triplicate *.exe files

[vega]

Hi,

While searching for an *.exe file, I discovered that many of these files are
located in three different directories:

C:\WINDOWS\$NtServivcPackuninstall$
C:\WINDOWS\system32
C:\Windows\MYNAME\system32

I am running windows xp home.

Are these triplicate files really necessary? Are duplicates necessary? Which
ones can be removed?

Thank you, vega

 

[Ramesh [MVP]]

$NtServicePackUninstall$ Folder contains an older version of the file that you're talking about. Here is more informaiton on this folder:

---------
The %systemroot%\$NtServicePackUninstall$ Folder

IMPORTANT: Do not delete this folder unless you are sure that you will not want to remove Windows XP SP1 in the future.

When you install the service pack and choose to archive the files you need to remove the service pack, Windows automatically creates a backup. This is a backup of the files and settings that the service pack installer changes, and which are saved in the %systemroot%\$NTServicepackUninstall$ folder. You can use the contents of this folder to return your computer to its previous state. If you delete this folder, you cannot remove the service pack
---------

C:\Windows\MYNAME\system32

This sounds suspicious to me. I've seen some Hijackthis logs with malware loading from the %userprofile%\system32 folder. Note that the system32 folder does not exist by default under %userprofile%. I suggest you run a malware cleanup, does not harm anyway.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://windowsxp.mvps.org


Hi,

While searching for an *.exe file, I discovered that many of these files are
located in three different directories:

C:\WINDOWS\$NtServivcPackuninstall$
C:\WINDOWS\system32
C:\Windows\MYNAME\system32

I am running windows xp home.

Are these triplicate files really necessary? Are duplicates necessary? Which
ones can be removed?

Thank you, vega