How-To Geek

Hi there. I have loads of folders scattered around my computer that look like this:

{0F77699F-7CE5-4DA0-8C49-A1FAABF1A0BB}

With any infinite variation of letters and numbers. They're in various directories of the \Appdata etc. (Windows 7 x32)

They also seem to be empty. Can I just get rid of these? What might they be, if I encounter them in the future? Nothing seems to peg them as malware.

First search the REGISTRY for the complete string. Also look to see if hidden files or sub-folders are in those folders. I think some are required for installed programs, might use them as scratch area's and IF not there, those apps might not run OR just recreate them?

I've got quite a few too... some of them (note some are files with sizes) :

================
C:\>dir {* /s /p
Volume in drive C is OS
Volume Serial Number is 1C5C-DD5E

Directory of C:\

09/01/11 01:31 PM 2,456 {BB9EE6CC-D939-45DF-B7D1-5E1E7E0BB592}
1 File(s) 2,456 bytes

Directory of C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logishrd\CacheMSI

08/13/10 10:00 AM <DIR> {987FE247-4E69-4A2E-A961-D14F901FDBF6}
0 File(s) 0 bytes

Directory of C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 11.0\Setup Files

01/20/13 11:48 AM <DIR> {AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-AB0000000001}
0 File(s) 0 bytes

Directory of C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Update\Download

02/15/13 04:30 AM <DIR> {430FD4D0-B729-4F61-AA34-91526481799D}
02/22/13 10:48 PM <DIR> {4DC8B4CA-1BDA-483E-B5FA-D3C12E15B62D}
11/19/11 01:06 PM <DIR> {74AF07D8-FB8F-4D51-8AC7-927721D56EBB}
12/15/11 04:06 AM <DIR> {8A69D345-D564-463C-AFF1-A69D9E530F96}
02/21/13 08:42 PM <DIR> {8BA986DA-5100-405E-AA35-86F34A02ACBF}
04/29/11 03:37 PM <DIR> {E845EB6B-5ADF-4EFC-88FF-EC095F12BCAF}
0 File(s) 0 bytes

Directory of C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\cio

02/22/11 10:39 AM <DIR> {C788B026-20BD-4E96-B698-533F1D6C5013}
0 File(s) 0 bytes

Directory of C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\Digital Imaging

01/06/13 08:19 AM <DIR> {131D8ED6-4864-4554-9BAB-09B47C232522}
01/06/13 08:10 AM <DIR> {4E484899-4F93-4086-88BA-56BDDF47A776}
0 File(s) 0 bytes

Directory of C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\Temp

01/06/13 08:19 AM <DIR> {131D8ED6-4864-4554-9BAB-09B47C232522}
02/29/12 02:49 PM <DIR> {4E484899-4F93-4086-88BA-56BDDF47A776}
0 File(s) 0 bytes

Directory of C:\Program Files (x86)\InstallShield Installation Information

12/30/12 11:43 AM <DIR> {0F86FD09-BA63-4E45-A70B-604C1106C2F2}
01/01/13 10:17 AM <DIR> {2FBA0453-1A7F-4AAB-93E7-81FBD2CF41C9}
02/20/11 04:36 PM <DIR> {32821558-2C36-4FD0-A891-CA65360B0EC7}
.
.
.

Total Files Listed:
8263 File(s) 3,049,813,385 bytes
851 Dir(s) 45,958,873,088 bytes free
=====================

I am NOT about to mess with them at all...

Irv S.
Irv S.

I'm NOT so sure about that Bill. The few I've looked at have real data in the folders that start with {. As far as I can tell, most seem to be for device drivers even. I suspect, but I'm not sure, these are for drivers that can be RESTORED or REPAIRED. Un-installers get into the Registry and find that pointer, then run the SETUP. Of course, I suspect IF you do delete these with no SETUP.EXE and UNINSTALL is just done, so there might be no harm done.

Not worth worrying about.

Oh, there WAS a bug in Windows Live that left 0 byte files during updates last year. Easy to determine if this is the cause, look at the Windows Live logs and check the timestamps on them and the files. Same, nuke them.

Irv S.

MIne are NOT blank... and least a majority of them. Note the 3GB file size for over 8,200 files. This Folders, same thing, 851 of them, and the few I looked at DO have some files in them.

I'm sure some are empty (files), but I'm not going to try and locate them.

Some probably will do no harm if deleted I'm sure too, but I'll leave them be.

Irv S.

Like these?

They are made by Windows Live Messenger (and maybe some other Live apps, but I only have WLM installed). Usually they appear when one or more of your contacts has entered mobile phone data in their profile (at least for me they only appear for those contacts). I delete them every once in a while, which is why there are only two in this screenshot.