Windows 7: Wierd alphanumeric folders being created

Could someone explain what all the folders being created under Users are? I have 4 or 5 that look like 0bd5182be71af.... and contain rafts of folders 1025,1028,1029 etc etc. I can't see into these folders as cannot get permission. I cannot delete the folders as it says I need permission form SYSTEM. If I try to give SYSTEM permission in the security setting of the folder it says access denied.

I have some folders on this laptop always available offline on my main pc so don't know if that is related. I'm on Windows 7 Pro 64-bit



Thanks

Mike

Those are most likely from Windows updates. They don't always get deleted if something goes wrong.

It won't hurt to leave them there - but if you must remove them, you need to assign yourself as owner. Be sure to tell Windows to copy that ownership to all of the sub folders.

slightly wierd as I checked and the login I am using is already the owner. However when I try to delete them it says I require permission from that same login.

You stated in the OP that you could not see inside some numbered folders (which are most likely holding info for different languages for the patch). This means that you have not taken ownership of the sub-folders.

Start at the top level and assign yourself as owner again - then try to delete.

I've found a few of these weird folders on my non-boot hard drives after Updates. I move them to another drive and if there's no problem after a week or so, I delete them.

That is a cautious way to handle them.

I've noticed that .NET updates leave them behind in XP.

MSE leaves one behind if you cancel the install.