User File Locations

By default, Windows 7 and Windows Vista stores most of the files created by users in the folder C:\Users\User_name\. Windows XP uses the folder C:\Documents and Settings\User_name\.

Each user’s folder contains folders for music, videos, websites, and pictures, among others, as shown in Figure 1. Many programs also store specific user data here. If a single computer has many users, each user has their own folder containing their favorites, desktop items, and cookies. Cookies are files that contain information from web pages that the user has visited.

System Folder

When the Windows OS is installed, all files that are used to run the computer are located in the folder C:\Windows\system32. The content of the Windows System Folder is shown in Figure 2.

Fonts

The folder C:\Windows\Fonts contains the fonts installed on the computer. Fonts come in several formats, including TrueType, OpenType, Composite, and PostScript. Some examples of font typefaces are Arial, Times New Roman, and Courier. You can access the Fonts folder through the Control Panel. You can install fonts using the File > Install New Font menu.

Temporary Files

The Temporary Files folder contains files created by the OS and programs that are needed for a short period of time. For example, temporary files might be created while an application is being installed to make more RAM available for other applications.

Almost every program uses temporary files, which are usually automatically deleted when the application or the OS is finished using them. However, some temporary files must be deleted manually. Because temporary files take up hard drive space that could be used for other files, it is a good idea to delete them as necessary every two or three months.

In Windows Vista and Windows 7, temporary files are usually located in the following folders:

In Windows XP, temporary files are usually located in the following folders:

NOTE: %USERPROFILE% is an environment variable set by the OS with the username that is currently logged on to the computer. Environment variables are used by the operating system, applications, and software installation programs.

To see the environment variables that are configured on Windows 7, use the following path:

Start > Control Panel > System > Advanced System Settings > Advanced tab > Environment Variables

To see the environment variables that are configured on Windows Vista, use the following path:

Start > Control Panel > System > Advance system settings > Advanced tab > Environmental Variables

To see the environment variables that are configured on Windows XP, use the following path:

Start > Control Panel > System > Advanced > Environment Variables

Program Files

The Program Files folder is used by most application installation programs to install software. In 32-bit systems, programs are usually installed in the folder C:\Program Files. In 64-bit systems, 64-bit programs are usually installed in the folder C:\Program Files, while 32-bit programs are usually installed in the folder C:\Program Files (x86).