Multiple copies..

[einstein]

Windows XP Pro:

Why are there two copies of Notepad.exe i.e C:\WINDOWS and C:\WINDOWS\system32 . 3rd copy is in dllcache folder
Whe I run Notepad.exe the default path is C:\WINDOWS\System32\notepad.exe
Then whats the use of C:\WINDOWS\notepad.exe ???

[degsy]

It is just a remnant of older versions.

Older versions of windows & programs used Windows\Notepad.exe

Newer versions use/ look for the path of System32\Notepad.exe


They are the same file.

The dllcache folder is a backup of system files & programs.