How does Windows Reference Files

I know that Windows doesn't actually reference files by name, but what does it use? An identifier associated with each file?

If so, is there anyway to find out this identifier, either through Windows itself or using a 3rd party utility?

TIA

Basically you don't. You let the O/S do its thing. What are you trying to do ?

oneman said:

Basically you don't. You let the O/S do its thing. What are you trying to do ?

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I'm tracking the synchronisation process from one computer to another via Skydrive and investigating how it can be tracked via the log files generated by Skydrive.

I can find references to the files, the size, the location of the server it is hosted on. But there is an additional identifier for each file, which I presume is the one used by Windows to reference the file. I want to see if I can find this same reference on either of the computers. It's not critical, but as it is an essay for uni, I feel it would help make my case a little bit stronger.

Thanks for replying.

Aha so you want someone to do your homework for you? Only kidding.

I would've thought your question should be how does a SkyDrive client reference files then rather than at the OS' level. I don't know the answer as never used SkyDrive but typically there are many ways of referencing and identifying files and locations from URI to one of many filehash algorithm checksums, registry key values to GUID's, or simply by creation and modified dates of the file itself through the Windows API.

If it's specifically to do with Skydrive then you'd be better off looking on MSDN to see if there's documentation for an SDK or API which should give more information on how it's tracked through its Cloud.

You can derive the GUID programmatically...

Him Her said:

You can derive the GUID programmatically...

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I thought it might have been a case of a utility being able to interrogate the MFT and return the identifier. Unfortunately I don't have time to take this further

Thanks to everyone who replied.

GNU msls will do that - Google to download...

as it is an essay for uni, I feel it would help make my case a little bit stronger. [/img]

wiz569 said:

When you come back try not copying posts as yours :Kickassro

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Bot-shot....