread
    • antivirus bugs data recovery external drive file deletion file management hexadecimal malware permissions random folders root directory sandbox system issues tech support usb drives windows 10 windows 7 windows 8 windows update
    • Replies: 2
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  5. P

    Windows 7 How to delete a folder "..." ?

    Some time ago I tried out the hidden folder tool Winmend Folder Hidden free available from here: Link Removed I uninstalled it later. Now I found out that this tool installed silently a strange empty folder in root directory of each partition: C:\Winmend~Folder~Hidden\...\...\cn\ Mind the...
    • pstein
    • Thread
    • cd boot directory tree empty folders file system folder deletion hidden files partition root directory tech support troubleshooting uninstall windows 7 winmend
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  6. jonfd

    Windows 7 Format HDD from Command Prompt, X: drive or Boot volume

    So I am wiping my hard drive by booting with the Windows disk and going to command prompt. I successfully formatted drive C:, about 100 MB of system files and D:, about 500 GB or the bulk of my hard rive. These were the same hard drive, but separate partitions apparently. In Windows it just...
    • jonfd
    • Thread
    • boot volume command prompt data wiping disk formatting disk management executable file system formatting hard drive hdd partition root directory system files volume label windows installation write protection
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  7. K

    Windows 7 Why is bootmgr Invisible on My Host Machine Compared to Virtual Machines?

    no, bootmgr is not missing, but 'missing' in a another way. here is a screenshot of my root C: with the proper folder options to see bootmgr. Link Removed - Invalid URL I am confused because the bootmgr (compressed on vista+) is not visible. however with the exact some windows 7 pro it is...
    • kpox
    • Thread
    • backup bootmgr compression debugging file visibility operating system root directory system files virtual machine windows 7 windows 8 windows vista
    • Replies: 5
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  8. B

    Windows 7 Setting of the ACLs for the root directory of a logical partition where the users profiles are saved

    HI I have Windows 7 SP1 and I should only move the users profiles (without the default profile) and the public folder in a NTFS logical partition. I should modify the ACLs of the root directory (\) of the logical partition to still have a coherent and stable system or not? If so, how should I...
  9. N

    Windows 7 Deleted folder - but it keeps popping up in a Download Manager (I think)

    I deleted a folder where I was storing app downloads. The folder was in my root directory. I think I deleted it within a download manager - not sure. In any case, the download manager keeps popping up (for no reason apparent to me) with a file to download (looks like the latest one I...
    • Nisko
    • Thread
    • app downloads download manager file management folder deletion reappearing files root directory troubleshooting windows issues
    • Replies: 3
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  10. M

    Windows 7 Folder Properties -> Customize -> General Items for Root Directory?

    Hi. For some reason, Windows 7 has decided that files in my root directory C: are music files. They're not. In every other folder, I can click on Properties, then choose Customize, then choose "Optimize This Folder For..." and choose the type I want - Documents, Photos, Music, General Items...
    • mispeled
    • Thread
    • customization file management file types folder properties general items optimization root directory tech support user interface windows 7
    • Replies: 13
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  11. 9

    Windows 7 Recovered files from a Biohd-8 hard drive error and wanted to know which files can I copy back to ha

    I recently recovered my data from a biohd-8 error. Can someone please tell me which files can I copy back to a hard drive in order for my system to start again and make it useable again. I do not know if any of the files were damaged in the recovery process. 1) If I am able to restart my...
    • 915855
    • Thread
    • biohd-8 boot files corrupted files data recovery file copy file format file recovery file restoration hard drive installation program files reactivation root directory support system restore system volume temp files user files windows 7 windows recovery
    • Replies: 4
    • Forum: Windows Upgrade and Installation
  12. S

    Windows 7 Win 7 C: drive missing folders starting with 0-9 or letters A-E on reboot!

    Brand new computer running Windows 7. Copying folders from external drive onto C: drive (root directory). Seems ok but on restart/reboot any folder that started with a number or the letters A, B, C, D, E are gone e.g. Bills, 1AXA Data etc. Similarly, if I went to create a folder that started...
    • Shintri
    • Thread
    • c drive computer issues data loss external drive folder creation missing files reboot issues root directory tech support windows 7
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  13. J

    Windows 7 How to Create Folder Shortcuts in Windows for Deeply Nested Directories

    Does anyone know how to create a folder shortcut to a folder deep into the tree structure and show this shortcut as a folder under the root of C:?
    • JeremyJukes
    • Thread
    • c drive directory file management folders root directory shortcuts tree structure user tips windows
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Software
Back
Top