Vista - Challenge! ! !

**dinesh** · 11-23-2008

Can anyone tell me how to rename "\system32" folder?
The reason i want to rename this folder is to see that after renaming the folder, can the system be infected with viruses?

**Brink** · 11-23-2008

Hello Dinesh,

I suppose that you could see if taking ownership of the folder will let you rename it afterwards. However, doing so will most likely cause all sorts of problems with Vista, maybe even crashing it. I would not recommend doing it though.

**Neverhavemoney** · 11-24-2008

Ya viruses wont look for the names(some will but not all) of folders, they will look moreso for certain files and tags, code, ect

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

Hello Dinesh,

I suppose that you could see if taking ownership of the folder will let you rename it afterwards. However, doing so will most likely cause all sorts of problems with Vista, maybe even crashing it. I would not recommend doing it though.

**Dwarf** · 11-24-2008

Hi Dinesh,

I do not recommend that you attempt to rename this folder. This is an important systems folder and is needed for the correct operation of Vista. Renaming and/or moving this folder will cause Vista to crash and the only way out of such a scenario is to reinstall Vista as the normal trouble-shooting programs will no longer work.

**dinesh** · 11-25-2008

Thank you for the replies and there is no way you can take ownership of this folder. Also, i saw this instance in one of my uncle's computer and he says that he is running it since more than a year without any issues. I have got no idea how he renamed the folder but yes he did it and its working fine.

**roy69** · 11-25-2008

If the system does work after you have renamed the system32 directory then it means it can find the files.
If Vista can find the files, so can a virus.

**Brink** · 11-25-2008

Strange, I was just able to take ownership of my System32 folder. You would have to take owner ship of that folder only though.

However, as Roy stated, if Vista can still find the files inside the renamed System32 folder, so will a Virus. The best thing to do is have a good antivirus and anti-spyware program running to help protect from malware.

11-23-2008	#1 (permalink)
dinesh Windows 7 RTM 64-bit 1,264 posts	Challenge! ! ! Can anyone tell me how to rename "\system32" folder? The reason i want to rename this folder is to see that after renaming the folder, can the system be infected with viruses?
My System Specs

11-23-2008	#2 (permalink)
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 25,974 posts	Re: Challenge! ! ! Hello Dinesh, I suppose that you could see if taking ownership of the folder will let you rename it afterwards. However, doing so will most likely cause all sorts of problems with Vista, maybe even crashing it. I would not recommend doing it though.
My System Specs

11-24-2008	#3 (permalink)
Neverhavemoney Windows Vista™ Home Premium 402 posts	Re: Challenge! ! ! Ya viruses wont look for the names(some will but not all) of folders, they will look moreso for certain files and tags, code, ect Quote: Originally Posted by Brink Hello Dinesh, I suppose that you could see if taking ownership of the folder will let you rename it afterwards. However, doing so will most likely cause all sorts of problems with Vista, maybe even crashing it. I would not recommend doing it though.
My System Specs

11-24-2008	#4 (permalink)
Dwarf Vista Home Premium 32-bit & Vista Ultimate 64-bit both Service Pack 2 W7 Pro RTM 7600 32 & 64 2,172 posts	Re: Challenge! ! ! Hi Dinesh, I do not recommend that you attempt to rename this folder. This is an important systems folder and is needed for the correct operation of Vista. Renaming and/or moving this folder will cause Vista to crash and the only way out of such a scenario is to reinstall Vista as the normal trouble-shooting programs will no longer work.
My System Specs

11-25-2008	#5 (permalink)
dinesh Windows 7 RTM 64-bit 1,264 posts	Re: Challenge! ! ! Thank you for the replies and there is no way you can take ownership of this folder. Also, i saw this instance in one of my uncle's computer and he says that he is running it since more than a year without any issues. I have got no idea how he renamed the folder but yes he did it and its working fine.
My System Specs

11-25-2008	#6 (permalink)
roy69 Vista home premium 64 bit 2,099 posts	Re: Challenge! ! ! If the system does work after you have renamed the system32 directory then it means it can find the files. If Vista can find the files, so can a virus.
My System Specs

11-25-2008	#7 (permalink)
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 25,974 posts	Re: Challenge! ! ! Strange, I was just able to take ownership of my System32 folder. You would have to take owner ship of that folder only though. However, as Roy stated, if Vista can still find the files inside the renamed System32 folder, so will a Virus. The best thing to do is have a good antivirus and anti-spyware program running to help protect from malware.
My System Specs

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