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Thread: Strange files

  1. #1
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    Strange files

    What are those folders with strange long names that keep appearing on my C: drive? They seem to be related to updates from MS, but I am not sure. Can they be deleted safely?

  2. #2
    Mod w/ an attitude Sterling_Aug's Avatar
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    No.

  3. #3
    Extreme Member! BipolarBill's Avatar
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    Would it be too much to ask for a few of the names?
    MS MCP, MCSE

  4. #4
    Hail to the Victors dajogejr's Avatar
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    Just hide hidden files/folders.

    My Computer, Tools, Folder Options, View tab, click on hide hidden files and folders.

  5. #5
    Ultimate Member G's Avatar
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    Just what I was thinking Bill. They must think we are psychic.

  6. #6
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    The names are VERY long and make no sense, which is why I did not replicate them here. I shall once I get home, though, if that will help pinpoint their origin and use.

  7. #7
    Mod w/ an attitude Sterling_Aug's Avatar
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    Don't bother typing the names out here.

    DO NOT delete them. They are files used for Windows Update.

    Leave them alone and simply hide them as explained above.

  8. #8
    Member DKJones96's Avatar
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    Doesn't windows update store the files in the c:\windows directory? I might be wrong tho it's been a LONG time since I've dealt with any other OS than NT 5.

    If the have dollar signs on them at the beginning and or end i wouldn't delete them tho...
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  9. #9
    Hail to the Victors dajogejr's Avatar
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    To be honest...there are only a very few times I find unhiding folders and files useful.

    The most often is moving a .pst or OE store folder from one PC to another...

    Just hide 'em and be done.
    It probably looks something like this, if I had to guess...



  10. #10
    Ultimate Member G's Avatar
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    You mean the filename and path in the directory C:\WINDOWS

    The yes these are Windows update files. As you can see them then they are hidden.

    You can delete them if you do not need to uninstall a problem update. Otherwise, leave them.

    No need to type them or screen shot them as we know what you mean now
    Last edited by G; 12-05-2006 at 06:44 PM.

  11. #11
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    These files, which I did not used to see in the past, live in the root directory of the C: drive. Here is an example of a file name:
    msxml4-KB927978-enu.log
    in a folder named
    0d98f9df7cd114c7e517f5b9bc53

  12. #12
    Ultimate Member G's Avatar
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    This looks as if it is a log file during the installation of one of the latest M$ fixes.

    You will probably be able to delete it without any issues but wait for confirmation.

  13. #13
    Ultimate Member G's Avatar
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    Confirmation - you can delete it.

    "MS06-071 (927978)
    XML patch leaves behind messy log files

    The XML patch from earlier in the month, MS06-071, was somewhat messy in the way it left behind a log file. Some folks found it not under the typical KB number, but under a temporary log-file name. The log file can be easily removed and does not impact the patch at all.

    Some people in the XP newsgroup even thought they had been hacked. The folder that was left behind contained a file with just a cryptic string of letters and numbers.

    You can safely delete the file and the folder, as described in the "known issues" section of KB articles 927977 and 927978."

  14. #14
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    Thanks for trying-- I finally figured it out. These files are left by something called DLAdiag.exe, an abomination diagnostic program of the abomination SONIC software, which lenovo sees fit to litter new Thinkpads with. Some recent "upgrade" started running these diagnostic tests, leaving behind the log files, with no explanation.
    They can be (and have been) deleted.

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