diff --git a/amiga/file.c b/amiga/file.c
index acc1166e5..24c1fd902 100644
--- a/amiga/file.c
+++ b/amiga/file.c
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ static const ULONG ami_file_asl_mime_hook(struct Hook *mh,
 
 void ami_file_open(struct gui_window_2 *gwin)
 {
-	char *temp, *temp2;
+	char *temp;
 	nsurl *url;
 
 	if(AslRequestTags(filereq,
@@ -93,9 +93,8 @@ void ami_file_open(struct gui_window_2 *gwin)
 		{
 			strlcpy(temp, filereq->fr_Drawer, 1024);
 			AddPart(temp, filereq->fr_File, 1024);
-			temp2 = path_to_url(temp);
 
-			if (nsurl_create(temp2, &url) != NSERROR_OK) {
+			if (netsurf_path_to_nsurl(temp, &url) != NSERROR_OK) {
 				warn_user("NoMemory", 0);
 			} else {
 				browser_window_navigate(gwin->bw,
@@ -108,7 +107,6 @@ void ami_file_open(struct gui_window_2 *gwin)
 				nsurl_unref(url);
 			}
 
-			free(temp2);
 			FreeVec(temp);
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/amiga/gui.c b/amiga/gui.c
index 2c6104444..2592352b7 100644
--- a/amiga/gui.c
+++ b/amiga/gui.c
@@ -222,127 +222,6 @@ static void gui_window_place_caret(struct gui_window *g, int x, int y, int heigh
 	nsoptions_default[NSOPTION_##OPTION].value.i = VALUE
 
 
-/**
- * Generate a posix path from one or more component elemnts.
- *
- * If a string is allocated it must be freed by the caller.
- *
- * @param[in,out] str pointer to string pointer if this is NULL enough
- *                    storage will be allocated for the complete path.
- * @param[in,out] size The size of the space available if \a str not
- *                     NULL on input and if not NULL set to the total
- *                     output length on output.
- * @param[in] nemb The number of elements.
- * @param[in] ... The elements of the path as string pointers.
- * @return NSERROR_OK and the complete path is written to str
- *         or error code on faliure.
- */
-static nserror amiga_vmkpath(char **str, size_t *size, size_t nelm, va_list ap)
-{
-	const char *elm[16];
-	size_t elm_len[16];
-	size_t elm_idx;
-	char *fname;
-	size_t fname_len = 0;
-
-	/* check the parameters are all sensible */
-	if ((nelm == 0) || (nelm > 16)) {
-		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
-	}
-	if ((*str != NULL) && (size == NULL)) {
-		/* if the caller is providing the buffer they must say
-		 * how much space is available.
-		 */
-		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
-	}
-
-	/* calculate how much storage we need for the complete path
-	 * with all the elements.
-	 */
-	for (elm_idx = 0; elm_idx < nelm; elm_idx++) {
-		elm[elm_idx] = va_arg(ap, const char *);
-		/* check the argument is not NULL */
-		if (elm[elm_idx] == NULL) {
-			return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
-		}
-		elm_len[elm_idx] = strlen(elm[elm_idx]);
-		fname_len += elm_len[elm_idx];
-	}
-	fname_len += nelm; /* allow for separators and terminator */
-
-	/* ensure there is enough space */
-	fname = *str;
-	if (fname != NULL) {
-		if (fname_len > *size) {
-			return NSERROR_NOSPACE;
-		}
-	} else {
-		fname = malloc(fname_len);
-		if (fname == NULL) {
-			return NSERROR_NOMEM;
-		}
-	}
-
-	/* copy the first element complete */
-	memmove(fname, elm[0], elm_len[0]);
-	fname[elm_len[0]] = 0;
-
-	/* add the remaining elements */
-	for (elm_idx = 1; elm_idx < nelm; elm_idx++) {
-		if (!AddPart(fname, elm[elm_idx], fname_len)) {
-			break;
-		}
-	}
-
-	*str = fname;
-	if (size != NULL) {
-		*size = fname_len;
-	}
-
-	return NSERROR_OK;
-}
-
-/**
- * Get the basename of a file using posix path handling.
- *
- * This gets the last element of a path and returns it.
- *
- * @param[in] path The path to extract the name from.
- * @param[in,out] str Pointer to string pointer if this is NULL enough
- *                    storage will be allocated for the path element.
- * @param[in,out] size The size of the space available if \a
- *                     str not NULL on input and set to the total
- *                     output length on output.
- * @return NSERROR_OK and the complete path is written to str
- *         or error code on faliure.
- */
-static nserror amiga_basename(const char *path, char **str, size_t *size)
-{
-	const char *leafname;
-	char *fname;
-
-	if (path == NULL) {
-		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
-	}
-
-	leafname = FilePart(path);
-	if (leafname == NULL) {
-		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
-	}
-
-	fname = strdup(leafname);
-	if (fname == NULL) {
-		return NSERROR_NOMEM;
-	}
-
-	*str = fname;
-	if (size != NULL) {
-		*size = strlen(fname);
-	}
-	return NSERROR_OK;
-}
-
-
 
 STRPTR ami_locale_langs(void)
 {
@@ -778,11 +657,7 @@ static nsurl *gui_get_resource_url(const char *path)
 		else return NULL;
 	}
 
-	raw = path_to_url(buf);
-	if (raw != NULL) {
-		nsurl_create(raw, &url);
-		free(raw);
-	}
+	netsurf_path_to_nsurl(buf, &url);
 
 	return url;
 }
@@ -1036,7 +911,13 @@ static void gui_init2(int argc, char** argv)
 				DevNameFromLock(wbarg->wa_Lock,fullpath,1024,DN_FULLPATH);
 				AddPart(fullpath,wbarg->wa_Name,1024);
 
-				if(!temp_homepage_url) temp_homepage_url = path_to_url(fullpath);
+				if(!temp_homepage_url) {
+					nsurl temp_url;
+					if (netsurf_path_to_nsurl(fullpath, &temp_url) == NSERROR_OK) {
+						temp_homepage_url = strcpy(nsurl_data(temp_url));
+						nsurl_unref(temp_url);
+					}
+				}
 
 				if(notalreadyrunning)
 				{
@@ -2378,7 +2259,6 @@ void ami_handle_appmsg(void)
 	int x, y;
 	struct WBArg *appwinargs;
 	STRPTR filename;
-	char *urlfilename;
 	int i = 0;
 
 	while(appmsg=(struct AppMessage *)GetMsg(appport))
@@ -2410,9 +2290,8 @@ void ami_handle_appmsg(void)
 							appmsg->am_MouseX, appmsg->am_MouseY) == false)
 						{
 							nsurl *url;
-							urlfilename = path_to_url(filename);
 
-							if (nsurl_create(urlfilename, &url) != NSERROR_OK) {
+							if (netsurf_path_to_nsurl(filename, &url) != NSERROR_OK) {
 								warn_user("NoMemory", 0);
 							}
 							else
@@ -2440,17 +2319,14 @@ void ami_handle_appmsg(void)
 								}
 								nsurl_unref(url);
 							}
-
-							free(urlfilename);
 						}
 						else
 						{
 							if(browser_window_drop_file_at_point(gwin->bw, x, y, filename) == false)
 							{
 								nsurl *url;
-								urlfilename = path_to_url(filename);
 
-								if (nsurl_create(urlfilename, &url) != NSERROR_OK) {
+								if (netsurf_path_to_nsurl(filename, &url) != NSERROR_OK) {
 									warn_user("NoMemory", 0);
 								}
 								else
@@ -2480,7 +2356,6 @@ void ami_handle_appmsg(void)
 									}
 									nsurl_unref(url);
 								}
-								free(urlfilename);
 							}
 						}
 						FreeVec(filename);
@@ -2527,11 +2402,8 @@ void ami_handle_applib(void)
 			{
 				struct ApplicationOpenPrintDocMsg *applibopdmsg =
 					(struct ApplicationOpenPrintDocMsg *)applibmsg;
-				char *tempurl;
 
-				tempurl = path_to_url(applibopdmsg->fileName);
-
-				error = nsurl_create(tempurl, &url);
+				error = netsurf_path_to_nsurl(applibopdmsg->fileName, &url);
 				if (error == NSERROR_OK) {
 					error = browser_window_create(BW_CREATE_HISTORY,
 								      url,
@@ -2543,7 +2415,6 @@ void ami_handle_applib(void)
 				if (error != NSERROR_OK) {
 					warn_user(messages_get_errorcode(error), 0);
 				}
-				free(tempurl);
 			}
 			break;
 
@@ -5206,16 +5077,9 @@ static struct gui_window_table amiga_window_table = {
 	.save_link = gui_window_save_link,
 };
 
-/* amiga file handling operations */
-static struct gui_file_table amiga_file_table = {
-	.mkpath = amiga_vmkpath,
-	.basename = amiga_basename,
-};
 
 static struct gui_fetch_table amiga_fetch_table = {
 	.filetype = fetch_filetype,
-	.path_to_url = path_to_url,
-	.url_to_path = url_to_path,
 
 	.get_resource_url = gui_get_resource_url,
 };
@@ -5253,7 +5117,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 		.clipboard = amiga_clipboard_table,
 		.download = amiga_download_table,
 		.fetch = &amiga_fetch_table,
-		.file = &amiga_file_table,
+		.file = amiga_file_table,
 		.utf8 = amiga_utf8_table,
 		.search = amiga_search_table,
 		.search_web = &amiga_search_web_table,
diff --git a/amiga/icon.c b/amiga/icon.c
index 66a008faf..95fd685cd 100644
--- a/amiga/icon.c
+++ b/amiga/icon.c
@@ -144,14 +144,12 @@ bool amiga_icon_convert(struct content *c)
 	uint8 r, g, b, a;
 	ULONG offset;
 	const char *url;
-	char *filename;
+	char *filename = NULL;
 	char *p;
 	ULONG trans, pals1;
 	struct ColorRegister *pal1;
 
-	url = nsurl_access(content_get_url(c));
-	filename = url_to_path(url);
-
+	netsurf_nsurl_to_path(content_get_url(c), &filename);
 	/* This loader will only work on local files, so fail if not a local path */
 	if(filename == NULL)
 	{
diff --git a/amiga/misc.c b/amiga/misc.c
index 3b4363ff5..d2b243a24 100755
--- a/amiga/misc.c
+++ b/amiga/misc.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "utils/log.h"
 #include "utils/messages.h"
 #include "utils/url.h"
+#include "utils/file.h"
 #include "utils/utils.h"
 
 void warn_user(const char *warning, const char *detail)
@@ -105,54 +106,91 @@ void die(const char *error)
 	exit(1);
 }
 
-char *url_to_path(const char *url)
+/**
+ * Create a path from a nsurl using amiga file handling.
+ *
+ * @parm[in] url The url to encode.
+ * @param[out] path_out A string containing the result path which should
+ *                      be freed by the caller.
+ * @return NSERROR_OK and the path is written to \a path or error code
+ *         on faliure.
+ */
+static nserror amiga_nsurl_to_path(struct nsurl *url, char **path_out)
 {
-	char *unesc, *slash, *colon, *url2;
+	lwc_string *urlpath;
+	char *path;
+	bool match;
+	lwc_string *scheme;
+	nserror res;
+	char *colon;
+	char *slash;
 
-	if (strncmp(url, "file://", SLEN("file://")) != 0)
-		return NULL;
+	if ((url == NULL) || (path_out == NULL)) {
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
 
-	url += SLEN("file://");
+	scheme = nsurl_get_component(url, NSURL_SCHEME);
 
-	if (strncmp(url, "localhost", SLEN("localhost")) == 0)
-		url += SLEN("localhost");
+	if (lwc_string_caseless_isequal(scheme, corestring_lwc_file,
+					&match) != lwc_error_ok)
+	{
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
+	lwc_string_unref(scheme);
+	if (match == false) {
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
 
-	if (strncmp(url, "/", SLEN("/")) == 0)
-		url += SLEN("/");
+	urlpath = nsurl_get_component(url, NSURL_PATH);
+	if (urlpath == NULL) {
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
 
-	if(*url == '\0')
-		return NULL; /* file:/// is not a valid path */
+	res = url_unescape(lwc_string_data(urlpath) + 1, &path);
+	lwc_string_unref(urlpath);
+	if (res != NSERROR_OK) {
+		return res;
+	}
 
-	url2 = malloc(strlen(url) + 2);
-	strcpy(url2, url);
-
-	colon = strchr(url2, ':');
+	colon = strchr(path, ':');
 	if(colon == NULL)
 	{
-		if(slash = strchr(url2, '/'))
+		slash = strchr(path, '/');
+		if(slash)
 		{
 			*slash = ':';
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			int len = strlen(url2);
-			url2[len] = ':';
-			url2[len + 1] = '\0';
+			int len = strlen(path);
+			path[len] = ':';
+			path[len + 1] = '\0';
 		}
 	}
 
-	if(url_unescape(url2,&unesc) == NSERROR_OK)
-		return unesc;
+	*path_out = path;
 
-	return (char *)url2;
+	return NSERROR_OK;
 }
 
-char *path_to_url(const char *path)
+/**
+ * Create a nsurl from a path using amiga file handling.
+ *
+ * Perform the necessary operations on a path to generate a nsurl.
+ *
+ * @param[in] path The path to convert.
+ * @param[out] url_out pointer to recive the nsurl, The returned url
+ *                     must be unreferenced by the caller.
+ * @return NSERROR_OK and the url is placed in \a url or error code on
+ *         faliure.
+ */
+static nserror amiga_path_to_nsurl(const char *path, struct nsurl **url_out)
 {
 	char *colon = NULL;
 	char *r = NULL;
 	char newpath[1024 + strlen(path)];
 	BPTR lock = 0;
+	nserror ret;
 
 	if(lock = Lock(path, MODE_OLDFILE))
 	{
@@ -162,13 +200,19 @@ char *path_to_url(const char *path)
 	else strlcpy(newpath, path, sizeof newpath);
 
 	r = malloc(strlen(newpath) + SLEN("file:///") + 1);
+	if (r == NULL) {
+		return NSERROR_NOMEM;
+	}
 
 	if(colon = strchr(newpath, ':')) *colon = '/';
 
 	strcpy(r, "file:///");
 	strcat(r, newpath);
 
-	return r;
+	ret = nsurl_create(r, url_out);
+	free(r);
+
+	return ret;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -196,3 +240,133 @@ char *translate_escape_chars(const char *s)
 	ret[ii] = '\0';
 	return ret;
 }
+
+/**
+ * Generate a posix path from one or more component elemnts.
+ *
+ * If a string is allocated it must be freed by the caller.
+ *
+ * @param[in,out] str pointer to string pointer if this is NULL enough
+ *                    storage will be allocated for the complete path.
+ * @param[in,out] size The size of the space available if \a str not
+ *                     NULL on input and if not NULL set to the total
+ *                     output length on output.
+ * @param[in] nemb The number of elements.
+ * @param[in] ... The elements of the path as string pointers.
+ * @return NSERROR_OK and the complete path is written to str
+ *         or error code on faliure.
+ */
+static nserror amiga_vmkpath(char **str, size_t *size, size_t nelm, va_list ap)
+{
+	const char *elm[16];
+	size_t elm_len[16];
+	size_t elm_idx;
+	char *fname;
+	size_t fname_len = 0;
+
+	/* check the parameters are all sensible */
+	if ((nelm == 0) || (nelm > 16)) {
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
+	if ((*str != NULL) && (size == NULL)) {
+		/* if the caller is providing the buffer they must say
+		 * how much space is available.
+		 */
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
+
+	/* calculate how much storage we need for the complete path
+	 * with all the elements.
+	 */
+	for (elm_idx = 0; elm_idx < nelm; elm_idx++) {
+		elm[elm_idx] = va_arg(ap, const char *);
+		/* check the argument is not NULL */
+		if (elm[elm_idx] == NULL) {
+			return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+		}
+		elm_len[elm_idx] = strlen(elm[elm_idx]);
+		fname_len += elm_len[elm_idx];
+	}
+	fname_len += nelm; /* allow for separators and terminator */
+
+	/* ensure there is enough space */
+	fname = *str;
+	if (fname != NULL) {
+		if (fname_len > *size) {
+			return NSERROR_NOSPACE;
+		}
+	} else {
+		fname = malloc(fname_len);
+		if (fname == NULL) {
+			return NSERROR_NOMEM;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/* copy the first element complete */
+	memmove(fname, elm[0], elm_len[0]);
+	fname[elm_len[0]] = 0;
+
+	/* add the remaining elements */
+	for (elm_idx = 1; elm_idx < nelm; elm_idx++) {
+		if (!AddPart(fname, elm[elm_idx], fname_len)) {
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+
+	*str = fname;
+	if (size != NULL) {
+		*size = fname_len;
+	}
+
+	return NSERROR_OK;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Get the basename of a file using posix path handling.
+ *
+ * This gets the last element of a path and returns it.
+ *
+ * @param[in] path The path to extract the name from.
+ * @param[in,out] str Pointer to string pointer if this is NULL enough
+ *                    storage will be allocated for the path element.
+ * @param[in,out] size The size of the space available if \a
+ *                     str not NULL on input and set to the total
+ *                     output length on output.
+ * @return NSERROR_OK and the complete path is written to str
+ *         or error code on faliure.
+ */
+static nserror amiga_basename(const char *path, char **str, size_t *size)
+{
+	const char *leafname;
+	char *fname;
+
+	if (path == NULL) {
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
+
+	leafname = FilePart(path);
+	if (leafname == NULL) {
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
+
+	fname = strdup(leafname);
+	if (fname == NULL) {
+		return NSERROR_NOMEM;
+	}
+
+	*str = fname;
+	if (size != NULL) {
+		*size = strlen(fname);
+	}
+	return NSERROR_OK;
+}
+
+/* amiga file handling operations */
+static struct gui_file_table file_table = {
+	.mkpath = amiga_vmkpath,
+	.basename = amiga_basename,
+	.nsurl_to_path = amiga_nsurl_to_path,
+	.path_to_nsurl = amiga_path_to_nsurl,
+};
+
+struct gui_file_table *amiga_file_table = &file_table;
diff --git a/amiga/misc.h b/amiga/misc.h
index 60f249c2c..db559f78a 100644
--- a/amiga/misc.h
+++ b/amiga/misc.h
@@ -19,9 +19,10 @@
 #ifndef AMIGA_MISC_H
 #define AMIGA_MISC_H
 
+extern struct gui_file_table *amiga_file_table;
+
 char *translate_escape_chars(const char *s);
 int32 ami_warn_user_multi(const char *body, const char *opt1, const char *opt2, struct Window *win);
-char *url_to_path(const char *url);
-char *path_to_url(const char *path);
+
 
 #endif
diff --git a/atari/findfile.c b/atari/findfile.c
index 7badc7149..356a9333f 100755
--- a/atari/findfile.c
+++ b/atari/findfile.c
@@ -68,59 +68,6 @@ char * local_file_to_url( const char * filename )
 	#undef BACKSLASH
 }
 
-/* convert an local path to an URL, memory for URL is allocated. */
-char *path_to_url(const char *path_in)
-{
-	#define BACKSLASH	0x5C
-	char * path;
-
-	LOG(("path2url in: %s\n", path_in));
-
-	path = (char*)path_in;
-
-	int urllen = strlen(path) + FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX_LEN + 1;
-	char *url = malloc(urllen);
-
-	snprintf(url, urllen, "%s%s", FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX, path);
-
-	int i=0;
-	while( url[i] != 0 ){
-		if( url[i] == BACKSLASH ){
-			url[i] = '/';
-		}
-		i++;
-	}
-
-	LOG(("path2url out: %s\n", url));
-	return url;
-	#undef BACKSLASH
-}
-
-
-char *url_to_path(const char *url)
-{
-	char *url_path = curl_unescape(url, 0);
-	char *path;
-	char abspath[PATH_MAX+1];
-
-	LOG(( "url2path in: %s (%s)\n", url, url_path ));
-
-	// is the URL relative?
-	if (url_path[7] == '.') {
-		// yes, make it absolute...
-		gemdos_realpath(url_path + (FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX_LEN-1), abspath);
-		path = strdup(abspath);
-	} else {
-		path = strdup(url_path + (FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX_LEN));
-	}
-
-	curl_free(url_path);
-
-	LOG(( "url2path out: %s\n", path ));
-
-	return path;
-}
-
 
 /**
  * Locate a shared resource file by searching known places in order.
diff --git a/atari/findfile.h b/atari/findfile.h
index cced0092c..9a6f7848a 100755
--- a/atari/findfile.h
+++ b/atari/findfile.h
@@ -23,7 +23,5 @@
 extern char *atari_find_resource(char *buf, const char *filename, const char *def);
 char *local_file_to_url(const char *filename);
 
-char *path_to_url(const char *path_in);
-char *url_to_path(const char *url);
 
 #endif /* NETSURF_ATARI_FINDFILE_H */
diff --git a/atari/gui.c b/atari/gui.c
index 317f68013..7cac90c3b 100644
--- a/atari/gui.c
+++ b/atari/gui.c
@@ -890,15 +890,11 @@ static inline void create_cursor(int flags, short mode, void * form,
 static nsurl *gui_get_resource_url(const char *path)
 {
     char buf[PATH_MAX];
-    char *raw;
     nsurl *url = NULL;
 
     atari_find_resource((char*)&buf, path, path);
-    raw = path_to_url((char*)&buf);
-    if (raw != NULL) {
-        nsurl_create(raw, &url);
-        free(raw);
-    }
+
+    netsurf_path_to_nsurl(buf, &url);
 
     return url;
 }
@@ -1042,8 +1038,6 @@ static struct gui_clipboard_table atari_clipboard_table = {
 
 static struct gui_fetch_table atari_fetch_table = {
     .filetype = fetch_filetype,
-    .path_to_url = path_to_url,
-    .url_to_path = url_to_path,
 
     .get_resource_url = gui_get_resource_url,
 };
diff --git a/atari/misc.c b/atari/misc.c
index 35ef18e52..a84ce2bd3 100755
--- a/atari/misc.c
+++ b/atari/misc.c
@@ -210,7 +210,6 @@ static nserror load_icon_callback(hlcache_handle *handle,
 hlcache_handle *load_icon(const char *name, hlcache_handle_callback cb,
 						void * pw )
 {
-	char *url = NULL;
 	const char *icon_url = NULL;
 	hlcache_handle *c;
 	nserror err;
@@ -220,7 +219,7 @@ hlcache_handle *load_icon(const char *name, hlcache_handle_callback cb,
 	/** @todo something like bitmap_from_disc is needed here */
 
 	if (!strncmp(name, "file://", 7)) {
-		icon_url = name;
+		err = nsurl_create(name, &icon_nsurl);
 	} else {
 		char *native_path = NULL;
 
@@ -228,22 +227,15 @@ hlcache_handle *load_icon(const char *name, hlcache_handle_callback cb,
 			return NULL;
 
 		err = netsurf_mkpath(&native_path, NULL, 2, icons_dir, name);
-		if (err != NSERROR_OK) {
-			warn_user(messages_get_errorcode(err), 0);
-			return NULL;
+		if (err == NSERROR_OK) {
+			/* Convert native path to URL */
+			err = netsurf_path_to_nsurl(native_path, &icon_nsurl);
+			free(native_path);
 		}
-
-		/* Convert native path to URL */
-		url = path_to_url(native_path);
-
-		free(native_path);
-		icon_url = url;
 	}
 
-	err = nsurl_create(icon_url, &icon_nsurl);
 	if (err != NSERROR_OK) {
-		if (url != NULL)
-			free(url);
+		warn_user(messages_get_errorcode(err), 0);
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
diff --git a/beos/gui.cpp b/beos/gui.cpp
index 56d5bfe99..d21dbe512 100644
--- a/beos/gui.cpp
+++ b/beos/gui.cpp
@@ -964,25 +964,6 @@ static void nsbeos_create_ssl_verify_window(struct browser_window *bw,
 	CALLED();
 }
 
-static char *path_to_url(const char *path)
-{
-	int urllen = strlen(path) + FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX_LEN + 1;
-	char *url = (char *)malloc(urllen);
-
-	if (url == NULL) {
-		return NULL;
-	}
-
-	if (*path == '/') {
-		path++; /* file: paths are already absolute */
-	} 
-
-	snprintf(url, urllen, "%s%s", FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX, path);
-
-	return url;
-}
-
-
 static void *myrealloc(void *ptr, size_t len, void *pw)
 {
 	if (len == 0) {
@@ -1001,8 +982,6 @@ static struct gui_clipboard_table beos_clipboard_table = {
 
 static struct gui_fetch_table beos_fetch_table = {
         fetch_filetype,
-        path_to_url,
-        url_to_path,
         gui_get_resource_url,
         NULL //fetch_mimetype
 };
diff --git a/cocoa/BrowserViewController.m b/cocoa/BrowserViewController.m
index b4e436063..f1b25d9d0 100644
--- a/cocoa/BrowserViewController.m
+++ b/cocoa/BrowserViewController.m
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 
 #import "utils/corestrings.h"
 #import "utils/filename.h"
+#import "utils/file.h"
 #import "utils/messages.h"
 #import "utils/url.h"
 #import "content/hlcache.h"
@@ -166,7 +167,7 @@
 	struct hlcache_handle *content;
 	size_t size;
 	const char *source;
-	const char *path = NULL;
+	char *path = NULL;
 
 	if (browser == NULL)
 		return;
@@ -178,14 +179,7 @@
 		return;
 
 	/* try to load local files directly. */
-	lwc_string *scheme = nsurl_get_component(hlcache_handle_get_url(content), NSURL_SCHEME);
-	if (scheme == NULL)
-		return;
-
-	bool match;
-	if (lwc_string_isequal(scheme, corestring_lwc_file, &match) == lwc_error_ok && match == true)
-		path = url_to_path(nsurl_access(hlcache_handle_get_url(content)));
-	lwc_string_unref(scheme);
+	netsurf_nsurl_to_path(hlcache_handle_get_url(content), &path);
 
 	if (path == NULL) {
 		/* We cannot release the requested filename until after it
diff --git a/cocoa/fetch.h b/cocoa/fetch.h
index 5d2e9288d..1b0991ef5 100644
--- a/cocoa/fetch.h
+++ b/cocoa/fetch.h
@@ -17,5 +17,3 @@
  */
 
 extern struct gui_fetch_table *cocoa_fetch_table;
-
-char *url_to_path(const char *url);
diff --git a/cocoa/fetch.m b/cocoa/fetch.m
index 8cc2cb966..df424c3e8 100644
--- a/cocoa/fetch.m
+++ b/cocoa/fetch.m
@@ -95,18 +95,6 @@ static const char *fetch_filetype(const char *unix_path)
 	return cocoafiletype;
 }
 
-char *url_to_path(const char *url)
-{
-	NSURL *nsurl = [NSURL URLWithString: [NSString stringWithUTF8String: url]];
-	return strdup([[nsurl path] UTF8String]);
-}
-
-static char *path_to_url(const char *path)
-{
-	return strdup( [[[NSURL fileURLWithPath: [NSString stringWithUTF8String: path]]
-					 absoluteString] UTF8String] );
-}
-
 static nsurl *gui_get_resource_url(const char *path)
 {
 	nsurl *url = NULL;
@@ -118,8 +106,6 @@ static nsurl *gui_get_resource_url(const char *path)
 
 static struct gui_fetch_table fetch_table = {
 	.filetype = fetch_filetype,
-	.path_to_url = path_to_url,
-	.url_to_path = url_to_path,
 
 	.get_resource_url = gui_get_resource_url,
 };
diff --git a/content/dirlist.c b/content/dirlist.c
index 0c0e2aee2..1d7a67e1f 100644
--- a/content/dirlist.c
+++ b/content/dirlist.c
@@ -24,9 +24,12 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
-#include "content/dirlist.h"
+
+#include "utils/nsurl.h"
 #include "utils/messages.h"
 
+#include "content/dirlist.h"
+
 static int dirlist_filesize_calculate(unsigned long *bytesize);
 static int dirlist_filesize_value(unsigned long bytesize);
 static char* dirlist_filesize_unit(unsigned long bytesize);
@@ -262,7 +265,7 @@ bool dirlist_generate_headings(char *buffer, int buffer_length)
  *     dirlist_generate_bottom()
  */
 
-bool dirlist_generate_row(bool even, bool directory, char *url, char *name,
+bool dirlist_generate_row(bool even, bool directory, nsurl *url, char *name,
 		const char *mimetype, long long size, char *date, char *time,
 		char *buffer, int buffer_length)
 {
@@ -288,7 +291,7 @@ bool dirlist_generate_row(bool even, bool directory, char *url, char *name,
 			"\t<span class=\"date\">%s</span>\n"
 			"\t<span class=\"time\">%s</span>\n"
 			"</a>\n",
-			url, even ? "even" : "odd",
+			 nsurl_access(url), even ? "even" : "odd",
 			directory ? "dir" : "file",
 			name, mimetype, size_string, unit, date, time);
 	if (error < 0 || error >= buffer_length)
diff --git a/content/dirlist.h b/content/dirlist.h
index bf90ec6d4..687f50688 100644
--- a/content/dirlist.h
+++ b/content/dirlist.h
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ bool dirlist_generate_title(const char *title, char *buffer, int buffer_length);
 bool dirlist_generate_parent_link(const char *parent, char *buffer,
 		int buffer_length);
 bool dirlist_generate_headings(char *buffer, int buffer_length);
-bool dirlist_generate_row(bool even, bool directory, char *url, char *name,
+bool dirlist_generate_row(bool even, bool directory, nsurl *url, char *name,
 		const char *mimetype, long long size, char *date, char *time,
 		char *buffer, int buffer_length);
 bool dirlist_generate_bottom(char *buffer, int buffer_length);
diff --git a/content/fetchers/about.c b/content/fetchers/about.c
index d6a8c202c..b2aeeb35e 100644
--- a/content/fetchers/about.c
+++ b/content/fetchers/about.c
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@
 #include "testament.h"
 
 #include "utils/config.h"
-#include "content/dirlist.h"
 #include "content/fetch.h"
 #include "content/fetchers/about.h"
 #include "content/urldb.h"
diff --git a/content/fetchers/file.c b/content/fetchers/file.c
index 7e7229649..7834b2702 100644
--- a/content/fetchers/file.c
+++ b/content/fetchers/file.c
@@ -138,13 +138,14 @@ fetch_file_setup(struct fetch *fetchh,
 {
 	struct fetch_file_context *ctx;
 	int i;
+	nserror ret;
 
 	ctx = calloc(1, sizeof(*ctx));
 	if (ctx == NULL)
 		return NULL;
 
-	ctx->path = guit->fetch->url_to_path(nsurl_access(url));
-	if (ctx->path == NULL) {
+	ret = guit->file->nsurl_to_path(url, &ctx->path);
+	if (ret != NSERROR_OK) {
 		free(ctx);
 		return NULL;
 	}
@@ -503,11 +504,11 @@ process_dir_ent(struct fetch_file_context *ctx,
 		 size_t buffer_len)
 {
 	nserror ret;
-	char *path; /* url for list entries */
 	char *urlpath = NULL; /* buffer for leaf entry path */
 	struct stat ent_stat; /* stat result of leaf entry */
 	char datebuf[64]; /* buffer for date text */
 	char timebuf[64]; /* buffer for time text */
+	nsurl *url;
 
 	/* skip hidden files */
 	if (ent->d_name[0] == '.') {
@@ -539,16 +540,17 @@ process_dir_ent(struct fetch_file_context *ctx,
 		}
 	}
 
-	if ((path = guit->fetch->path_to_url(urlpath)) == NULL) {
+	ret = guit->file->path_to_nsurl(urlpath, &url);
+	if (ret != NSERROR_OK) {
 		free(urlpath);
-		return NSERROR_NOMEM;
+		return ret;
 	}
 
 	if (S_ISREG(ent_stat.st_mode)) {
 		/* regular file */
 		dirlist_generate_row(even,
 				     false,
-				     path,
+				     url,
 				     ent->d_name,
 				     guit->fetch->filetype(urlpath),
 				     ent_stat.st_size,
@@ -558,7 +560,7 @@ process_dir_ent(struct fetch_file_context *ctx,
 		/* directory */
 		dirlist_generate_row(even,
 				     true,
-				     path,
+				     url,
 				     ent->d_name,
 				     messages_get("FileDirectory"),
 				     -1,
@@ -568,7 +570,7 @@ process_dir_ent(struct fetch_file_context *ctx,
 		/* something else */
 		dirlist_generate_row(even,
 				     false,
-				     path,
+				     url,
 				     ent->d_name,
 				     "",
 				     -1,
@@ -576,7 +578,7 @@ process_dir_ent(struct fetch_file_context *ctx,
 				     buffer, buffer_len);
 	}
 
-	free(path);
+	nsurl_unref(url);
 	free(urlpath);
 
 	return NSERROR_OK;
diff --git a/content/fetchers/resource.c b/content/fetchers/resource.c
index 4ce49a06b..664c45720 100644
--- a/content/fetchers/resource.c
+++ b/content/fetchers/resource.c
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@
 #include <libwapcaplet/libwapcaplet.h>
 
 #include "utils/config.h"
-#include "content/dirlist.h"
 #include "content/fetch.h"
 #include "content/fetchers/resource.h"
 #include "content/urldb.h"
diff --git a/desktop/gui.h b/desktop/gui.h
index 5710d5328..bc7553c16 100644
--- a/desktop/gui.h
+++ b/desktop/gui.h
@@ -331,23 +331,6 @@ struct gui_fetch_table {
 	 */
 	const char *(*filetype)(const char *unix_path);
 
-	/**
-	 * Convert a pathname to a file: URL.
-	 *
-	 * \param  path  pathname
-	 * \return  URL, allocated on heap, or NULL on failure
-	 */
-	char *(*path_to_url)(const char *path);
-
-	/**
-	 * Convert a file: URL to a pathname.
-	 *
-	 * \param  url  a file: URL
-	 * \return  pathname, allocated on heap, or NULL on failure
-	 */
-	char *(*url_to_path)(const char *url);
-
-
 	/* Optional entries */
 
 	/**
@@ -379,7 +362,6 @@ struct gui_fetch_table {
 };
 
 
-
 /**
  * User interface utf8 characterset conversion routines.
  */
diff --git a/desktop/gui_factory.c b/desktop/gui_factory.c
index 96c28e29d..a60766647 100644
--- a/desktop/gui_factory.c
+++ b/desktop/gui_factory.c
@@ -479,13 +479,6 @@ static nserror verify_fetch_register(struct gui_fetch_table *gft)
 	if (gft->filetype == NULL) {
 		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
 	}
-	if (gft->path_to_url == NULL) {
-		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
-	}
-	if (gft->url_to_path == NULL) {
-		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
-	}
-
 
 	/* fill in the optional entries with defaults */
 	if (gft->get_resource_url == NULL) {
diff --git a/framebuffer/fetch.c b/framebuffer/fetch.c
index 6d97cfda7..b32a95168 100644
--- a/framebuffer/fetch.c
+++ b/framebuffer/fetch.c
@@ -26,66 +26,15 @@
 #include <limits.h>
 
 #include "utils/nsurl.h"
-#include "utils/url.h"
 #include "utils/log.h"
 #include "utils/filepath.h"
+#include "utils/file.h"
 #include "desktop/gui.h"
 
 #include "framebuffer/findfile.h"
 #include "framebuffer/fetch.h"
 
 
-/**
- * Convert a pathname to a file: URL.
- *
- * \param  path  pathname
- * \return  URL, allocated on heap, or NULL on failure
- */
-static char *path_to_url(const char *path)
-{
-	int urllen;
-	char *url;
-
-	if (path == NULL)
-		return NULL;
-
-	urllen = strlen(path) + FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX_LEN + 1;
-	url = malloc(urllen);
-
-	if (*path == '/') {
-		path++; /* file: paths are already absolute */
-	}
-
-	snprintf(url, urllen, "%s%s", FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX, path);
-
-	return url;
-}
-
-/**
- * Convert a file: URL to a pathname.
- *
- * \param  url  a file: URL
- * \return  pathname, allocated on heap, or NULL on failure
- */
-static char *url_to_path(const char *url)
-{
-	char *path;
-	char *respath;
-	nserror res; /* result from url routines */
-
-	res = url_path(url, &path);
-	if (res != NSERROR_OK) {
-		return NULL;
-	}
-
-	res = url_unescape(path, &respath);
-	free(path);
-	if (res != NSERROR_OK) {
-		return NULL;
-	}
-
-	return respath;
-}
 
 /**
  * Translate resource to full url.
@@ -101,17 +50,12 @@ static char *url_to_path(const char *url)
 static nsurl *get_resource_url(const char *path)
 {
 	char buf[PATH_MAX];
-	char *raw;
 	nsurl *url = NULL;
 
 	if (strcmp(path, "favicon.ico") == 0)
 		path = "favicon.png";
 
-	raw = path_to_url(filepath_sfind(respaths, buf, path));
-	if (raw != NULL) {
-		nsurl_create(raw, &url);
-		free(raw);
-	}
+	netsurf_path_to_nsurl(filepath_sfind(respaths, buf, path), &url);
 
 	return url;
 }
@@ -148,8 +92,6 @@ static const char *fetch_filetype(const char *unix_path)
 /* table for fetch operations */
 static struct gui_fetch_table fetch_table = {
 	.filetype = fetch_filetype,
-	.path_to_url = path_to_url,
-	.url_to_path = url_to_path,
 
 	.get_resource_url = get_resource_url,
 };
diff --git a/gtk/dialogs/source.c b/gtk/dialogs/source.c
index c53c67fe4..67cb061be 100644
--- a/gtk/dialogs/source.c
+++ b/gtk/dialogs/source.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "utils/messages.h"
 #include "utils/url.h"
 #include "utils/utils.h"
+#include "utils/file.h"
 #include "desktop/netsurf.h"
 #include "desktop/browser_private.h"
 #include "render/html.h"
@@ -263,7 +264,6 @@ void nsgtk_source_tab_init(GtkWindow *parent, struct browser_window *bw)
 	nserror error;
 	nserror r;
 	gchar *filename;
-	char *fileurl;
 	gint handle;
 
 	source_data = content_get_source_data(bw->current_content,
@@ -301,29 +301,21 @@ void nsgtk_source_tab_init(GtkWindow *parent, struct browser_window *bw)
 	fprintf(f, "%s", ndata);
 	fclose(f);
 	free(ndata);
-	fileurl = path_to_url(filename);
-	g_free(filename);
-	if (fileurl == NULL) {
-		warn_user(messages_get("NoMemory"), 0);
-		return;
-	}
 
 	/* Open tab */
-	error = nsurl_create(fileurl, &url);
-	if (error != NSERROR_OK) {
-		warn_user(messages_get_errorcode(error), 0);
-	} else {
+	error = netsurf_path_to_nsurl(filename, &url);
+	g_free(filename);
+	if (error == NSERROR_OK) {
 		error = browser_window_create(BW_CREATE_TAB,
 					      url,
 					      NULL,
 					      bw,
 					      NULL);
 		nsurl_unref(url);
-		if (error != NSERROR_OK) {
-			warn_user(messages_get_errorcode(error), 0);
-		}
 	}
-	free(fileurl);
+	if (error != NSERROR_OK) {
+		warn_user(messages_get_errorcode(error), 0);
+	}
 }
 
 static void nsgtk_source_file_save(GtkWindow *parent, const char *filename,
diff --git a/gtk/fetch.c b/gtk/fetch.c
index c1857ab48..42ba89839 100644
--- a/gtk/fetch.c
+++ b/gtk/fetch.c
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include "utils/hashtable.h"
-#include "utils/url.h"
 #include "utils/log.h"
 #include "utils/filepath.h"
+#include "utils/file.h"
 #include "desktop/gui.h"
 
 #include "gtk/gui.h"
@@ -226,56 +226,10 @@ const char *fetch_filetype(const char *unix_path)
 	return type;
 }
 
-char *path_to_url(const char *path)
-{
-	int urllen;
-	char *url;
-
-	if (path == NULL) {
-		return NULL;
-	}
-
-	urllen = strlen(path) + FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX_LEN + 1;
-
-	url = malloc(urllen);
-	if (url == NULL) {
-		return NULL;
-	}
-
-	if (*path == '/') {
-		path++; /* file: paths are already absolute */
-	}
-
-	snprintf(url, urllen, "%s%s", FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX, path);
-
-	return url;
-}
-
-
-static char *url_to_path(const char *url)
-{
-	char *path;
-	char *respath;
-	nserror res; /* result from url routines */
-
-	res = url_path(url, &path);
-	if (res != NSERROR_OK) {
-		return NULL;
-	}
-
-	res = url_unescape(path, &respath);
-	free(path);
-	if (res != NSERROR_OK) {
-		return NULL;
-	}
-
-	return respath;
-}
 
 static nsurl *gui_get_resource_url(const char *path)
 {
 	char buf[PATH_MAX];
-	char *raw;
 	nsurl *url = NULL;
 
 	/* default.css -> gtkdefault.css */
@@ -288,19 +242,13 @@ static nsurl *gui_get_resource_url(const char *path)
 		path = "favicon.png";
 	}
 
-	raw = path_to_url(filepath_sfind(respaths, buf, path));
-	if (raw != NULL) {
-		nsurl_create(raw, &url);
-		free(raw);
-	}
+	netsurf_path_to_nsurl(filepath_sfind(respaths, buf, path), &url);
 
 	return url;
 }
 
 static struct gui_fetch_table fetch_table = {
 	.filetype = fetch_filetype,
-	.path_to_url = path_to_url,
-	.url_to_path = url_to_path,
 
 	.get_resource_url = gui_get_resource_url,
 };
diff --git a/gtk/fetch.h b/gtk/fetch.h
index 400a06a35..a095adbf9 100644
--- a/gtk/fetch.h
+++ b/gtk/fetch.h
@@ -25,6 +25,4 @@ void gtk_fetch_filetype_init(const char *mimefile);
 void gtk_fetch_filetype_fin(void);
 const char *fetch_filetype(const char *unix_path);
 
-char *path_to_url(const char *path);
-
 #endif
diff --git a/monkey/fetch.c b/monkey/fetch.c
index 01258bb06..88cb27dcf 100644
--- a/monkey/fetch.c
+++ b/monkey/fetch.c
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 #include <limits.h>
 
 #include "desktop/gui.h"
-#include "utils/url.h"
+#include "utils/file.h"
 #include "utils/nsurl.h"
 #include "utils/filepath.h"
 
@@ -33,70 +33,18 @@
 extern char **respaths;
 
 
-static char *path_to_url(const char *path)
-{
-  int urllen;
-  char *url;
-
-  if (path == NULL) {
-    return NULL;
-  }
-
-  urllen = strlen(path) + FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX_LEN + 1;
-
-  url = malloc(urllen);
-  if (url == NULL) {
-    return NULL;
-  }
-
-  if (*path == '/') {
-    path++; /* file: paths are already absolute */
-  }
-
-  snprintf(url, urllen, "%s%s", FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX, path);
-
-  return url;
-}
-
-static char *url_to_path(const char *url)
-{
-  char *path;
-  char *respath;
-  nserror res; /* result from url routines */
-
-  res = url_path(url, &path);
-  if (res != NSERROR_OK) {
-    return NULL;
-  }
-
-  res = url_unescape(path, &respath);
-  free(path);
-  if (res != NSERROR_OK) {
-    return NULL;
-  }
-
-  return respath;
-}
-
 static nsurl *gui_get_resource_url(const char *path)
 {
   char buf[PATH_MAX];
-  char *raw;
   nsurl *url = NULL;
 
-  raw = path_to_url(filepath_sfind(respaths, buf, path));
-  if (raw != NULL) {
-    nsurl_create(raw, &url);
-    free(raw);
-  }
+  netsurf_path_to_nsurl(filepath_sfind(respaths, buf, path), &url);
 
   return url;
 }
 
 static struct gui_fetch_table fetch_table = {
   .filetype = monkey_fetch_filetype,
-  .path_to_url = path_to_url,
-  .url_to_path = url_to_path,
 
   .get_resource_url = gui_get_resource_url,
 };
diff --git a/riscos/gui.c b/riscos/gui.c
index d9fcdbd02..51472a4bf 100644
--- a/riscos/gui.c
+++ b/riscos/gui.c
@@ -729,7 +729,17 @@ void ro_gui_check_resolvers(void)
  * \return  URL, allocated on heap, or 0 on failure
  */
 
-static char *path_to_url(const char *path)
+/**
+ * Create a nsurl from a RISC OS pathname.
+ *
+ * Perform the necessary operations on a path to generate a nsurl.
+ *
+ * @param[in] path The RISC OS pathname to convert.
+ * @param[out] url pointer to recive the nsurl, The returned url must be
+ *                 unreferenced by the caller.
+ * @return NSERROR_OK and the url is placed in \a url or error code on faliure.
+ */
+static nserror ro_path_to_nsurl(const char *path, struct nsurl **url_out)
 {
 	int spare;
 	char *canonical_path; /* canonicalised RISC OS path */
@@ -746,15 +756,13 @@ static char *path_to_url(const char *path)
 		LOG(("xosfscontrol_canonicalise_path failed: 0x%x: %s",
 				error->errnum, error->errmess));
 		warn_user("PathToURL", error->errmess);
-		return NULL;
+		return NSERROR_NOT_FOUND;
 	}
 
 	canonical_path = malloc(1 - spare);
 	if (canonical_path == NULL) {
-		LOG(("malloc failed"));
-		warn_user("NoMemory", 0);
 		free(canonical_path);
-		return NULL;
+		return NSERROR_NOMEM;
 	}
 
 	error = xosfscontrol_canonicalise_path(path, canonical_path, 0, 0, 1 - spare, 0);
@@ -763,7 +771,7 @@ static char *path_to_url(const char *path)
 				error->errnum, error->errmess));
 		warn_user("PathToURL", error->errmess);
 		free(canonical_path);
-		return NULL;
+		return NSERROR_NOT_FOUND;
 	}
 
 	/* create a unix path from teh cananocal risc os one */
@@ -772,7 +780,7 @@ static char *path_to_url(const char *path)
 	if (unix_path == NULL) {
 		LOG(("__unixify failed: %s", canonical_path));
 		free(canonical_path);
-		return NULL;
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
 	}
 	free(canonical_path);
 
@@ -782,7 +790,7 @@ static char *path_to_url(const char *path)
 	if (url == NULL) {
 		LOG(("Unable to allocate url"));
 		free(unix_path);
-		return NULL;
+		return NSERROR_NOMEM;
 	}
 
 	if (*unix_path == '/') {
@@ -794,72 +802,93 @@ static char *path_to_url(const char *path)
 
 	/* We don't want '/' to be escaped.  */
 	url_err = url_escape(url, FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX_LEN, false, "/", &escurl);
-	free(url); url = NULL;
+	free(url);
 	if (url_err != NSERROR_OK) {
-		LOG(("url_escape failed: %s", url));
-		return NULL;
+		return url_err;
 	}
 
-	return escurl;
+	ret = nsurl_create(escurl, url_out);
+	free(escurl);
+
+	return ret;
 }
 
-
 /**
- * Convert a file: URL to a RISC OS pathname.
+ * Create a path from a nsurl using posix file handling.
  *
- * \param  url  a file: URL
- * \return  RISC OS pathname, allocated on heap, or 0 on failure
+ * @parm[in] url The url to encode.
+ * @param[out] path_out A string containing the result path which should
+ *                      be freed by the caller.
+ * @return NSERROR_OK and the path is written to \a path or error code
+ *         on faliure.
  */
-
-char *url_to_path(const char *url)
+static nserror ro_nsurl_to_path(struct nsurl *url, char **path_out)
 {
+	lwc_string *urlpath;
+	char *unpath;
 	char *path;
-	char *filename;
-	char *respath;
-	nserror res; /* result from url routines */
+	bool match;
+	lwc_string *scheme;
+	nserror res;
 	char *r;
 
-	res = url_path(url, &path);
-	if (res != NSERROR_OK) {
-		warn_user("NoMemory", 0);
-		return NULL;
+	if ((url == NULL) || (path_out == NULL)) {
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
 	}
 
-	res = url_unescape(path, &respath);
-	free(path);
+	scheme = nsurl_get_component(url, NSURL_SCHEME);
+
+	if (lwc_string_caseless_isequal(scheme, corestring_lwc_file,
+					&match) != lwc_error_ok)
+	{
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
+	lwc_string_unref(scheme);
+	if (match == false) {
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
+
+	urlpath = nsurl_get_component(url, NSURL_PATH);
+	if (urlpath == NULL) {
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
+
+	res = url_unescape(lwc_string_data(urlpath), &unpath);
+	lwc_string_unref(urlpath);
 	if (res != NSERROR_OK) {
-		return NULL;
+		return res;
 	}
 
 	/* RISC OS path should not be more than 100 characters longer */
-	filename = malloc(strlen(respath) + 100);
-	if (!filename) {
-		free(respath);
-		warn_user("NoMemory", 0);
-		return NULL;
+	path = malloc(strlen(unpath) + 100);
+	if (path == NULL) {
+		free(unpath);
+		return NSERROR_NOMEM;
 	}
 
-	r = __riscosify(respath, 0, __RISCOSIFY_NO_SUFFIX,
-			filename, strlen(respath) + 100, 0);
-
-	free(respath);
-	if (r == 0) {
-		free(filename);
-		LOG(("__riscosify failed"));
-		return NULL;
+	r = __riscosify(unpath, 0, __RISCOSIFY_NO_SUFFIX,
+			path, strlen(unpath) + 100, 0);
+	free(unpath);
+	if (r == NULL) {
+		free(path);
+		return NSERROR_NOMEM;
 	}
 
-	return filename;
+	*path_out = path;
+
+	return NSERROR_OK;
 }
 
+
 /**
  * Last-minute gui init, after all other modules have initialised.
  */
 
 static void gui_init2(int argc, char** argv)
 {
-	char *url = 0;
-	bool open_window = nsoption_bool(open_browser_at_startup);
+	nsurl *url;
+	nserror ret;
+	bool open_window;
 
 	/* Complete initialisation of the treeview modules. */
 
@@ -875,13 +904,16 @@ static void gui_init2(int argc, char** argv)
 	/* cookies window */
 	ro_gui_cookies_postinitialise();
 
+	open_window = nsoption_bool(open_browser_at_startup);
 
 	/* parse command-line arguments */
 	if (argc == 2) {
 		LOG(("parameters: '%s'", argv[1]));
 		/* this is needed for launching URI files */
-		if (strcasecmp(argv[1], "-nowin") == 0)
-			open_window = false;
+		if (strcasecmp(argv[1], "-nowin") == 0) {
+			return;
+		}
+		ret = nsurl_create(NETSURF_HOMEPAGE, &url);
 	}
 	else if (argc == 3) {
 		LOG(("parameters: '%s' '%s'", argv[1], argv[2]));
@@ -889,27 +921,21 @@ static void gui_init2(int argc, char** argv)
 
 		/* HTML files */
 		if (strcasecmp(argv[1], "-html") == 0) {
-			url = path_to_url(argv[2]);
-			if (!url) {
-				LOG(("malloc failed"));
-				die("Insufficient memory for URL");
-			}
+			ret = netsurf_path_to_nsurl(argv[2], &url);
 		}
 		/* URL files */
 		else if (strcasecmp(argv[1], "-urlf") == 0) {
-			url = ro_gui_url_file_parse(argv[2]);
+			char *urlf = ro_gui_url_file_parse(argv[2]);
 			if (!url) {
 				LOG(("malloc failed"));
 				die("Insufficient memory for URL");
 			}
+			ret = nsurl_create(urlf, &url);
+			free(urlf);
 		}
 		/* ANT URL Load */
 		else if (strcasecmp(argv[1], "-url") == 0) {
-			url = strdup(argv[2]);
-			if (!url) {
-				LOG(("malloc failed"));
-				die("Insufficient memory for URL");
-			}
+			ret = nsurl_create(argv[2], &url);
 		}
 		/* Unknown => exit here. */
 		else {
@@ -919,42 +945,32 @@ static void gui_init2(int argc, char** argv)
 		}
 	}
 	/* get user's homepage (if configured) */
-	else if (nsoption_charp(homepage_url) && nsoption_charp(homepage_url)[0]) {
-		url = calloc(strlen(nsoption_charp(homepage_url)) + 5, sizeof(char));
-		if (!url) {
-			LOG(("malloc failed"));
-			die("Insufficient memory for URL");
-		}
-		sprintf(url, "%s", nsoption_charp(homepage_url));
+	else if (nsoption_charp(homepage_url) &&
+		 nsoption_charp(homepage_url)[0]) {
+		ret = nsurl_create(nsoption_charp(homepage_url), &url);
 	}
 	/* default homepage */
 	else {
-		url = strdup(NETSURF_HOMEPAGE);
-		if (!url) {
-			LOG(("malloc failed"));
-			die("Insufficient memory for URL");
-		}
+		ret = nsurl_create(NETSURF_HOMEPAGE, &url);
+	}
+
+	/* check for url creation error */
+	if (ret != NSERROR_OK) {
+		warn_user(messages_get_errorcode(ret), 0);
+		return;
 	}
 
 	if (open_window) {
-		nsurl *urlns;
-		nserror errorns;
-
-		errorns = nsurl_create(url, &urlns);
-		if (errorns == NSERROR_OK) {
-			errorns = browser_window_create(BW_CREATE_HISTORY,
-							urlns,
-							NULL,
-							NULL,
-							NULL);
-			nsurl_unref(urlns);
-		}
-		if (errorns != NSERROR_OK) {
-			warn_user(messages_get_errorcode(errorns), 0);
+		ret = browser_window_create(BW_CREATE_HISTORY,
+					    url,
+					    NULL,
+					    NULL,
+					    NULL);
+		if (ret != NSERROR_OK) {
+			warn_user(messages_get_errorcode(ret), 0);
 		}
 	}
-
-	free(url);
+	nsurl_unref(url);	
 }
 
 /** 
@@ -1471,12 +1487,20 @@ void ro_msg_dataload(wimp_message *message)
 		case FILETYPE_ACORN_URI:
 			urltxt = ro_gui_uri_file_parse(message->data.data_xfer.file_name,
 					&title);
+			error = nsurl_create(urltxt, &url);
+			free(urltxt);
 			break;
+
 		case FILETYPE_ANT_URL:
 			urltxt = ro_gui_url_file_parse(message->data.data_xfer.file_name);
+			error = nsurl_create(urltxt, &url);
+			free(urltxt);
 			break;
+
 		case FILETYPE_IEURL:
 			urltxt = ro_gui_ieurl_file_parse(message->data.data_xfer.file_name);
+			error = nsurl_create(urltxt, &url);
+			free(urltxt);
 			break;
 
 		case FILETYPE_HTML:
@@ -1494,50 +1518,40 @@ void ro_msg_dataload(wimp_message *message)
 		case FILETYPE_ARTWORKS:
 		case FILETYPE_SVG:
 			/* display the actual file */
-			urltxt = path_to_url(message->data.data_xfer.file_name);
+			error = netsurf_path_to_nsurl(message->data.data_xfer.file_name, &url);
 			break;
 
 		default:
 			return;
 	}
 
-	if (!urltxt)
-		/* error has already been reported by one of the
-		 * functions called above */
+	/* report error to user */
+	if (error != NSERROR_OK) {
+		warn_user(messages_get_errorcode(error), 0);
 		return;
-
-
-	error = nsurl_create(urltxt, &url);
-	if (error == NSERROR_OK) {
-		if (g) {
-			error = browser_window_navigate(g->bw,
-					url,
-					NULL,
-					BW_NAVIGATE_HISTORY,
-					NULL,
-					NULL,
-					NULL);
-
-#ifdef DROPURLHOTLIST /** @todo This was commented out should it be removed? */
-		} else if (ro_gui_hotlist_check_window(
-				message->data.data_xfer.w)) {
-			/* Drop URL into hotlist */
-			ro_gui_hotlist_url_drop(message, urltxt);
-#endif
-		} else {
-			error = browser_window_create(BW_CREATE_HISTORY,
-					url,
-					NULL,
-					NULL,
-					NULL);
-		}
-		nsurl_unref(url);
 	}
+
+
+	if (g) {
+		error = browser_window_navigate(g->bw,
+						url,
+						NULL,
+						BW_NAVIGATE_HISTORY,
+						NULL,
+						NULL,
+						NULL);
+	} else {
+		error = browser_window_create(BW_CREATE_HISTORY,
+					      url,
+					      NULL,
+					      NULL,
+					      NULL);
+	}
+	nsurl_unref(url);	
 	if (error != NSERROR_OK) {
 		warn_user(messages_get_errorcode(error), 0);
 	}
 
-	free(urltxt);
 
 	/* send DataLoadAck */
 	message->action = message_DATA_LOAD_ACK;
@@ -1859,29 +1873,45 @@ void ro_msg_dataopen(wimp_message *message)
 	os_error *oserror;
 	nsurl *urlns;
 	nserror error;
+	size_t len;
 
-	if (file_type == 0xb28)			/* ANT URL file */
+	switch (file_type) {
+	case 0xb28:			/* ANT URL file */
 		url = ro_gui_url_file_parse(message->data.data_xfer.file_name);
-	else if (file_type == 0xfaf)		/* HTML file */
-		url = path_to_url(message->data.data_xfer.file_name);
-	else if (file_type == 0x1ba)		/* IEURL file */
+		error = nsurl_create(url, &urlns);
+		free(url);
+		break;
+
+	case 0xfaf:		/* HTML file */
+		error = netsurf_path_to_nsurl(message->data.data_xfer.file_name,
+					      &urlns);
+		break;
+
+	case 0x1ba:		/* IEURL file */
 		url = ro_gui_ieurl_file_parse(message->
 				data.data_xfer.file_name);
-	else if (file_type == 0x2000) {		/* application */
-		size_t len = strlen(message->data.data_xfer.file_name);
+		error = nsurl_create(url, &urlns);
+		free(url);
+		break;
+
+	case 0x2000: 		/* application */
+		len = strlen(message->data.data_xfer.file_name);
 		if (len < 9 || strcmp(".!NetSurf",
 				message->data.data_xfer.file_name + len - 9))
 			return;
+
 		if (nsoption_charp(homepage_url) &&
-					nsoption_charp(homepage_url)[0]) {
-			url = strdup(nsoption_charp(homepage_url));
+		    nsoption_charp(homepage_url)[0]) {
+			error = nsurl_create(nsoption_charp(homepage_url),
+					     &urlns);
 		} else {
-			url = strdup(NETSURF_HOMEPAGE);
+			error = nsurl_create(NETSURF_HOMEPAGE, &urlns);
 		}
-		if (!url)
-			warn_user("NoMemory", 0);
-	} else
+		break;
+
+	default:
 		return;
+	}
 
 	/* send DataLoadAck */
 	message->action = message_DATA_LOAD_ACK;
@@ -1894,22 +1924,18 @@ void ro_msg_dataopen(wimp_message *message)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if (!url)
-		/* error has already been reported by one of the
-		 * functions called above */
+	if (error != NSERROR_OK) {
+		warn_user(messages_get_errorcode(error), 0);
 		return;
-
-	error = nsurl_create(url, &urlns);
-	free(url);
-	if (error == NSERROR_OK) {
-	/* create a new window with the file */
-		error = browser_window_create(BW_CREATE_HISTORY,
-					      urlns,
-					      NULL,
-					      NULL,
-					      NULL);
-		nsurl_unref(urlns);
 	}
+
+	/* create a new window with the file */
+	error = browser_window_create(BW_CREATE_HISTORY,
+				      urlns,
+				      NULL,
+				      NULL,
+				      NULL);
+	nsurl_unref(urlns);
 	if (error != NSERROR_OK) {
 		warn_user(messages_get_errorcode(error), 0);
 	}
@@ -2071,8 +2097,7 @@ void ro_gui_view_source(hlcache_handle *c)
 	}
 
 	/* try to load local files directly. */
-	temp_name = url_to_path(nsurl_access(hlcache_handle_get_url(c)));
-	if (temp_name) {
+	if (netsurf_nsurl_to_path(hlcache_handle_get_url(c), &temp_name) == NSERROR_OK) {
 		error = xosfile_read_no_path(temp_name, &objtype, 0, 0, 0, 0);
 		if ((!error) && (objtype == osfile_IS_FILE)) {
 			snprintf(message.file_name, 212, "%s", temp_name);
@@ -2450,12 +2475,12 @@ static nserror riscos_basename(const char *path, char **str, size_t *size)
 static struct gui_file_table riscos_file_table = {
 	.mkpath = riscos_mkpath,
 	.basename = riscos_basename,
+	.nsurl_to_path = ro_nsurl_to_path,
+	.path_to_nsurl = ro_path_to_nsurl,
 };
 
 static struct gui_fetch_table riscos_fetch_table = {
 	.filetype = fetch_filetype,
-	.path_to_url = path_to_url,
-	.url_to_path = url_to_path,
 
 	.get_resource_url = gui_get_resource_url,
 	.mimetype = fetch_mimetype,
diff --git a/riscos/gui.h b/riscos/gui.h
index 548d030a8..0ee426b4c 100644
--- a/riscos/gui.h
+++ b/riscos/gui.h
@@ -123,7 +123,6 @@ void ro_gui_dump_browser_window(struct browser_window *bw);
 void ro_gui_drag_box_start(wimp_pointer *pointer);
 bool ro_gui_prequit(void);
 const char *ro_gui_default_language(void);
-char *url_to_path(const char *url);
 
 /* in download.c */
 void ro_gui_download_init(void);
diff --git a/riscos/window.c b/riscos/window.c
index 771f3f5bb..0c95e5b21 100644
--- a/riscos/window.c
+++ b/riscos/window.c
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 #include "utils/log.h"
 #include "utils/talloc.h"
 #include "utils/url.h"
+#include "utils/file.h"
 #include "utils/utf8.h"
 #include "utils/utils.h"
 #include "utils/messages.h"
@@ -1673,7 +1674,7 @@ void ro_gui_window_close(wimp_w w)
 	wimp_pointer pointer;
 	os_error *error;
 	char *temp_name, *r;
-	char *filename;
+	char *filename = NULL;
 	hlcache_handle *h = NULL;
 	bool destroy;
 
@@ -1688,10 +1689,12 @@ void ro_gui_window_close(wimp_w w)
 		h = g->bw->current_content;
 	if (pointer.buttons & wimp_CLICK_ADJUST) {
 		destroy = !ro_gui_shift_pressed();
-		filename = (h && hlcache_handle_get_url(h)) ?
-				url_to_path(nsurl_access(hlcache_handle_get_url(h))) :
-				NULL;
-		if (filename) {
+
+		if (h && hlcache_handle_get_url(h)) {
+			netsurf_nsurl_to_path(hlcache_handle_get_url(h), 
+					      &filename);
+		}
+		if (filename != NULL) {
 			temp_name = malloc(strlen(filename) + 32);
 			if (temp_name) {
 				sprintf(temp_name, "Filer_OpenDir %s",
diff --git a/utils/file.c b/utils/file.c
index cb85d0e90..a2f1e94d0 100644
--- a/utils/file.c
+++ b/utils/file.c
@@ -22,10 +22,14 @@
 
 #include <stdarg.h>
 #include <string.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
 
 #include "desktop/gui_factory.h"
-#include "utils/utils.h"
 
+#include "utils/utils.h"
+#include "utils/corestrings.h"
+#include "utils/url.h"
+#include "utils/nsurl.h"
 #include "utils/file.h"
 
 /**
@@ -90,6 +94,118 @@ static nserror posix_basename(const char *path, char **str, size_t *size)
 	return NSERROR_OK;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Create a path from a nsurl using posix file handling.
+ *
+ * @parm[in] url The url to encode.
+ * @param[out] path_out A string containing the result path which should
+ *                      be freed by the caller.
+ * @return NSERROR_OK and the path is written to \a path or error code
+ *         on faliure.
+ */
+static nserror posix_nsurl_to_path(struct nsurl *url, char **path_out)
+{
+	lwc_string *urlpath;
+	char *path;
+	bool match;
+	lwc_string *scheme;
+	nserror res;
+
+	if ((url == NULL) || (path_out == NULL)) {
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
+
+	scheme = nsurl_get_component(url, NSURL_SCHEME);
+
+	if (lwc_string_caseless_isequal(scheme, corestring_lwc_file,
+					&match) != lwc_error_ok)
+	{
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
+	lwc_string_unref(scheme);
+	if (match == false) {
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
+
+	urlpath = nsurl_get_component(url, NSURL_PATH);
+	if (urlpath == NULL) {
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
+
+	res = url_unescape(lwc_string_data(urlpath), &path);
+	lwc_string_unref(urlpath);
+	if (res != NSERROR_OK) {
+		return res;
+	}
+
+	*path_out = path;
+
+	return NSERROR_OK;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Create a nsurl from a path using posix file handling.
+ *
+ * Perform the necessary operations on a path to generate a nsurl.
+ *
+ * @param[in] path The path to convert.
+ * @param[out] url_out pointer to recive the nsurl, The returned url
+ *                     should be unreferenced by the caller.
+ * @return NSERROR_OK and the url is placed in \a url or error code on
+ *         faliure.
+ */
+static nserror posix_path_to_nsurl(const char *path, struct nsurl **url_out)
+{
+	nserror ret;
+	int urllen;
+	char *urlstr;
+	char *escpath; /* escaped version of the path */
+	char *escpaths;
+
+	if ((path == NULL) || (url_out == NULL) || (*path == 0)) {
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
+
+	/* escape the path so it can be placed in a url */
+	ret = url_escape(path, 0, false, "/", &escpath);
+	if (ret != NSERROR_OK) {
+		return ret;
+	}
+	/* remove unecessary / as file: paths are already absolute */
+	escpaths = escpath;
+	while (*escpaths == '/') {
+		escpaths++;
+	}
+
+	/* build url as a string for nsurl constructor */
+	urllen = strlen(escpaths) + FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX_LEN + 1;
+	urlstr = malloc(urllen);
+	if (urlstr == NULL) {
+		free(escpath);
+		return NSERROR_NOMEM;
+	}
+
+	snprintf(urlstr, urllen, "%s%s", FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX, escpaths);
+	free(escpath);
+
+	ret = nsurl_create(urlstr, url_out);
+	free(urlstr);
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
+/**
+ * default to using the posix file handling
+ */
+static struct gui_file_table file_table = {
+	.mkpath = posix_vmkpath,
+	.basename = posix_basename,
+	.nsurl_to_path = posix_nsurl_to_path,
+	.path_to_nsurl = posix_path_to_nsurl,
+};
+
+struct gui_file_table *default_file_table = &file_table;
+
 /* exported interface documented in utils/file.h */
 nserror netsurf_mkpath(char **str, size_t *size, size_t nelm, ...)
 {
@@ -103,10 +219,14 @@ nserror netsurf_mkpath(char **str, size_t *size, size_t nelm, ...)
 	return ret;
 }
 
-/* default to using the posix file handling */
-static struct gui_file_table file_table = {
-	.mkpath = posix_vmkpath,
-	.basename = posix_basename,
-};
+/* exported interface documented in utils/file.h */
+nserror netsurf_nsurl_to_path(struct nsurl *url, char **path_out)
+{
+	return guit->file->nsurl_to_path(url, path_out);
+}
 
-struct gui_file_table *default_file_table = &file_table;
+/* exported interface documented in utils/file.h */
+nserror netsurf_path_to_nsurl(const char *path, struct nsurl **url)
+{
+	return guit->file->path_to_nsurl(path, url);
+}
diff --git a/utils/file.h b/utils/file.h
index f183337c5..2e47e1fa1 100644
--- a/utils/file.h
+++ b/utils/file.h
@@ -16,8 +16,20 @@
  * along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
 
-/** \file
- * Default operations table for files.
+/**
+ * \file utils/file.h
+ * \brief Default operations table for files.
+ *
+ * These are file operations that depend upon the filesystem the
+ * browser is operating on. These allow the core browser functionality
+ * to be filesystem agnostic.
+ *
+ * The provided defaults operate on POSIX path names with / as a
+ * directory separator in a single hieracy from a root directory.
+ *
+ * Other path conventions require the default operations to be
+ * overridden. For example windows frontend runs on a filesystem with
+ * drive letter and a \\ as a separator.
  */
 
 #ifndef NETSURF_UTILS_FILE_H
@@ -25,11 +37,15 @@
 
 #include <stdarg.h>
 
+struct nsurl;
+
 /**
- * function table for file and filename operations.
+ * /brief function table for file and filename operations.
  *
- * function table implementing GUI interface to file and filename
- * functionality appropriate for the OS.
+ * function table implementing an interface to file and filename
+ * functionality appropriate for the OS filesystem. All paths are in
+ * terms of the OS filesystem convention and must not require additional
+ * system specific changes.
  */
 struct gui_file_table {
 	/* Mandantory entries */
@@ -45,7 +61,7 @@ struct gui_file_table {
 	 *                     NULL on input and if not NULL set to the total
 	 *                     output length on output.
 	 * @param[in] nemb The number of elements.
-	 * @param[in] ... The elements of the path as string pointers.
+	 * @param[in] ap The elements of the path as string pointers.
 	 * @return NSERROR_OK and the complete path is written to str
 	 *         or error code on faliure.
 	 */
@@ -62,10 +78,34 @@ struct gui_file_table {
 	 * @param[in,out] size The size of the space available if \a
 	 *                     str not NULL on input and set to the total
 	 *                     output length on output.
-	 * @return NSERROR_OK and the complete path is written to str
+	 * @return NSERROR_OK and the complete path is written to \a str
 	 *         or error code on faliure.
 	 */
 	nserror (*basename)(const char *path, char **str, size_t *size);
+
+	/**
+	 * Create a path from a nsurl.
+	 *
+	 * @parm[in] url The url to encode.
+	 * @param[out] path A string containing the result path which
+	 *                  must be freed by the caller.
+	 * @return NSERROR_OK and the path is written to \a path
+	 *         or error code on faliure.
+	 */
+	nserror (*nsurl_to_path)(struct nsurl *url, char **path);
+
+	/**
+	 * Create a nsurl from a path.
+	 *
+	 * Perform the necessary operations on a path to generate a nsurl.
+	 *
+	 * @param[in] path The path to convert.
+	 * @param[out] url pointer to recive the nsurl, The returned
+	 *                 url should be unreferenced by the caller.
+	 * @return NSERROR_OK and the url is placed in \a url or error
+	 *         code on faliure.
+	 */
+	nserror (*path_to_nsurl)(const char *path, struct nsurl **url);
 };
 
 /** Default (posix) file operation table. */
@@ -92,4 +132,28 @@ struct gui_file_table *default_file_table;
  */
 nserror netsurf_mkpath(char **str, size_t *size, size_t nelm, ...);
 
+/**
+ * Create a path from a nsurl.
+ *
+ * @parm[in] url The url to encode.
+ * @param[out] path_out A string containing the result path which  must be
+ *                      freed by the caller.
+ * @return NSERROR_OK and the path is written to \a path_out or error code on
+ *         faliure.
+ */
+nserror netsurf_nsurl_to_path(struct nsurl *url, char **path_out);
+
+/**
+ * Create a nsurl from a path.
+ *
+ * Perform the necessary operations on a path to generate a nsurl.
+ *
+ * @param[in] path The path to convert.
+ * @param[out] url pointer to recive the nsurl, The returned
+ *                 url should be unreferenced by the caller.
+ * @return NSERROR_OK and the url is placed in \a url or error
+ *         code on faliure.
+ */
+nserror netsurf_path_to_nsurl(const char *path, struct nsurl **url);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/windows/findfile.c b/windows/findfile.c
index 4862b4476..51ce74829 100644
--- a/windows/findfile.c
+++ b/windows/findfile.c
@@ -82,61 +82,6 @@ static char *realpath(const char *path, char *resolved_path)
 	return strncpy(resolved_path, path, PATH_MAX);
 }
 
-char *path_to_url(const char *path)
-{
-	char *url;
-	char *sidx;
-
-	if (path == NULL)
-		return NULL;
-
-	url = malloc(strlen(path) + FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX_LEN + 3);
-
-	if (url == NULL)
-		return NULL;
-
-	strcpy(url, FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX);
-	if (*path == '/') {
-		/* unix style path start, so try wine Z: */
-		strcat(url, "Z:");
-	}
-	strcat(url, path);
-
-	sidx = strrchr(url, '\\');
-	while (sidx != NULL) {
-		*sidx = '/';
-		sidx = strrchr(url, '\\');
-	}
-
-	return url;
-}
-
-
-char *url_to_path(const char *url)
-{
-	char *url_path = curl_unescape(url, 0);
-	char *path;
-	char *sidx;
-
-	if ((url_path[FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX_LEN + 1] == ':') || 
-	    (url_path[FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX_LEN + 1] == '|')) {
-		/* url_path contains a drive: prefix */
-		path = strdup(url_path + FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX_LEN);
-
-		/* swap / for \ */
-		sidx = strrchr(path, '/');
-		while (sidx != NULL) {
-			*sidx = '\\';
-			sidx = strrchr(path, '/');
-		}	
-	} else {
-		/* return the absolute path including leading / */
-		path = strdup(url_path + (FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX_LEN - 1));
-	}
-	curl_free(url_path);
-
-	return path;
-}
 
 /**
  * Locate a shared resource file by searching known places in order.
diff --git a/windows/findfile.h b/windows/findfile.h
index 8a3e719ec..808adc8ef 100644
--- a/windows/findfile.h
+++ b/windows/findfile.h
@@ -23,8 +23,4 @@ extern char *nsws_find_resource(char *buf, const char *filename, const char *def
 
 char **nsws_init_resource(const char *resource_path);
 
-char *path_to_url(const char *path);
-char *url_to_path(const char *url);
-
-
 #endif /* _NETSURF_WINDOWS_FINDFILE_H_ */
diff --git a/windows/gui.c b/windows/gui.c
index eddb58ff6..fe0c52249 100644
--- a/windows/gui.c
+++ b/windows/gui.c
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ nsws_window_urlbar_callback(HWND hwnd, UINT msg, WPARAM wparam, LPARAM lparam)
 		hFont = (HFONT)SendMessage(hwnd, WM_GETFONT, 0, 0);
 		if (hFont != NULL) {
 			LOG(("Destroyed font object"));
-			DeleteObject(hFont); 	
+			DeleteObject(hFont);
 		}
 
 
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ get_imagelist(int resid, int bsize, int bcnt)
 	LOG(("resource id %d, bzize %d, bcnt %d",resid, bsize, bcnt));
 
 	hImageList = ImageList_Create(bsize, bsize, ILC_COLOR24 | ILC_MASK, 0, bcnt);
-	if (hImageList == NULL) 
+	if (hImageList == NULL)
 		return NULL;
 
 	hScrBM = LoadImage(hInstance, MAKEINTRESOURCE(resid),
@@ -557,7 +557,7 @@ get_imagelist(int resid, int bsize, int bcnt)
 
 	if (hScrBM == NULL) {
 		win_perror("LoadImage");
-		return NULL;		
+		return NULL;
 	}
 
 	if (ImageList_AddMasked(hImageList, hScrBM, 0xcccccc) == -1) {
@@ -669,17 +669,17 @@ nsws_window_create_toolbar(struct gui_window *gw, HWND hWndParent)
 
 	/* Create the standard image list and assign to toolbar. */
 	hImageList = get_imagelist(IDR_TOOLBAR_BITMAP, gw->toolbuttonsize, gw->toolbuttonc);
-	if (hImageList != NULL) 
+	if (hImageList != NULL)
 		SendMessage(hWndToolbar, TB_SETIMAGELIST, 0, (LPARAM)hImageList);
 
 	/* Create the disabled image list and assign to toolbar. */
 	hImageList = get_imagelist(IDR_TOOLBAR_BITMAP_GREY, gw->toolbuttonsize, gw->toolbuttonc);
-	if (hImageList != NULL) 
+	if (hImageList != NULL)
 		SendMessage(hWndToolbar, TB_SETDISABLEDIMAGELIST, 0, (LPARAM)hImageList);
 
 	/* Create the hot image list and assign to toolbar. */
 	hImageList = get_imagelist(IDR_TOOLBAR_BITMAP_HOT, gw->toolbuttonsize, gw->toolbuttonc);
-	if (hImageList != NULL) 
+	if (hImageList != NULL)
 		SendMessage(hWndToolbar, TB_SETHOTIMAGELIST, 0, (LPARAM)hImageList);
 
 	/* Add buttons. */
@@ -1090,7 +1090,7 @@ nsws_window_event_callback(HWND hwnd, UINT msg, WPARAM wparam, LPARAM lparam)
 	if (msg == WM_CREATE) {
 		/* To cause all the component child windows to be
 		 * re-sized correctly a WM_SIZE message of the actual
-		 * created size must be sent. 
+		 * created size must be sent.
 		 *
 		 * The message must be posted here because the actual
 		 * size values of the component windows are not known
@@ -1794,7 +1794,7 @@ static void gui_set_clipboard(const char *buffer, size_t length,
 /**
  * Create the main window class.
  */
-nserror 
+nserror
 nsws_create_main_class(HINSTANCE hinstance) {
 	nserror ret = NSERROR_OK;
 	WNDCLASSEX w;
@@ -1885,10 +1885,134 @@ static nserror windows_basename(const char *path, char **str, size_t *size)
 	return NSERROR_OK;
 }
 
-/* default to using the posix file handling */
+/**
+ * Create a path from a nsurl using windows file handling.
+ *
+ * @parm[in] url The url to encode.
+ * @param[out] path_out A string containing the result path which should
+ *                      be freed by the caller.
+ * @return NSERROR_OK and the path is written to \a path or error code
+ *         on faliure.
+ */
+static nserror windows_nsurl_to_path(struct nsurl *url, char **path_out)
+{
+	lwc_string *urlpath;
+	char *path;
+	bool match;
+	lwc_string *scheme;
+	nserror res;
+
+	if ((url == NULL) || (path_out == NULL)) {
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
+
+	scheme = nsurl_get_component(url, NSURL_SCHEME);
+
+	if (lwc_string_caseless_isequal(scheme, corestring_lwc_file,
+					&match) != lwc_error_ok)
+	{
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
+	lwc_string_unref(scheme);
+	if (match == false) {
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
+
+	urlpath = nsurl_get_component(url, NSURL_PATH);
+	if (urlpath == NULL) {
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
+
+	res = url_unescape(lwc_string_data(urlpath), &path);
+	lwc_string_unref(urlpath);
+	if (res != NSERROR_OK) {
+		return res;
+	}
+
+	/* if there is a drive: prefix treat path as DOS filename */
+	if ((path[2] == ':') ||  (path[2] == '|')) {
+		char *sidx; /* slash index */
+
+		/* move the string down to remove leading / note the
+		 * strlen is *not* copying too much data as we are
+		 * moving the null too!
+		 */
+		memmove(path, path + 1, strlen(path));
+
+		/* swap / for \ */
+		sidx = strrchr(path, '/');
+		while (sidx != NULL) {
+			*sidx = '\\';
+			sidx = strrchr(path, '/');
+		}
+	}
+	/* if the path does not have a drive letter we return the
+	 * complete path.
+	 */
+	/** @todo Need to check returning the unaltered path in this
+	 * case is correct
+	 */
+
+	*path_out = path;
+
+	return NSERROR_OK;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Create a nsurl from a path using windows file handling.
+ *
+ * Perform the necessary operations on a path to generate a nsurl.
+ *
+ * @param[in] path The path to convert.
+ * @param[out] url_out pointer to recive the nsurl, The returned url
+ *                     should be unreferenced by the caller.
+ * @return NSERROR_OK and the url is placed in \a url or error code on
+ *         faliure.
+ */
+static nserror windows_path_to_nsurl(const char *path, struct nsurl **url_out)
+{
+	nserror ret;
+	int urllen;
+	char *urlstr;
+	char *sidx; /* slash index */
+
+	if ((path == NULL) || (url_out == NULL) || (*path == 0)) {
+		return NSERROR_BAD_PARAMETER;
+	}
+
+	/* build url as a string for nsurl constructor */
+	urllen = strlen(path) + FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX_LEN + 5;
+	urlstr = malloc(urllen);
+	if (urlstr == NULL) {
+		return NSERROR_NOMEM;
+	}
+
+	/** @todo check if this should be url escaping the path. */
+	if (*path == '/') {
+		/* unix style path start, so try wine Z: */
+		snprintf(urlstr, urllen, "%sZ%%3A%s", FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX, path);
+	} else {
+		snprintf(urlstr, urllen, "%s%s", FILE_SCHEME_PREFIX, path);
+	}
+
+	sidx = strrchr(urlstr, '\\');
+	while (sidx != NULL) {
+		*sidx = '/';
+		sidx = strrchr(urlstr, '\\');
+	}
+
+	ret = nsurl_create(urlstr, url_out);
+	free(urlstr);
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
+/* windows file handling */
 static struct gui_file_table file_table = {
 	.mkpath = windows_mkpath,
 	.basename = windows_basename,
+	.nsurl_to_path = windows_nsurl_to_path,
+	.path_to_nsurl = windows_path_to_nsurl,
 };
 
 struct gui_file_table *win32_file_table = &file_table;
@@ -1926,8 +2050,6 @@ struct gui_clipboard_table *win32_clipboard_table = &clipboard_table;
 
 static struct gui_fetch_table fetch_table = {
 	.filetype = fetch_filetype,
-	.path_to_url = path_to_url,
-	.url_to_path = url_to_path,
 };
 struct gui_fetch_table *win32_fetch_table = &fetch_table;
 
diff --git a/windows/main.c b/windows/main.c
index 7ad3d8550..637aa217f 100644
--- a/windows/main.c
+++ b/windows/main.c
@@ -44,14 +44,9 @@ char *options_file_location;
 static nsurl *gui_get_resource_url(const char *path)
 {
 	char buf[PATH_MAX];
-	char *raw;
 	nsurl *url = NULL;
 
-	raw = path_to_url(filepath_sfind(respaths, buf, path));
-	if (raw != NULL) {
-		nsurl_create(raw, &url);
-		free(raw);
-	}
+	netsurf_path_to_nsurl(filepath_sfind(respaths, buf, path), &url);
 
 	return url;
 }