Solved What are these folders in my \AppData\Local directory?

[Alexander Moore]

Screenshot Here

Just wondering what folders with these kinds of names are supposed to be.

They're empty and I'm doing a routine cleanup (where I delete all folders that I know are left behind from programs I've uninstalled. I usually clean everything up manually, then run CCleaner, then run the registry cleaner as well).

I've seen these several times but have never bothered to ask about them, and just let them be. But now I'll ask I suppose - any idea what these are for?

Perhaps they're just temporary folders used in some sort of process?

 

[Kari]

Those folders are created by the Windows Update, usual culprit is Windows Live and various components of it. For instance if you are using Live Mail client you will get these folders.

This issue is common and also previously discussed at the Seven Forums in for instance these threads:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/149980-empty-folders-appdata-local.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/139873-appdata-local-folders-random-characters.html

It's a minor bug in Update not to automatically delete these after the update has finished. You can read more and find a script to delete these at Microsoft Answers: What is creating the hex folders (hex names in curly braces) - Microsoft Community

Kari

 

[Alexander Moore]

Ah, so I was right to assume that they're temporary folders used in a process.

So I can just delete these without caring. That's fine. I don't need to take any further action than just deleting them myself. They're just empty folders and I'm just a bit of a clean freak about my computer. They're not really doing any harm. I just like to know what strangely-named folders are. Usually I know what a folder is just by it's name, but these were different. Just wanted to make sure that these aren't signs of malware/spyware that may have somehow got in without my noticing (never happens but I keep my suspicions up).

I guess it would have to be Microsoft Security Essentials, since that's the only Windows Live product I have installed.

Thanks!

Marked as solved.

- Alex