The Windows folder contains the Windows operating system and is a crucial folder in Windows computers. By default, Windows is installed on the C drive. Hence, C is the default directory of the Windows folder. Every Windows computer has one Windows folder. However, some users reported finding two Windows folders in the C drive. In this article, we will explain what you can do if you come across such a situation.
Two Windows Folders in C drive
Having two Windows folders in the C drive is an unusual occurrence. However, if you come across such a situation, you can use the following suggestions:
- Run an antimalware scan
- Try to find the right Windows folder
- Perform a Factory Reset
- Perform a Clean Installation of Windows
Below, we have explained all these fixes in detail.
1] Run an antimalware scan
You cannot create two folders of the same name on Windows computers in the same directory or location. However, in your case, two folders of the same name exist in the C directory. This is an unusual occurrence. One possible cause of this issue is a virus or malware infection. The other could be an orphaned Windows folder from an earlier installation. We suggest you scan your system with good antivirus or antimalware software.
You can use free antivirus programs. But if you purchase the paid version of antivirus software, this will be an added advantage, as antivirus protects your system from viruses and other security issues.
2] Try to find the right Windows folder
If the antimalware or antivirus software does not find any threats on your system, the next step is to find the right Windows folder. It can be a bit difficult to find the right Windows folder, depending on the scenario. However, you can give this method a try.
First, look carefully at the name of the other Windows folder. Is it a Windows folder or Windows.old folder? Windows.old folder is created automatically when you install a newer version of Windows on a computer on which the earlier version of Windows is installed. If the other folder is Windows.old, you can delete it. You can use the Disk Cleanup utility to delete the Window.old folder.
If the other folder is also the Windows folder, open it and see if it contains any files. If it is empty, you can safely delete it. If it contains data, you need to follow some more steps to find the right Windows folder out of the two folders.
The MSConfig app also shows the location of the Windows folder (where the Windows operating system is installed) under the Boot tab. However, this information is not enough to find the right Windows folder, provided there are two Windows folders in the C drive. This app is helpful if the Windows folders are located in different directories.
You can use the System Information app to find out the right Windows folder. Open the System Information app and expand the Software Environment branch. Now, select System Drivers. You will see all the drivers installed on your system on the right side. The drivers that are currently running show Yes in the Started column. First, try with the drivers that are currently running. This will save time.
Note the location of the drivers that are started and open both Windows folders in File Explorer in separate tabs. Go to the location inside both the Windows folders and locate the drivers. Try this with multiple drivers. The duplicate or fake Windows folder should not contain all the drivers shown in the MSConfig app, unless the other Windows folder is the clone of the original Windows folder. This process will take time but you will be able to find out the right Windows folder.
If you find the right Windows folder, you can delete the duplicate one. However, it will be better if you move the fake Windows folder from the C drive to another location. By doing so, you can restore it to the C drive if any problem occurs. After moving the Windows folder to another location, see if you experience any issues on your system. Monitor your system for some days. If your system works perfectly, you can delete the fake Windows folder.
3] Perform a Factory Reset
Windows folder is crucial for the normal operation of the Windows operating system. Therefore, if there are two Windows folders on your system on the C drive, it is difficult to identify the original one.
You can reset your system to the factory default settings if the above method to find the right Windows folder fails and your antivirus or antimalware software shows your system clean. While performing Factory Reset, you will see the following two options:
- Keep my files
- Remove everything
First, select the Keep my files option. If this does not work, backup your data and then reset your PC by selecting the second option. This will delete everything on your C drive.
If, after performing the Factory Reset, the C drive still shows two Windows folders, look at their date of modification. Keep the folder that was recently updated.
4] Perform a Clean Installation of Windows
If none of the above steps fix this problem, the last resort is to perform the Clean Installation of Windows. You will need a bootable USB flash drive with a Windows ISO file to perform the Clean Installation of Windows. You can use third-party tools, like Rufus to create a bootable USB flash drive.
The Windows ISO file is available for download on the official website of Microsoft. Alternatively, you can also use the Media Creation Tool to download the ISO file of Windows 11/10. This action will erase your data on the C drive. We also recommend you backup your data on other hard drive partitions before performing the Clean Installation of Windows.
I hope this helps.
How do I see all open windows?
You can view all opened windows on your Windows PC by pressing the Win + Tab keys. Using this keyboard shortcut will bring all the opened windows on your screen. Now, you can select any window by using your keyboard arrow keys or your mouse.
How do I open two Windows Explorer files side by side?
If you want to open files stored in Windows Explorer side by side, first open both files. Both the files will open in two separate windows. Now, click on the Restore button in each window to make them resizable. After that, you can use your mouse to resize them and open them side by side. Windows 11 has a built-in feature called Snap Assist. If you are a Windows 11 user, you can also use Snap Assist to open two files side by side. You can even use Tabs in Explorer now.
Read next: Multiple Recovery Partitions in Windows 11.
