Exe files in System32

[Tatanka_Yotanka]

XP Home.

Is there anywhere a list of the purpose of default .exe files in System 32 :-?

[GX1_Man]

Sounds suspiciously like a homework question? Why do you want to know? Have you used your google button or researched this online? Have you checked at the Microsoft site?

[Tatanka_Yotanka]

Thanks for your response.  Definitely not homework.  

There are 318 .exe files in my system32 folder, some of which are recognisable such as CMD and APPEND and am trying to come to grips with what else could be used.  For example WRITE.EXE opens Wordpad from the Command Prompt but the Target in the Shortcut is C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories\Wordpad.exe.

So what do other do - such as Autochk Blastcln and which program uses them if they're not "stand-alone":-?

Yes, have tried Google and spent a lot of time in the MS-KB but have been unable to tie-down a full list of .exe's in the System32 folder.


Can you offer any help/guidance :-?

[GX1_Man]

Are you having problems, or running extremely low on disk space? Do you fear they are malware, or what? Just curious.

[Tatanka_Yotanka]

Thanks again...

I have absolutely no problems to report and have many-multi-gigabytes of spare diskspace and all my scans show no malware of any kind.  My backup, including registry backup, is up-to-date as is my firewall, anti-virus  and Windows updates.

I just want to know what the purpose of each .exe file is.  There may be some real gems among them.

[ghostdog74]

http://www.ss64.com/nt/
or type the name of the exe into google and see if there is any results

[Tatanka_Yotanka]

http://www.ss64.com/nt/
or type the name of the exe into google and see if there is any results

Thank you - very close to what I am looking for though I think some are internal rather than external commands.  Great help.  I will print off the list and go from there.

Already tried the Google step without much success..

Thanks again..