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C:\Program Files (x86)

The 64-bit versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7 create two directory structures for program files. The 64-bit applications go into the C:\Program Files folder. The 32-bit applications, in contrast, go into the C:\Program Files (x86) folder. The separation makes it easy to find the proper version of whatever application you seek.

Personal Documents

As you might expect, given the differences among the desktop names for personal document locations outlined earlier in the chapter, the personal folders for Windows 2000/XP and Windows Vista differ in location and name. Windows 2000 and Windows XP place personal folders in the Documents and Settings folder, whereas Windows Vista uses the Users folder. From there, they differ even more.

C:\Documents and Settings (2000 and XP) All of the personal settings for each user are stored here. All users have their own subfolders in Documents and Settings. In each user folder, you’ll find another level of folders with familiar names such as Desktop, My Documents, and Start Menu. These folders hold the actual contents of these items. Let’s dive through these to see the ones you need to know for the CompTIA A+ exams.

\Documents and Settings\Default User (hidden) All of the default settings for a user. For example, if the user doesn’t specify a screensaver to use, Windows refers to this folder’s settings to determine what screensaver it should use if needed.

\Documents and Settings\All Users You can make settings for anyone who uses the computer. This is especially handy for applications: some applications are installed so all users may use them and some might be restricted to certain users. This folder stores information for any setting or application that’s defined for all users on the PC.

\Documents and Settings\Shared Documents (XP Only) If you’re using XP’s Simple File Sharing, this is the only folder on the computer that’s shared.

\Documents and Settings\ This folder stores all settings defined for a particular user (Figure 4-42).

Figure 4-42 Contents of a typical \Documents and Settings folder in XP

Opening any user’s folder reveals a number of even lower folders. Each of these store very specific information about the user.

\Documents and Settings\\Desktop This folder stores the files on the user’s desktop. If you delete this folder, you delete all the files placed on the desktop.

\Documents and Settings\\Documents This is the My Documents folder for another user on the computer.

\Documents and Settings\\Application Data (hidden) This folder stores information and settings used by various programs that the user has installed.

\Documents and Settings\\Start Menu This folder stores any customizations the user made to the Start menu.

C:\Users (Vista) Vista dumps the old Documents and Settings for the Users folder. Functionally similar to Documents and Settings, there are a number of sub-folders here that you need to know to pass the CompTIA A+ exams.

Let’s repeat the process, locating the same functions in their new locations.

\Users\Default (hidden), \Users\All Users, All of these folders retain the same functions as in 2000/XP.

* * *

NOTE Vista and 7 make a special hidden folder called “Default User” that points to the User folder to support older applications.

\Users\ The big change takes place under each of the \Users\ folders. This folder still stores all settings defined for a particular user; however, this folder in Vista/7 is much more detailed than in 2000/XP (Figure 4-43). Luckily, you only need to know a few folders for the exams.

\Users\\Desktop Same as 2000/XP.

Figure 4-43 Contents of a typical \Users\\ folder in Vista

\Users\\Documents This is the Documents folder for that user. Compare the name of this folder to the one in Windows 2000/XP and know which is which.

\Users\\Downloads Microsoft’s preferred download folder for applications to use. Most applications do use