Where are essential Windows files located?

Posted by Dorothy on Super User See other posts from Super User or by Dorothy
Published on 2011-07-01T14:55:44Z Indexed on 2011/07/01 16:24 UTC
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Filed under:

windows-7

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windows-xp

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windows-vista

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file-management

I am using a Vista but I would like the answer for XP, Vista and Windows 7.

I am writing a program where I want to count the Important or Essential files of the Windows PC. It looks like the Essential files would be located somewhere in C:/Windows and after some research I found that some Essential files are located in C:/Windows/winsxs.

What and where are the Essential files for a Windows PC? Is there a folder or set of folders that contain the essential files? Are all the files in C:/Windows/winsxs Essential?

Essential Definition: Absolutely necessary; extremely important

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