Random Files being created in C Drive.

[ScotsmanLinkin]

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.

 

[UsernameIssues]

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.

 

[ScotsmanLinkin]

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.

 

[Sir George]

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

 

[ScotsmanLinkin]

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.

 

[Sir George]

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

 

[archer]

Hi,

I was just checking out your post and related to your issue, found one more. Here is the link. http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/245653-lot-random-files-my-c-drive.html. As suggested by Sir George as well above, you can delete the files and check.

If I may suggest, scan the PC for any virus and Malware attacks.

 

[4wd]

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.

 

[UsernameIssues]

ScotsmanLinkin,
Are you showing "known file extensions" that Microsoft sees fit to hide?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/10570-file-extensions-hide-show.html

Your files have no extensions - correct?

Maybe a Explorer detail listing screenshot would help:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

 

[Sir George]

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

 

[ScotsmanLinkin]

Sorry for the late reply, was out all day. I took Archers advice and scanned in safe mode with Norton Internet Security and Malwarebytes (both were a full scan and both came back clear), I have moved the files to my recycling bin and will keep them in the bin for a while to see if anything begins to stop working. I have attached an Image of what my folder did look like with the files and the extensions being displayed. I also noticed that there is a text file named Lucid located in my C drive, I believe this was from the programs "Lucid Virtu Universal MVP" which came included with my Motherboard.

 

[archer]

Keep us posted.

 

[Layback Bear]

Virtu Universal MVP Review | Hardware Secrets

 

[ScotsmanLinkin]

So the files have been in my recycle bin for about 2 days now and I haven't noticed any problems. However Two new files created themselves just about an hour ago, I went into Task Scheduler to see if any tasks that took place within the last 24 hours had the same ID, none of them did. This is really confusing me.

Edit: These Files are the same also, no extension and same type of name.

 

[UsernameIssues]

You can try these steps to maybe find the offending app:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ation-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html

 

[Sir George]

So the files have been in my recycle bin for about 2 days now and I haven't noticed any problems. However Two new files created themselves just about an hour ago, I went into Task Scheduler to see if any tasks that took place within the last 24 hours had the same ID, none of them did. This is really confusing me.

Edit: These Files are the same also, no extension and same type of name.

The advice I provided was the best I could offer; I have no further ideas. I hope someone else can find a cause and solution.

 

[Callender]

My Thoughts

Hi,

About the only time I remember seeing files like those ones were randomly named leftovers after windows updates. Something along the lines of:

Unable to delete folders leftover from windows update on c:\ - Microsoft Community

Unfortunately it was a long time ago and I don't remember how I removed them!

I suppose that you could check your update history to see if the dates/ times correspond.

What you could try is:

Start > Run then type

cleanmgr.exe sageset:12

Hit OK


(The number 12 can be any number but it's a number that will be used to remember specific disk cleanup settings to be used with the sagerun command later).


At the bottom of the window choose Clean Up System Files

Wait a few seconds and another window opens up. Check all boxes apart from "Thumbnails" along with anything else that you don't want to clean up.

Suggest including:

Windows Update Cleanup
Temporary Windows Installation Files
Temporary Files
Temporary Setup Files

Once you've made your choices

Start > Run then type

cleanmgr.exe sagerun:12

The cleanup will run.

I can't say if this will actually remove those files but it's worth a try!

If you want to run the cleanup from the command line instead it's:

C:\Windows\System32\cleanmgr.exe sageset:12 to define the settings (12 can be replaced by any number)

and

C:\Windows\System32\cleanmgr.exe sagerun:12 to run the cleanup.

To set up different cleanup rules just choose other numbers for each set.

 

[ScotsmanLinkin]

I attempted the suggestion you provided Callender and nothing came of it. I don't believe this is anything Malicious, I feel like all I can do is continuously delete them when they appear but they just appear so randomly. I'll have to check frequently to try and catch them when they are just recently made so I can identify what applications are running at the time. One thing I did notice though when opening the two new ones in Notepad is that one of them is in Gibberish but the other one contains Chinese characters, this again just adds even more to my Confusion.