Default Files and Folders in a Windows Hosting Account
This guide explains the default files and folders in a Windows hosting account using SolidCP or Plesk and their purposes. Understanding these folders helps you manage your web pages, scripts, logs, and database files efficiently.
When you create a new Windows hosting account, you will typically see the following files and directories:
1. httpdocs (Plesk) / wwwroot (SolidCP)
This is the main folder for your website content. To make your website publicly accessible, always upload your web pages, images, CSS/JS files, and other web content into this folder.
2. cgi-bin
This folder is recommended for Perl, Python, or other CGI scripts. Keeping scripts here follows standard Windows hosting practices for web server execution.
3. web.config
The web.config file is an XML-based configuration file for ASP.NET web applications. It controls settings such as authentication, URL rewrites, custom error pages, and other application-level configurations. You will usually find it in the root folder of your website (httpdocs or wwwroot).
4. logs
This folder is maintained by the web server and stores information about your website activity, including error logs, visitor statistics, and FTP activity. Do not delete this folder, as it is essential for troubleshooting and monitoring.
5. data / databases
This directory is used for database files such as Microsoft Access or other application-specific database files. Upload your database files here if required by your application. For SQL Server or MySQL databases, the database itself is managed by the hosting server; however, your application may still store local files in this folder.
