1

Is this the location of the GAC?

C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\assembly\GAC_MSIL

If so, then what is C:\Windows\assembly?

Jeff B
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drr
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    How does a question like this one get an upvote? – Carl Norum Apr 06 '11 at 22:16
  • @Carl: I've seen worse (although I wasn't the one who upvoted it)... – user541686 Apr 06 '11 at 22:20
  • See [here](http://blogs.msdn.com/b/gauravseth/archive/2006/03/07/545104.aspx). Search that page for text "GAC in 64-bit platforms". Also look at [this](http://discuss.joelonsoftware.com/default.asp?dotnet.12.383883.5) – Zabba Apr 06 '11 at 22:20
  • Possible duplicate? http://stackoverflow.com/q/19980650/945456 – Jeff B Jul 02 '14 at 20:16

1 Answers1

8

The answer depends on the version of the .NET Framework being used. Multiple versions can be installed side by side (which is probably the case for you), and programs written for an older version use that version if it's installed.

Before 4.0
All versions before 4.0 use %WINDIR%\assembly (in your case, C:\Windows\assembly) for the GAC. This directory uses a special Explorer view (the Assembly Cache Viewer) to view and manage the GAC.

Since 4.0
Versions since 4.0 use %WINDIR%\Microsoft.NET\assembly (in your case, C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\assembly) for the GAC. Since 4.0, the Assembly Cache Viewer is obsolete. Explorer displays the GAC directory just like a regular directory.

Zr40
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