Description of Windows Files Located in the Root Folder

ID: Q151667

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

This article describes some of the Windows files you may find in the root folder of your hard disk.


MORE INFORMATION

Autoexec.bat - Windows configuration file 


   This file contains commands that should be run by Windows before
   the 32-bit portion of the operating system is started. 


   This file is necessary only if you need to load a real-mode driver.

Autoexec.dos - Previous MS-DOS Autoexec.bat file 

   This file contains the original Autoexec.bat file from the previous
   operating system. It is used if you boot the previous operating
   system.

Bootlog.prv - Previous Windows startup log file 

   This file records the progress of the previous Windows startup
   process. When you request a logged boot (or if Windows performs one
   automatically), the previous Bootlog.txt file is renamed to Bootlog.prv
   before the new Bootlog.txt file is created. 


   This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and
   can be deleted.

Bootlog.txt - Windows startup log file 

   This file records the progress of the Windows startup (boot)
   process. It is created if you request a logged boot, and is also
   created automatically by Windows if Windows detected that the
   previous boot was unsuccessful. 


   This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and
   can be deleted.

Command.com - Windows command line processor 

   This program is the Windows command line processor. 


   This file is necessary for the proper operation of Windows and
   should not be deleted.

Command.dos - Previous MS-DOS Command.com file 

   This file contains the original Command.com file from the previous
   operating system. It is used if you request to boot the previous
   operating system.

Config.dos - Previous MS-DOS Config.sys file 

   This file contains the original Config.sys file from the previous
   operating system. It is used if you boot the previous operating
   system.

Config.sys - Windows configuration file 

   This file contains parameters that describe the real-mode (16-bit)
   drivers that should be loaded into memory as part of the Windows
   startup process. 


   This file is necessary only if you need to load a real-mode driver.

Cvt.log - Drive Converter (FAT32) Log File 

   This file is created by the Drive Converter (FAT32)
   when you convert a drive to FAT32 and may be useful
   for troubleshooting failed conversions. 


   To remove this file, delete it from Windows Explorer.

Detlog.old - Previous Windows detection log file 

   This file records the progress of the previous Windows hardware
   detection process. When you request that new hardware be detected, the
   previous Detlog.txt file is renamed to Detlog.old before the new
   Detlog.txt file is created. 


   This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and
   can be deleted.

Detlog.txt - Windows detection log file 

   This file records the progress of the Windows hardware detection
   process. It is created during hardware detection and is consulted by
   the hardware detection recovery process if the previous attempt to
   detect hardware caused problems. 


   This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and
   can be deleted.

Io.dos - Previous MS-DOS Io.sys file 

   This file contains the original Io.sys file from the previous operating
   system. It is used if you boot the previous operating system.

Io.sys - Windows MS-DOS 

   This file contains Windows MS-DOS. 


   This file is necessary for the proper operation of Windows and
   should not be deleted.

Logo.sys - Windows logo 

   This file contains the Windows logo that is displayed as part of the
   startup process. 


   Note that Windows 98 does not use the Logo.sys file. If you are running
   Windows 98, this file may not exist in the root folder.

Msdos.dos - Previous MS-DOS Msdos.sys file 

   This file contains the original Msdos.sys file from the previous
   operating system. It is used if you boot the previous operating
   system.

Msdos.sys - Windows configuration file 

   This file contains parameters necessary for the early phases of the
   Windows startup process. For more information, please see the
   following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q118579
TITLE : Contents of the Windows Msdos.sys File 


   This file is necessary for the proper operation of Windows and
   should not be deleted.

Oemlog.txt - Windows Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) log file 

   This file records the progress of the Windows OEM preinstallation
   process. 


   This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and
   can be deleted.

Scandisk.log - ScanDisk log file 

   This file is created by the ScanDisk program to record the result of
   the most recent disk scan. 


   This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and
   can be deleted.

Setuplog.txt - Windows Setup log file 

   This file is created by Windows Setup to record the progress of the
   installation procedure. It is consulted by Windows Setup as part of
   installation recovery. 


   This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and
   can be deleted.

Suhdlog.dat - Windows Setup hard disk log file 

   This file contains a copy of all Master Boot Records and Partition Boot
   Records on the system both before and after the upgrade to Windows.
   This file is used by Windows Uninstall to restore the hard disk
   master boot sector as part of the uninstall process. 


   To remove this file, click "Old Windows 3.x and MS-DOS system files" in
   the Add/Remove Programs tool and then click Add/Remove.

System.1st - Windows first registry 

   This file contains a copy of the original registry created by Windows setup. 


   Although this file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows
   and can be deleted, it is recommended that the file be retained
   because it can be used to restore the registry should it become
   damaged.

Videorom.bin - a copy of your onboard video card's ROM. 



   This file is used by Windows 98 to support multiple
   monitors. It is created during startup, when the system
   has only one video adapter (if the file does not already
   exist). If you delete this file, you lose support
   for multiple monitors until you remove all but your
   primary video adapter and restart Windows (so that
   this file can be re-created).

W95undo.dat - Windows 95 uninstall data file 

   This file contains a compressed backup of Windows 3.x files that were
   replaced as part of the Windows 95 installation process. It is created
   by Windows 95 Setup and is used as part of the Windows 95 uninstall
   process. 


   To remove this file, click "Old Windows 3.x and MS-DOS system files" in
   the Add/Remove Programs tool and then click Add/Remove.

W95undo.ini - Windows 95 uninstall script file 

   This file contains a listing of files backed up in the W95undo.dat
   file. It is created by Windows 95 Setup and is used as part of the
   Windows 95 uninstall process. 


   To remove this file, click "Old Windows 3.x and MS-DOS system files" in
   the Add/Remove Programs tool and then click Add/Remove. 


Keywords          : kbsetup win95 win98 
Version           : 95 98
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: January 28, 1999