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I am running Windows 8 Enterprise x64. I logged on using an account from the Administrators group. When I open Windows Explorer or a command prompt, then I can see the file cdd.dll
:
C:\Windows\system32>dir cdd.dll
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is ▨▨▨▨-▨▨▨▨
Directory of C:\Windows\system32
07/25/2012 09:49 PM 199,680 cdd.dll
But if I open an Open File dialog from Chrome browser, Visual Studio or some other applications (they are all 32-bit apps) and navigate to C:\Windows\system32
then there is no such file (the filter is set to show All Files). And if I invoke the "Open command window here" context menu item using Shift+RightClick in the Open File dialog and type dir
it confirms that there is no such file:
C:\Windows\System32>dir cdd.dll
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is ▨▨▨▨-▨▨▨▨
Directory of C:\Windows\System32
File Not Found
This effect is not specific to cdd.dll
, many other files differ as well. I've been told that this is an effect of the file system virtualization, that I know very little about.
Could you please explain or give me a reference that explains how this actually works? Are there actually several different instances of the System32
folder. What is their physical location on the disk? Is it possible to access from a 32-bit process files in a different System32
folder than one shown to 32-bit processes by default.
Do they appear in any x64 apps? I have a hunch that Windows "hides" 64-bit drivers (cdd.dll is a display driver) from 32-bit apps. – Nathan C – 2013-07-15T23:49:39.777
Yes, all 64-bit apps that allow to browse the file system (e.g. have an Open File dialog) show the same files as Windows Explorer. – Vladimir Reshetnikov – 2013-07-15T23:54:35.573
@VladimirReshetnikov Is there somthing you still don't understand, you edited your question but did not include any more details, you also did not accept any of the answers. Do you need anything else clarified? – Scott Chamberlain – 2013-07-16T21:40:58.350
@ScottChamberlain I just edited tags. You answer is very good. Thanks! – Vladimir Reshetnikov – 2013-07-17T02:27:19.373