Solved Unknown files in computer...What are they please ?

[stephennity]

Hi...I have been sorting thru` various files and have a huge section of files with a jumble of letters and numbers...I have looked into them and they are empty !

Can somebody tell me just what they are please and can I delete them all ?

the files in question look something like the following...945ec4ff927he664fjd2337fx

in a few of these type of files I am asked for authority to enter the file and there are another huge list of files,these being of 4 digits...I have not looked inside these.

Hope you may be able to help.

Thanks.

 

[stephennity]

ps...I am wondering if these files are some type of key created whenever I access the internet...is this right ?

 

[mitchell65]

Please give the path to the folder containing these files!

 

[Dude]

As stated above, please provide the path. It seems to be installation files.

 

[stephennity]

Hi and thanks for replying.

The path is just ...start...computer...Acer "C" drive...there are then all these letter/number files and then come the files for "perf logs","windows","users","program files" etc.

I have looked into them and most just have 0 bytes and seem to be nothing at all...(I don`t need to say that I am no techie)...

 

[alphanumeric]

It sounds like left over folders from software installs or maybe even windows update. Do you have explorer set to display hidden and system files? Maybe they aren't empty folders.

 

[ThrashZone]

The path is just ...start...computer...Acer "C" drive...there are then all these letter/number files and then come the files for "perf logs","windows","users","program files" etc.

Take screen shots,
Usually you can hold down the Shift key (could also be the Alt key) or (FN key on a laptop) and press the prtscrn key,
Then open microsoft Paint, and click on the Paste button on the top left.
Paint is located in the Accessories folder in All programs from the start button,
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Using-Paint
Then click on the blue file button and click on Save as, click on jpeg file type and name the file.
Upload it to skydrive or photobucket in a public album and post a direct link to the file here.
Or use the windows snipping tool,
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Use-Snipping-Tool-to-capture-screen-shots

 

[stephennity]

I tried to take a screenshot earlier but couldn`t...resolved now by downloading a capture program.

The files in question are the 3 file type that consist of just numbers and letters...I`m sure they`re something very normal but I just don`t know what,

 

[alphanumeric]

I've seen software installs and Windows update leave folders like that behind. I see a RHDSetup text file in there too, maybe it was left over by that program?

 

[mitchell65]

stephennity
have you tried running Ccleaner to see if that deletes the files?

 

[md2lgyk]

I get a number of such files after every round of Windows updates. Almost all are located in a C:/Windows/Software Distribution/Downloads folder. I read somewhere (maybe even this forum) that they are update leftovers and can be deleted if desired. So that's what I've been doing for several months now.

 

[stephennity]

Thanks for all the help and replies.

Yes,I have tried with CCleaner etc...there are differing dates on them...the 3 files that are in the image have other folders inside which when attempting to enter say "these files are in use" or something similar...but I have erased probably another 50 or so which had nothing inside the files and when looking under "properties" say there are 0 bytes in the file...so I erased them and the laptop is running just fine...I think they may,as suggested,be to do with the many failed updates that have occurred on this laptop...the problem is sorted now but for a period of a month or so there wass a problem with updates in that they loaded but failed to install...maybe they are to do with that.

Anyway guys,thanks for your help.

 

[alphanumeric]

This is going to sound like nit picking but what is shown in your screen shoot are folders not files. You'll have files in folders but not files in files, not unless its a compressed file.

 

[stephennity]

This is going to sound like nit picking but what is shown in your screen shoot are folders not files. You'll have files in folders but not files in files, not unless its a compressed file.

Point taken,alphanumeric.

 

[alphanumeric]