What is this directory?

[markg2]

The following directory has zero files. What is it?

C:\2f04dd45bebca7274eda34cc24490614

Thanks,

Mark

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I don't have it.

That long random name makes it look like a backup or temp file used at one time by a Windows update, upgrade, or installation.

 

[Digerati]

What is the timestamp on it?

If unsure if it is okay to delete a filename or folder, I simply rename it by adding -delete-2-28-2011 to the end (obviously using today's date to illustrate). If something breaks, I just remove the end and don't have to remember the original name. If nothing breaks, then next time you run into it, you can look at the date, ensure in your head everything works fine, then delete it.

 

[Manigue]

The following directory has zero files. What is it?

C:\2f04dd45bebca7274eda34cc24490614

Thanks,

Mark

Look inside the folder and see if you have an "spinstall.exe" file. I got one of those every day I attempted to install SP1. After succeeding, I deleted them and they are not back. If empty, I read it was created by Microsoft's "Malicious Software Removal Tool" update. I also deleted them on my machine without any consequence.

You can also follow Digerati's suggestion.

Next time you update the MSRT, monitor your directory tree before and after.

 

[FliGi7]

MS Office creates directories like that as well to cache installation files.

 

[DeaconFrost]

MS Office creates directories like that as well to cache installation files.

Unless something changed in Office 2010, those directories were always labeled as MSOCACHE.

 

[niemiro]

These hexadecimal directories are created by the Windows Installer, including Windows Update. They are only temporary directories, and should, in theory at least, be safe to delete in every situation.

 

[FliGi7]

MS Office creates directories like that as well to cache installation files.

Unless something changed in Office 2010, those directories were always labeled as MSOCACHE.

I've had them created on external drives and contained MS Office files.

 

[DeaconFrost]

That would probably be the temp directories created during an install, that should have been removed automatically shortly thereafter. Either way, those are safe to delete. The MSOCACHE directories could cause issues down the road if they are simply deleted.

 

[FliGi7]

Yea, they're temp directories for cached installation files as I said in my first post. They were of no use.

 

[markg2]

Thanks--I've followed a previous suggestion to rename then then delete after a period of time.

Mark

 

[DeaconFrost]

When in doubt, I always add a .old to the end of the file or folder name. Then after a few reboots and some normal system usage, a delete is fine.