Should there be two instances in winsxs folder?

Norton Security | Norton Internet Security
1

NIS 2012
Vista home premium 32 bit
Vista sp2

Ok I know that svchost.exe is also in the winsxs folder as well as in system32 folder.
However when I did a search on my computer to see where svchost shows up, it indicated 2 found in the winsxs folder.
One path is:
C:\Windows\winsxs\ x86_microsoft-windows-services-svchost_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_b38497a50862ad11

The other one is
C:\Windows\winsxs\ x86_microsoft-windows-services-svchost_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.18000_none_b5bb59a1054dbde5

One shows as modified in 2006 the other in 2008.
Bought my computer new in 2097 so assuming the 2006 one came with the machine. I think there was a service pack update in 2008
I scanned both folders with NIS and both came up clean

So should there be two instances in winsxs folder?
And do these two look like the correct ones?

2

No I have TWO svchost  showing in winsxs folder (and another in system32 folder).  I'm not talking about  the svchost.exe.mui

I'm talking two staight up service host items

 

 

(Oh and my OP should read bought the computer in 2007. They would not have any Vistas in 2097)

 

3

NIS 2012
Vista home premium 32 bit
Vista sp2

Ok I know that svchost.exe is also in the winsxs folder as well as in system32 folder.
However when I did a search on my computer to see where svchost shows up, it indicated 2 found in the winsxs folder.
One path is:
C:\Windows\winsxs\ x86_microsoft-windows-services-svchost_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_b38497a50862ad11

The other one is
C:\Windows\winsxs\ x86_microsoft-windows-services-svchost_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.18000_none_b5bb59a1054dbde5

One shows as modified in 2006 the other in 2008.
Bought my computer new in 2097 so assuming the 2006 one came with the machine. I think there was a service pack update in 2008
I scanned both folders with NIS and both came up clean

So should there be two instances in winsxs folder?
And do these two look like the correct ones?

4

You just have 2 versions of the same Windows component(base + patched).

 

Because, Windows is component based system(since Windows XP) the files you're seeing in various system folders are not actualy a physical files. They're projection(hard links in terms of NTFS) of Windows components from WinSxS folder.

5

Thank you for your reply

 

Forgive my ignorance/confusion-

How do you mean?

Like the  original

C:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-services-svchost_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_b3849 7a50862ad11

 

and then an updated version of svchost?

C:\Windows\winsxs\ x86_microsoft-windows-services-svchost_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.18000_none_b5bb59a1054dbde5

 

6
Calls wrote:

Thank you for your reply

 

Forgive my ignorance/confusion-

How do you mean?

Like the  original

C:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-services-svchost_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_b3849 7a50862ad11

 

and then an updated version of svchost?

C:\Windows\winsxs\ x86_microsoft-windows-services-svchost_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.18000_none_b5bb59a1054dbde5

 

Yes, Because some applications may need the older version of system file in order to execute and run properly. That's why most every component in Windows system is versioned. 

7

and intesec only shows one maybe because his PC is newer and came with the more recent version?

8
Calls wrote:

and intesec only shows one maybe because his PC is newer and came with the more recent version?

If you wanna learn more about side by side component store read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Side-by-side_assembly