Random Files being created in C Drive.

I just recently built this computer and today I noticed that there was files being created in my C Drive, outside of the folders. The first one was created on the 12/1/2014 and the latest 26/1/2014 and they are all around the same size of 3kb with the same format in their File Names, an example would be {4A82B6BF-BD5C-47AB-ACA3-DE0458FC3FDB} Every file has the brackets and the dashes and the File Type is just labeled as File so I cannot open these. Any help with identifying what these files are would be appreciated and if they are safe to delete.

You can open notepad - then drag/drop the file into he notepad window. Most of what you see might be gibberish, but there might be enough text to allow you to get a clue about what app is making them.

I did the thing with notepad but like you said, it is complete gibberish and I cannot find any text that creates a word or even part of a word.

ScotsmanLinkin said:

Sir George said:

ScotsmanLinkin said:

I just recently built this computer and today I noticed that there was files being created in my C Drive, outside of the folders. The first one was created on the 12/1/2014 and the latest 26/1/2014 and they are all around the same size of 3kb with the same format in their File Names, an example would be {4A82B6BF-BD5C-47AB-ACA3-DE0458FC3FDB} Every file has the brackets and the dashes and the File Type is just labeled as File so I cannot open these. Any help with identifying what these files are would be appreciated and if they are safe to delete.

I believe those are registration entries for some program(s). I don't know why they are showing up as orphaned entries in the "C" drive directory. You can check the registry by copying the entire key, {4A82B6BF-BD5C-47AB-ACA3-DE0458FC3FDB} for example, and initiating a search which should provide some information.

Run Regedit as Admin;

Step 1
Press the "Windows" key to display the caption box, and then type "regedit" (without the quotes) on the Start screen to search for the Registry Editor utility.
Step 2
Right-click the "Registry Editor" utility. The Advanced icon appears in the bottom right corner of the Start screen.
Step 3
Click the "Advanced" icon and choose "Run as Administrator" from the context menu to launch the Registry Editor with elevated privileges.

Post back if you need more details on how to do a reg search.

HTH

Thanks for your response and step by step guide. I ran Regedit as admin and clicked "edit" and used "find.." from within the drop down menu, I then copied and pasted the name of the File into the Text Field and Look at Keys, Values and Data were all ticked. After clicking "Find Next" it began its search, upon completion it then said "Finished searching through the registry" after clicking Ok, nothing had popped up.

Apparently the registry doesn't contain any of the keys, if that's what they are. I don't have any other suggestions for the reason they are in your "C" drive directory, but you could put them in the trash and run the system for awhile and if there are no issues delete them.

HTH

Hello, here's a similar occurrence (see attachment), although this one got an extension and could be identified as a "record file for incremental backup". Unless proved to be some malware, your files may also be created by some legitimate process, try to find a relation between when some program is running and any of those files appearing.

ScotsmanLinkin,
Are you showing "known file extensions" that Microsoft sees fit to hide?
File Extensions - Hide or Show

Your files have no extensions - correct?

Maybe a Explorer detail listing screenshot would help:
Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

ScotsmanLinkin said:

Sir George said:

ScotsmanLinkin said:

I just recently built this computer and today I noticed that there was files being created in my C Drive, outside of the folders. The first one was created on the 12/1/2014 and the latest 26/1/2014 and they are all around the same size of 3kb with the same format in their File Names, an example would be {4A82B6BF-BD5C-47AB-ACA3-DE0458FC3FDB} Every file has the brackets and the dashes and the File Type is just labeled as File so I cannot open these. Any help with identifying what these files are would be appreciated and if they are safe to delete.

I believe those are registration entries for some program(s). I don't know why they are showing up as orphaned entries in the "C" drive directory. You can check the registry by copying the entire key, {4A82B6BF-BD5C-47AB-ACA3-DE0458FC3FDB} for example, and initiating a search which should provide some information.

Run Regedit as Admin;

Step 1
Press the "Windows" key to display the caption box, and then type "regedit" (without the quotes) on the Start screen to search for the Registry Editor utility.
Step 2
Right-click the "Registry Editor" utility. The Advanced icon appears in the bottom right corner of the Start screen.
Step 3
Click the "Advanced" icon and choose "Run as Administrator" from the context menu to launch the Registry Editor with elevated privileges.

Post back if you need more details on how to do a reg search.

HTH

Thanks for your response and step by step guide. I ran Regedit as admin and clicked "edit" and used "find.." from within the drop down menu, I then copied and pasted the name of the File into the Text Field and Look at Keys, Values and Data were all ticked. After clicking "Find Next" it began its search, upon completion it then said "Finished searching through the registry" after clicking Ok, nothing had popped up.

After my first post, in which I thought the "alpha numeric" sequence was a registry entry, I have found that it appears to be associated with "Task Scheduler". I knew I had seen it before, but confused the entry location. Try running "Task Scheduler" and see if there are tasks with the associated "C" drive entries. I still don't know why they are showing up in your "C" drive.

HTH