Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[rutsber]

I opened my external harddrive and found a folder with a name composed of seemingly random numbers and letters. It was locked and I had to give myself permission to open it. Inside were a bunch of other folders, with 4 digit numbers for names, a few bitmap images, a few applications, an installer, and some other files. I cannot view any of these, nor can I change the permissions so that I can. All folders have full system permissions.

I updated windows last night, so maybe that created the folder? As far as I know I haven't gotten a virus recently, and I have not been connected to the internet since last night when I updated. My ext hd was connected before, during, and after the update. Any idea what this is?

EDIT: I also verified file data for a game on steam last night, which I've never done before.

UPDATE: I think I figured it out. I shut my computer off when it was in the middle of updating, and I think that might be why the folder was created. I will update as to whether I can delete the folder or not after having updated.

[Eagleon]

These are usually the result of installers failing or being interrupted. To delete them I think you need to go into safe mode as administrator and manually give yourself their permissions. If they keep reappearing, chances are you have an installer that needed a restart that's continually readding their runonce registry entry upon running. Sometimes it's obvious, but a lot of the time the setup programs (particularly Microsoft's, because obviously they should know better) are run silently, without the usual prompt or even so much as a taskbar icon.

[lordcooper]

Telling us the filenames might help

[white_darkness]

Do the folders have hexadecimal names such as "e69f29f1b1f166d3d30b8c9f7156ba"?

[rutsber]

If you need it, the root file name is: 620bfd36773c0af4e45b8.
I took ownership, but it says I need permission from administrator to delete it, even though I am admin. The total size is only like 4mbs but its annoying to have it there.

Ninjad! Yes it is hexadecimal. Never even thought of that. I just figured it out though. It never game me control of all the folders within this, I just have to edit every folders permission to delete them now. Thank you for your help!

[white_darkness]

If you need it, the root file name is: 620bfd36773c0af4e45b8.
I took ownership, but it says I need permission from administrator to delete it, even though I am admin. The total size is only like 4mbs but its annoying to have it there.

Ninjad! Yes it is hexadecimal. Never even thought of that. I just figured it out though. It never game me control of all the folders within this, I just have to edit every folders permission to delete them now. Thank you for your help!

Yep, these are folders that are temp created in program installations (particularly windows update) they're supposed to be deleted after they've served their purpose, but sometimes they're not.  Sort of like every anti-malware manufacturer has to release a special uninstaller file, since they can't get the standard uninstall process to purge their stuff.

I'm assuming you're running Win 7 so "Taking ownership of a file or folder"

What you'll want to check is the "(Optional) To change the owner of all subcontainers and objects within the tree, select the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects check box.", that way you don't have to do it individually (or shouldn't anyway).