Strange folders off of root...

[Tod DeBie]

I noticed a few weeks ago that three strangely named directories appeared
off of the root directory on my system running Windows XP Pro. Here are the
directory names:
37ef12dad52cca85845c1f592dd15f3d
c9b2b7d3e63e7adeea09
ef705932654f2947d811f2ef4d84f496

I cannot move, delete or rename these directories, even from the
administrator account. Any ideas on what they are and how to get rid of
them?

Tod

 

[Kelly]

Hi Tod,

Did you check to see if these were System Volume Information listings
(System Restore Points)? Try clearing all but the last one to test. Good
luck!

 

[Tod DeBie]

How do I clear system restore points?

Tod

Hi Tod,

Did you check to see if these were System Volume Information listings
(System Restore Points)? Try clearing all but the last one to test. Good
luck!

 

[Kelly]

Hi Tod,

Sorry about that.....

Right click your C:\ drive in Windows Explorer/Properties/Tool/General/Disk
Cleanup (lower right)/More Options/System Restore/Cleanup.

 

[Tod DeBie]

I cleared all but the last system restore point and the directories are
still there. Any other ideas?

Thanks,

Tod

 

[Plato]

I cleared all but the last system restore point and the directories are
still there. Any other ideas?

System restore has nothing to do with odd directories. Those look like
they were created by a virus.

 

[Kelly]

Was a suggestion/checkpoint, Ed.

Tod, go to Start/Run/Regedit/Edit/Find and type in one of the strings.

 

[Tod DeBie]

Kelly,

I searched the registry for the strings, but did not find them. Any other
ideas?

Thanks,

Tod

 

[Ramesh [MVP]]

Tod,

Until Kelly returns:

You may use Process Explorer and see which process is holding these folders or files within these folders. If not, try to take ownership of these folders and see what files are inside them.

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k
-------------------------------------------
How to guard against CoolWebSearch spyware:
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Defend_CWS.htm
-------------------------------------------


Kelly,

I searched the registry for the strings, but did not find them. Any other
ideas?

Thanks,

Tod

Was a suggestion/checkpoint, Ed.

Tod, go to Start/Run/Regedit/Edit/Find and type in one of the strings.

--
All the Best,
Kelly

MS-MVP Win98/XP
[AE-Windows® XP]

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

Utilities for Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_u.htm#xp_util

System restore has nothing to do with odd directories. Those look like
they were created by a virus.

 

[Kelly]

Great advice, Ramesh. )




Tod,

Until Kelly returns:

You may use Process Explorer and see which process is holding these folders
or files within these folders. If not, try to take ownership of these
folders and see what files are inside them.

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k
-------------------------------------------
How to guard against CoolWebSearch spyware:
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Defend_CWS.htm
-------------------------------------------


Kelly,

I searched the registry for the strings, but did not find them. Any other
ideas?

Thanks,

Tod

 

[Ramesh [MVP]]

Thank you for your appreciation Kelly )

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k
-------------------------------------------
How to guard against CoolWebSearch spyware:
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Defend_CWS.htm
-------------------------------------------


Great advice, Ramesh. )

--
All the Best,
Kelly

MS-MVP Win98/XP
[AE-Windows® XP]

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

Utilities for Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_u.htm#xp_util


Tod,

Until Kelly returns:

You may use Process Explorer and see which process is holding these folders
or files within these folders. If not, try to take ownership of these
folders and see what files are inside them.

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k
-------------------------------------------
How to guard against CoolWebSearch spyware:
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Defend_CWS.htm
-------------------------------------------


Kelly,

I searched the registry for the strings, but did not find them. Any other
ideas?

Thanks,

Tod

Was a suggestion/checkpoint, Ed.

Tod, go to Start/Run/Regedit/Edit/Find and type in one of the strings.

--
All the Best,
Kelly

MS-MVP Win98/XP
[AE-Windows® XP]

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

Utilities for Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_u.htm#xp_util

System restore has nothing to do with odd directories. Those look like
they were created by a virus.