Strange files

[Wendy R]

Hi all...this is my second attempt at posting this. My first 2 posts never
showed up for some reason. The third "test" post did, so here is my
question...

After copying a lot of files onto CD's I noticed many "hpothb07" image files
and "hpothb07" DAT files showing up in My Documents as well as in My
Pictures. For all I know they may be in other places as well. Just want to
check to make sure that I won't cause any problems by deleting them because
when I go to open the DAT files I get the warning "These files are used by
the operating system and by various programs. Editing or modifying them
could damage your system."

I have no idea why they have appeared in the places that they have. Are they
duplicates of some system files or are they files that have somehow been
moved from another location? Is it safe to delete them without causing
problems now or down the road?

Thanks!
Wendy

 

[Rock]

Hi all...this is my second attempt at posting this. My first 2 posts never
showed up for some reason. The third "test" post did, so here is my
question...

After copying a lot of files onto CD's I noticed many "hpothb07" image files
and "hpothb07" DAT files showing up in My Documents as well as in My
Pictures. For all I know they may be in other places as well. Just want to
check to make sure that I won't cause any problems by deleting them because
when I go to open the DAT files I get the warning "These files are used by
the operating system and by various programs. Editing or modifying them
could damage your system."

I have no idea why they have appeared in the places that they have. Are they
duplicates of some system files or are they files that have somehow been
moved from another location? Is it safe to delete them without causing
problems now or down the road?

Thanks!
Wendy

Both of your posts are there along with one response by Malke which I
have copied below. The problem you are having in finding posts is that
you're using the web interface which is terrible for that that. Better
to use a newsreader and XP has one for free, Outlook Express. Here is a
link on how to set it up as a newsreader:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

Here is Malke's response to you:

<snip>

I have seen these files on clients' machines and believe they come from
HP's lousy printer software. I don't know why they get scattered all
over the hard drive, but I usually delete them from places like My
Documents and My Pictures. I would leave them in any system folders. I
haven't found them to be harmful or any problem with printing after
getting rid of them from My Docs and My Pictures.

Malke
-- MS-MVP Windows User/Shell Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com "Don't Panic"

 

[Rick S.]

They are files left ny an HP Printer or perhaps an HP
Printer/Scanner/Copier.
Harmless files.