C: Drive files replicated in hidden folder

[idahovid]

Hello, my desktop has two very strange symptoms:
Last night Action Center was giving a maintenance warning that there is a problem with "Kitten Cannon" and I need to go to Spiral Orbit and download the latest update. That warning just disappeared a few minutes ago.
and
When I choose to show protected operating system files, there is a new folder named "...",
inside that file all the C Drive folders are replicated. They are empty and when I try to open them I get this error: "C:\...AEDiskCache refers to a location that is unavailable".

Two things happened before I noticed these problems:
I was cleaning up an external hard drive for a friend and tried to open a PDF, it threw a pop-up saying that I needed to get an update for Adobe Reader. I automatically clicked on it, and then realized that the pop-up looked suspicious, I canceled but probably too late. Stupid.

I installed a program from CNET, Wise File Hider. I uninstalled this A.M.

I scanned the ext. hard drive with Security Essentials before opening.
I have not been able to find any information on either of these issues.
Sec. Ess. reports clean - Sophos Root Kit reports clean.
AutoRuns doesn't show any suspicious services as far as I can tell...I'm stumped.

Also, there was a hidden shortcut icon in my documents folder for Remote Desktop Sharing.
I have remote sharing turned off. Is this from Team viewer?

 

[SundRance]

You might do a full scan on your computer using Security Essentials, and I would recommend downloading and running Malwarebytes. Malwarebytes | Free Anti-Malware & Internet Security Software.

If you CCleaner, there's a Startup tab in the Tools box that will list all of the programs that start automatically with Windows. CCleaner - PC Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download

Others, more knowledgeable than I, monitor this forum. Someone is sure to come along with more suggestions.

Be Well,
Rªnce

 

[idahovid]

Thanks, ran a full scan with Sec Ess. and just finished with Malware bytes. No problems found.
Auto runs is more in depth than CCleaner for checking services and programs. CCleaner is a great clean up tool though.

 

[gregrocker]

It's an Adobe After Effects cache for video rendering. It is emptied from within the program. http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1396511

Do you still have that program installed?

Do you have performance problems?

 

[idahovid]

AE is still installed, and Disk Cache is not enabled. I cleared the cache last week after a project.

 

[gregrocker]

Chances are it's required since it may be necessary to assist rendering large projects. It serves like a memory cache from what I read. You may want to google the file name to read more about it. I think it's negligible and can be left alone. I'd probably even consider using it to get full value of my AE program.

 

[idahovid]

Ok, so my post was misleading. All the files in the "..." folder give a different error message depending on what they are.
For instance the Program Folder gives this error when I try to open it: "C:\....\Program files refers to a location that is unavailable. I could be on a hard drive on this computer or on a network....blah blah blah.

 

[gregrocker]

Try System Restore to a point well before this occurred.

Once again: Do you have performance probs?

Install and run a full SuperAntiSpyware scan. Decline trial and turn off at startup in Prefs

The freeware that works best for Win7 is in Reinstall tutorial below

 

[idahovid]

Hello, sorry for the delay. Busy. And thanks for taking the time to respond.
My machine performs perfectly, no issues.
Has been thoroughly scanned for Malware and Rootkits.
I took ownership of the "..." file and all it's subfolders, but when I try to delete it Windows Explorer crashes.
This may be because when it duplicated the C: Drive files into the"..." it also included the hiberfil.sys and pagefile.sys files.
I do not have a system restore point before this problem started.
I am including screenshots.




When I try to open this file, I get this error:

 

[gregrocker]

I'd delete it using a boot disk in the Step 10 of http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219533-troubleshooting-windows-7-failure-boot.html

Check out the explorer crash using Step 4

Explorer crashes are also common in the corrupt factory preinstall so be sure you have the best install of Win7 possible as compiled in http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164