What are these folders?

[Neil]

On my external USB hard drive, I have 3 folders named
"1669e74ec64b601635ab4a617".....etc.

What are these for and why can't I delete them?

P.S. I have system restore turned off for all drives, as I thought it might
have been to do with this at first.

TIA

 

[Guest]

The alpha numeric = a Hex value for the folder name. It's a Drive Map, with
this your CPU can read what's on your Ext.HDD

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

They are likely the temporary folder(s) created to hold files during a
service pack installation. If the service pack installation has been
completed and the system has been rebooted, you can safely delete these
folders.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Neil]

Hi,

They are likely the temporary folder(s) created to hold files during a
service pack installation. If the service pack installation has been
completed and the system has been rebooted, you can safely delete these
folders.

The folders are locked though..."Access Denied" - all updates have been
implemented (SP2 etc) and the machine rebooted!

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

You need to take ownership of them. Right-click the folder, select
properties. Go to the security tab and click advanced. You can take control
of the folders on the owner tab. For the security tab to appear in a WinXP
Pro system, you must disable simple file sharing in the control panel/folder
options/view tab. For a WinXP Home system, you must restart in safe mode and
logon as administrator. More details here:

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP [Q308421]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421

An additional note for WinXP Pro users: This procedure will not help you
recover data if the files are encrypted. All you will be able to do is
delete them. To recover encrypted files you will need the original
encryption certificate or a Recovery Agent from the installation under which
they were encrypted. Without one of these, the files are not recoverable.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org