Strange Folders in C:\

R

Ron Rosenfeld

For the past ten months or so, strangely named folders have been appearing in
my C:\ directory. They have names such as 5ed7eb6b0462bcd0f3416e6bcfc23b

I have Windows XP Pro 2002 SP2 and it is set to automatically update.

They contain files which mostly seem to have to do with Microsoft updates,
Windows Defender, Microsoft AntiMalware, Client Protection, but there are a few
others also, There are about 20-25 of these folders.

They can be moved to the Recycle Bin with no apparent effect on the functioning
of my system.

They can ONLY be deleted (even from the Recycle Bin) by loggin in in SAFE mode
as THE ADMINISTRATOR. (If I log in as myself, with administrator privileges,
the system will not allow me to delete them).

I believe it will be safe to delete these files, but I would like to keep them
from appearing.

I have searched the net as well as Microsoft Support to no avail; including
looking for Verbose Logging.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
--ron
 
D

devil_himself

For the past ten months or so, strangely named folders have been appearing in
my C:\ directory. They have names such as 5ed7eb6b0462bcd0f3416e6bcfc23b

I have Windows XP Pro 2002 SP2 and it is set to automatically update.

They contain files which mostly seem to have to do with Microsoft updates,
Windows Defender, Microsoft AntiMalware, Client Protection, but there are a few
others also, There are about 20-25 of these folders.

They can be moved to the Recycle Bin with no apparent effect on the functioning
of my system.

They can ONLY be deleted (even from the Recycle Bin) by loggin in in SAFE mode
as THE ADMINISTRATOR. (If I log in as myself, with administrator privileges,
the system will not allow me to delete them).

I believe it will be safe to delete these files, but I would like to keep them
from appearing.

I have searched the net as well as Microsoft Support to no avail; including
looking for Verbose Logging.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
--ron
Click to expand...

Folders name with random characters appear after installing a Service
Pack or hotfix?
http://www.winxptutor.com/randomfolders.htm
 
R

Ron Rosenfeld

Folders name with random characters appear after installing a Service
Pack or hotfix?
http://www.winxptutor.com/randomfolders.htm
Click to expand...


Hmmm. Thanks for that link.

The folders sure seem to have the same characteristics as those described under
Windows XP Service Pack Installation Temporary Files Folder. However, they are
not being removed, and the folders are not a result of a Service Pack.

It also explains the ownership issue with regard to removal.

I'd sure like to know how to get them to be automatically removed, though.
--ron
 
D

devil_himself

Hmmm. Thanks for that link.

The folders sure seem to have the same characteristics as those described under
Windows XP Service Pack Installation Temporary Files Folder. However, they are
not being removed, and the folders are not a result of a Service Pack.

It also explains the ownership issue with regard to removal.

I'd sure like to know how to get them to be automatically removed, though.
--ron
Click to expand...

Automatically .??? They cannot be Deleted Automatically
 
R

Ron Rosenfeld

Automatically .??? They cannot be Deleted Automatically
Click to expand...

Perhaps I used confusing terminology.

Perhaps I should be asking how I can keep them from being created?

Most of these folders have to do with Windows Defender updates. I have checked
other computers on which Windows Defender is getting updated regularly, and
these folders do NOT exist.

So either there is something that is causing them to be created on my machine,
as opposed to others; or there is some mechanism whereby the update program
removes them on the other machines, but not on mine.

Whether they are "deleted" or "not created" makes no difference to me. I would
like them to not be permanently installed on my C:\ drive, as is the case for
others with what appear to be similar setups.
--ron
 
M

Mark L. Ferguson

Your OS takes up about 4 gigs of space, YMMV. The system will always be
requiring a few more bits to fine tune what is essentially an ever-changing
system.
Defender is a prime example of that. There is probably some collision in
your Permissions that allows the write but not the delete. You could try
what is becoming the current 'cure all' for conflicts like this.

Aaron Stebner's WebLog Solving setup errors by using the SubInACL tool to
repair file and registry permissions:
http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2006/09/04/739820.aspx
 
R

Ron Rosenfeld

Your OS takes up about 4 gigs of space, YMMV. The system will always be
requiring a few more bits to fine tune what is essentially an ever-changing
system.
Defender is a prime example of that. There is probably some collision in
your Permissions that allows the write but not the delete. You could try
what is becoming the current 'cure all' for conflicts like this.

Aaron Stebner's WebLog Solving setup errors by using the SubInACL tool to
repair file and registry permissions:
http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2006/09/04/739820.aspx
Click to expand...

Mark,

That is interesting.

When I examined the Permissions for a few of the errant folders, ALL of the
permissions had been DEselected (even for Administrator).

I will try this and see what happens.

--ron
--ron
 
G

Gerry

Ron

Are you using Windows Live OneCare or Windows Defender as a standalone?


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
R

Ron Rosenfeld

Ron

Are you using Windows Live OneCare or Windows Defender as a standalone?
Click to expand...

Gerry,

As far as I know, I am just using Windows Defender as a standalone. I've not
(knowingly) enabled anything called Windows Live OneCare.

Why do you ask?
--ron
 
G

Gerry

Windows Defender can be part of Windows Live OneCare. Windows Defender
as a standalone is fine but Windows Live OneCare can cause problems.



~~~~


Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
R

Ron Rosenfeld

Windows Defender can be part of Windows Live OneCare. Windows Defender
as a standalone is fine but Windows Live OneCare can cause problems.
Click to expand...

Well, I guess it's fortunate I don't have Windows Live OneCare. Doing some
research revealed to me that it is a "paid subscription" type of product, so I
am definitely certain I don't have that.

And since a few of the "funny folders" don't seem to relate to Defender, I
suppose the problem is elsewhere -- likely with the Windows Update function.

Thanks.
--ron
 
R

Ron Rosenfeld

Your OS takes up about 4 gigs of space, YMMV. The system will always be
requiring a few more bits to fine tune what is essentially an ever-changing
system.
Defender is a prime example of that. There is probably some collision in
your Permissions that allows the write but not the delete. You could try
what is becoming the current 'cure all' for conflicts like this.

Aaron Stebner's WebLog Solving setup errors by using the SubInACL tool to
repair file and registry permissions:
http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2006/09/04/739820.aspx
Click to expand...


Mark,

So far, so good. I ran the SubInACL tool you recommended last week, and, at
least for the update that took place this week, there was no errant folder
created in my root directory.

Thanks again for the pointer.

Hopefully, this improvement will persist.

Best wishes,
--ron
 
R

Ron Rosenfeld

Mark,

So far, so good. I ran the SubInACL tool you recommended last week, and, at
least for the update that took place this week, there was no errant folder
created in my root directory.

Thanks again for the pointer.

Hopefully, this improvement will persist.

Best wishes,
--ron
Click to expand...

Uh Oh, I wrote too soon.

This morning there is a new "funny folder" and it also is not detectable by
just hitting delete. As evidenced by the contents of one of the contained
files, as_delta.ini, it has to do with a Windows Defender update.

Any other thoughts, guys???



==========================
; MpSigStub INI Configuration File

;----------------------------------------------------
; Configuration Section
;
; This section specifies parameters for the stub
;----------------------------------------------------
[Parameters]
PATCH_FULL_ENGINE=0

;----------------------------------------------------
; Products Section
;
; These sections specify the products that are to
; be updated.
;----------------------------------------------------
[WD]
PRODUCT_NAME=Windows Defender
PRODUCT_CONFIG_ROOT_KEY=SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender
PRODUCT_MIN_VERSION_DEFAULT=1.1.1592.0
==================================
--ron
 
G

Gerry

Ron

Uninstall Windows Defender and download and install the latest version?
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

1.1.1592.0 is not the latest version.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ron said:
Mark,

So far, so good. I ran the SubInACL tool you recommended last week,
and, at least for the update that took place this week, there was no
errant folder created in my root directory.

Thanks again for the pointer.

Hopefully, this improvement will persist.

Best wishes,
--ron
Click to expand...

Uh Oh, I wrote too soon.

This morning there is a new "funny folder" and it also is not
detectable by just hitting delete. As evidenced by the contents of
one of the contained files, as_delta.ini, it has to do with a Windows
Defender update.

Any other thoughts, guys???



==========================
; MpSigStub INI Configuration File

;----------------------------------------------------
; Configuration Section
;
; This section specifies parameters for the stub
;----------------------------------------------------
[Parameters]
PATCH_FULL_ENGINE=0

;----------------------------------------------------
; Products Section
;
; These sections specify the products that are to
; be updated.
;----------------------------------------------------
[WD]
PRODUCT_NAME=Windows Defender
PRODUCT_CONFIG_ROOT_KEY=SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender
PRODUCT_MIN_VERSION_DEFAULT=1.1.1592.0
==================================
--ron
Click to expand...
 
R

Ron Rosenfeld

Gerry,

My Windows Defender Version is 1.1.1593.0.

I believe the message in the .ini file refers to the minimum version it will
work on, and not the version installed.

<sigh>

But the page you referenced did indicate I could get some free support. So I'm
going to try that route.

-- Ron

Ron

Uninstall Windows Defender and download and install the latest version?
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

1.1.1592.0 is not the latest version.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click to expand...


--ron
 

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