Invisible folder

[MrSpock]

PS, damn, I should have set UNcheck WOW64 Redirection!

I unchecked it and the mysterious folder is back!

Does 'C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\' exist?

ExistItemFF: True
ExistPathOrFile: True
ExistIcon: True

Can you tell me how this new WOW64 option work?

[j_c_hallgren]

MrSpock: Hope this shows you why we love XY so much! It's the quick response and dedication of Don, which is pretty much unmatched in my experience...this should convince you that it's well worth the cost of a license, if you've not already done so.

[admin]

PS, damn, I should have set [whoops, I meant "said"] UNcheck WOW64 Redirection!

I unchecked it and the mysterious folder is back!

Does 'C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\' exist?

ExistItemFF: True
ExistPathOrFile: True
ExistIcon: True

Can you tell me how this new WOW64 option work?

Great!

Oh, it's a weird thing with WOW64... please look it up with a search machine... if unsuccessful then come back and I try to explain.

[admin]

Wow64 redirection in a nutshell

Whenever a 32-bit application (like XYplorer) attempts to access %windir%\System32 in a 64-bit OS, the access is by default redirected to a new directory, %windir%\SysWOW64. This means you think you see System32 but in reality you see SysWOW64.
To stop this redirection, uncheck Menu View | Show Items | WOW64 Redirection.

[j_c_hallgren]

I've noticed that the folder C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc is invisible in XYplorer, at least in Windows Vista x64. I am able to see it in Windows XP.

Duh! The clues to the answer were right there in original posting! But since I've only used non-x64 OS's, I didn't catch it right away...but I've seen some beta postings about it (WOW64) here so could have from that knowledge...sorry!

From 6.60.60:

Code: Select all

Background: On a 64-bit platform, a 32bit app can't access the 64bit system directory Windows\System32 (sic!). Instead Windows redirects all file system calls to Windows\SysWow64. Consequently, XYplorer shows in fact the contents of Windows\SysWow64 when you browse to Windows\System32. If you want to see the "real" Windows\System32, you have to disable Wow64 Redirection.

[serendipity]

WOW to all!! Great support. It amazes me how fast things get resolved.
Keep it up guys!! XY rocks!

[MrSpock]

MrSpock: Hope this shows you why we love XY so much! It's the quick response and dedication of Don, which is pretty much unmatched in my experience...this should convince you that it's well worth the cost of a license, if you've not already done so.

I agree. Very impressive, and I can tell you I bought a license just after an hour of usage.

[MrSpock]

Wow64 redirection in a nutshell

Whenever a 32-bit application (like XYplorer) attempts to access %windir%\System32 in a 64-bit OS, the access is by default redirected to a new directory, %windir%\SysWOW64. This means you think you see System32 but in reality you see SysWOW64.
To stop this redirection, uncheck Menu View | Show Items | WOW64 Redirection.

OK, I see. It seems that the "etc" subfolder doesn't exist in SysWOW64 but it does in System32. I opened a 32-bit instance of Windows Explorer (C:\Windows\SysWOW64\explorer.exe /n) and the "etc" subfolder was missing... of course.

Big thanks for amazing support! XYplorer now gives me the best of two worlds. I can see all my files without redirections, as in Windows Explorer x64, and I can still use all those 32-bit shell extensions I can't live without.