cannot load or find c:\windows folder

to most people this would be weard but for some odd reason i can not find my windows folder i did a sherch made shere that my folder settings were set to show hidden folders and all that fun stuff i need to know what is going on this is veary strange to me.

Have you tried:

Opening My Computer & right clicking C: then Open?

Also: If you have an upgraded XP C:\Windows will appear as C:\WINNT

ok i just tried it and nothing i tried to find winnt and could not also did my own manual sherch still cant find it. if u need any screen shoots i will take them

From Start/ Search if you type: C:\windows or C:\winnt you get no finds?

Is this an OEM installed XP? If so what is the make & model of the computer? This folder might possibly have been installed to a hidden partition.

Also: were you receiving some type of error messages?

Or what initiated this search?

Hotguyhot is my friend and all. He is running a TOshiba Satellite P25 if I remmeber correctly. When I see him today I will have him do a hardware scan and all of that fun stuff and post it. We installed WIN XP home edition and all. There isnt any error messages that is what has us both boggled. We reformated his laptop because before he had Linux and Win XP but we reformated the whole hard drive so we could get rid of Linux and we reinstalled Win XP.

Hotguyhot was checking to see if any unknown programs like viruses was in his system32 files that he was not aware of since his AV detected some viruses but some could not be delted because it was in use and the ALT CTRL DEL would not show the processor to terminite it. If there is any other information you need from him I will get it and either him or me will post it.

Thanks for your help again Jephree your an awsome person!

Thanks for the update IdahoFella21; as well as your kind regards

Toshiba has many varieties of Satalite P25. I looked at a few manuals & they seem to be fairly generic.

http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/t...ceghdgngdgnj.0

I was looking to see if there was a hidden recovery partition but did not see any evidence.

I was assuming that the original OS was an OEM XP installed by Toshiba.

I was thinking that installing another version of XP on top of it might have caused some issues.

I still find it amazing that from Start | Search absolutly nothing shows up from C:\windows or C:\winnt

Have you done a search for system32?

Have you done these searches in Safe Mode just to test any difference?

I will continue to search around this evening for any clues.

Also: as to the Task Manager: are you able to view it or not?

Also: perhaps the 1st question that I should have asked: Are you sure that you installed XP to C:\? Perhaps it went to D:\ or F:\?


___________________________________

Your very welcome jephree. It orginally came with OEM win xp and all. We reformatted the whole HD and it is installed into C: No other drives then his CDROM/DVD thing is in there. Let me see if I can find the exact model and make of his laptop. He should be coming over soon and either him or me will post more information. I will do a search for system32 and my next step was to go into safe mode and check it out. I am amazed also by the missing winnt and windows directory.

I am a little confused about the task manager. You asked if we could see it in the task manager window..see what? I may have confused myself of both of us on that one LOL

I was just curious if you had any problem opening or using the Task Manager.
Or I guess you were saying you could not find the proper process to terminate.

What do you see when you open (C: ) via My Computer?

Also try this Start | Search | *.sys

Make sure these settings are set:

Folder Options--> View
tab--> Select the option "Show hidden files and folders" and uncheck the
option "Hide protected operations system files (Recommended)".

I dont know what he did but he told me its back. He went into the IE explorer bar and type C:/windows or whatever that command is either \ or / LOL But it popped back up and its there....very odd...Toshiba laptops have gremlins in it LOL