Some files not visible in X2 on Windows Server 2003 R2 64

ClayGoss · Post by **ClayGoss** » 2008 Jul 01, 12:55

I am setting up a WS2K3 R2 64 box. Some files/folders are not showing in X2 that show under Windows Explorer. Specificaly, c:\windows\system32\drivers. Under X2, it has one file and no folders. Under Windows Explorer, there are 153 files and two folders.

fgagnon · Post by **fgagnon** » 2008 Jul 01, 13:47

Are they 'hidden' items?
(check your setting for Show Hidden files and folders on the General tab under Tools | Options... )

Post by **nikos** » 2008 Jul 01, 18:12

i guess this is another limitation that a 32 bit file manager cannot do anything about

ClayGoss · Post by **ClayGoss** » 2008 Jul 01, 22:17

fgagnon,

No, they are not hidden in this example, but even if they were, I can "see" other hidden files and folders on this same box using X2 and on other systems using X2.

Perhaps nikos is correct and this is a limitation of 32 bit X2.

Nevertheless, I will not be using it on 64 bit - too risky.

johngalt · Post by **johngalt** » 2008 Jul 03, 02:32

I went to go verify this, and initially, I thought that it was just hiding files from Microsoft - but then I realized - nope - because the items I see in X2 aren't even in C:\Windows\System32\drivers.

Then it hit me - 32bit file manager / 64bit OS. Believe it or not, X2 treats C:\Windows\System32\drivers as a 64bit path (or, at the very least, something along those lines) - and it cannot access it. When you tell X2 to display C:\Windows\system32\drivers, it is actually displaying C:\Windows\SysWOW64\drivers.

Don't ask me why - but I just verified - the number of items, the items themselves - all match 100%.

So, Nikos, you're right - the limitations of using a 32bit app in a 64 bit OS....

[EDIT: Added the following]

@ClayGoss - another thing - since that is a protected folder *anyway* I wouldn't recommend using any other file manager when working in there - I doubt you'll be in there that often, and when you actually need to be (such as hosts file editing, etc) then use an elevated Explorer window.

ClayGoss · Post by **ClayGoss** » 2008 Jul 03, 10:22

The funny thing is, if I map a drive to the administrative share (C$) on this box from another system, I can see the contents of \\<machine name>\c$\windows\system32\drivers correctly USING X2! So, this is something 64 bit windows is doing to X2 when it is run directly on the box.

Be assured, being a 27+ year IT vet, I only go into forlders for a reason. The real questions is having a tool you can depend on. I have "depended on" X2 for a number of years and with the exception of the 64 bit Windows, I will continue to depend on it.

I hope the information helps someone improve X2.

johngalt · Post by **johngalt** » 2008 Jul 04, 02:18

Now that I didn't try - but that is interesting....

I suppose it has some sort of way of redirecting the output because it is a local copy and Windows can verify whether it is a 64bit app or not...

And as for knowing when to go into the folders- well, I didn't know you were in the field even longer than I have been - but I have to always include the caveats whenever I provide assistance or see someone doing something that could be potentially harmful - better safe than sorry.

I'll continue to depend upon X2 except for those rare occasions I need access to protected folders, it seems.

snemarch · Post by **snemarch** » 2008 Jul 13, 13:40

64bit windows does a bunch of sandboxing for wow64 (ie., 32bit apps) - including redirecting certain folders for compatibility options.

See here (search for "kernel32.Wow64DisableWow64FsRedirection") for a fix... would requires Nikos to do some (trivial) updating of the sourcecode, though.

lbossom · Post by **lbossom** » 2008 Aug 17, 22:20

Was the suggested fix ever implemented? I just ran into an issue where i couldn't find termserv.dll in the Windows\system32 folder. drove me crazy trying to figure out why. thanks!

namsupo · Post by **namsupo** » 2008 Aug 19, 20:21

You can get to the real System32 folder using Sysnative instead (eg c:\Windows\Sysnative). The folder won't appear in the tree but you should be able to type the path in manually to get to it.

WimdeLange · Post by **WimdeLange** » 2010 Apr 09, 20:37

namsupo wrote:You can get to the real System32 folder using Sysnative instead (eg c:\Windows\Sysnative). The folder won't appear in the tree but you should be able to type the path in manually to get to it.

Whatever I try, there is no such directory on Windows 7 64 bits.

Kilmatead · Post by **Kilmatead** » 2010 Apr 09, 21:20

WimdeLange wrote:Whatever I try, there is no such directory on Windows 7 64 bits.

As namsupo said, this directory will not show up on the display so you can't navigate to it; if using the x86 version of x2 type "C:\Windows\Sysnative" into the addressbar and the so-called "real" System32 folder contents will be displayed. It's kind of a redirection around the redirection, if you catch my drift.

If using the x64 version of x2, this is not necessary.

I don't think it has a truly practical purpose other than making something visible to x86 which it shouldn't be seeing - like a 12-year-old sneaking in to see an 18's-rated film in the cinema - he may be able to watch the images on the screen, but he won't be able to make sense of the contents.