Windows 7: Files with random alphnumeric names

When I click on my user name on the desktop, along with folders like AppData, My Documents and other "routine ones, there are several that have names consisting of random letters and numbers.

What are they; are they essential? They give a feeling of clutter, that I would like to improve.



So ideas and info, please.

An example of the filenames would be helpful... can you upload a screen shot?

Are they similar files to these?

It is probably the contents of the HKEY_LOCAL_USER branch of the Registry. Don't touch it.

[img=http://s4.**************/bH_m9.jpg]

I hope that works

Sorry, but MBAM (MalwareBytes) blocks that site.

See A Preferred Method of Uploading/Posting Screen Shots for details on attaching an image directly to a post.

It looks like you have accidently installed something to the root of your "C:\" drive.

The two DLL's may belong to OpenSSL. That is what I found by Googling...
The other files could be log files generated by OpenSSL.

It also looks like there is a copy of "netstat" copied to the root as well.

I agree, there's something incorrectly installed...
but it's not the root of the drive... it's the user folder...

c:\Users\<account name>

For those who could not open the link

I'm befuzzled how the accident happened, as the only tasks I was undertaking were migrating my files from XP, also Firefox and TBird, the last being a $%(*er.
Now, do I just delete the files, or look deeper?

Yep. I totally missed that because I was in a hurry. I should never reply when I am in a hurry and cannot fully analyze something.

That being said...

Based on what you have said above regarding "migrating" files, since the folder structure between WinXP and Windows 7 is a "bit" different, you accidently put something where it does not belong. No big deal. It happens.

Follow the advice below at your own risk!

NOTE! As opposed to deleting those files, copy them to a USB memory stick or burn them to a CD/DVD and then delete them. That way, you can recover if there is a problem with an installed app.

YOU CAN STOP READING here but here is the long explanation if you care to read it:

Follow the advice below at your own risk!

"netstat" or "NETSTAT.EXE" should only be found in your system folder(s). It looks like you are running 64bit Windows 7 so you will find it in the "C:\Windows\system32" and C:\Windows\SysWOW64" folder. If "netstat" is in both of those places, you should be able to delete (see NOTE above) it from your user folder. (You will probably find it in other places as well but the system folders are where it definitely should be).

Do you have OpenSSL installed?
If you do not have OpenSSL installed you should be able to delete(see NOTE above) libeay32.dll and ssleay32.dll.

You should be able to delete(see NOTE above) all of those "randomly generated filename" files in the user folder. Those appear to be session files created by "Firefox". Have you tried opening one in "notepad"? If you can open one in "notepad", does it tell you what program created it?

I searched "Google" and the "default.pls" file could be something PowerDVD created. Do you have PowerDVD installed? If you do, PowerDVD will recreate this file if it does not find it. So, you can leave it or delete it.

After you get rid of those files, watch your user folder over time. Do the "randomly generated filename" files come back? If so, you have some app that is creating these in your user folder. Typically, files like this are some form of "log" or "session" file created by programs like "Firefox". (refer to my "Firefox" cache image attachment).

After you delete the files and use your computer, watch for any programs crashing. Check the event logs and see if there are any error messages indicating that a program cannot find one of those DLL's. If there is a program crashing because it cannot find those DLL's, uninstall the program and reinstall it. Make sure you leave the default install path.

Hope this helps!