Weird folder
Nihilim Dhiamara
I was cleaning my D drive and i found a few files wich apear to have random names ( like: OQojEtUqqSlb9F7gVXF8VpFdFA; 8dfc88bd63c55acd59d5ab2fe67e; etc). There are nine folders and if I want to open them I need administrative acces. The files inside are mpsigstub.exe(8 folders), and one folder with install.exe.
What do these files do and is it ok to delete them? Normaly i wouldn't care to much but these folders apear to take 80GB ( there is 124GB used and i only have for like 40GB of files on it)
My native language isn't english, so if anything isn't clear feel free to ask me.
Thnx for any help
What do these files do and is it ok to delete them? Normaly i wouldn't care to much but these folders apear to take 80GB ( there is 124GB used and i only have for like 40GB of files on it)
My native language isn't english, so if anything isn't clear feel free to ask me.
Thnx for any help
Elder III
I think it's part of Windows Defender - are you using that on your system? It shouldn't take up that much space though..... not by a long shot.
KZaske
Folders like that are created by installers when you install windows updates or system device drivers. Once they are installed, sometimes you can delete those folders, sometimes you can't, depends on what you installed. As Elder III said, it should not take up that much room.
Nihilim Dhiamara
i tried moving them and so far haven't noticed any difference
subarucar
Are all the files a similiar size? Or are there one or two files which consume the majority of the space?
They shouldn't take up 80GB.
They shouldn't take up 80GB.
Elder III
Set a System Restore Point in Windows, then delete the files. I think that you will be fine if you delete them, and if not you can just do a Quick Restore back to the last Save Point and you will be as good as you are now.
Quaker
^^^(provided that the files/folders are in the recycle bin)
Elder III
Nihilim Dhiamara
@ Flubber, i'm signed in on that website so i can't read the answers.
But I do read that this has something to do with windows defender, is it possible to not use windows defender at all and avoiding those folders like this?
But I do read that this has something to do with windows defender, is it possible to not use windows defender at all and avoiding those folders like this?
gone
yes you can disable windows defender altogether. (If I were you I'd disable the UAC if you haven't already)
start-->all programs-->windows defender-->tools-->options--in admin options, uncheck 'use windows defender' box-->save--->restart system
or
start--->run--->msconfig--->services tab--->uncheck windows defender--->apply--->restart system
as pointed out in the previous posts, either send those files to the recycle bin and don't delete, or back them up until you're sure they aren't being used by something else that might cause system instability.
start-->all programs-->windows defender-->tools-->options--in admin options, uncheck 'use windows defender' box-->save--->restart system
or
start--->run--->msconfig--->services tab--->uncheck windows defender--->apply--->restart system
as pointed out in the previous posts, either send those files to the recycle bin and don't delete, or back them up until you're sure they aren't being used by something else that might cause system instability.
Nihilim Dhiamara
I placed those folders in the recycle bin, haven't noticed anything unuasual yet.
Wouldn't it be a risk if I disalbe windows defender? Like for virus, etc.
I use Avira free, comodo firewall, threatfire and iobit for spyware removal.
Wouldn't it be a risk if I disalbe windows defender? Like for virus, etc.
I use Avira free, comodo firewall, threatfire and iobit for spyware removal.
gone
I'm going to be honest here. I've yet to have windows defender catch anything. in the end though, it's all up to your personal preferences.
I use:
Avira
CCleaner
SuperAntiSpyware (I just run scans weekly with this)
and now and again i'll run, then remove:
Spybot S&D (install, run, then remove when i'm paranoid. I like how it blocks via hosts file)
Ad-aware (again if i'm paranoid, install, run, remove)
all of that along with Firefox and you should be safe, with some common sense web browsing. there are also a few good add-ons you should run with FireFox as well, I haven't got the time to link them atm, sorry.
/Edit
Noscript for Firefox
Adblock plus
I don't have any 'active' spyware protection running at all, just Avira. and I do visit the darker end of the internet ;-p
also I'd like to add that if you ever run into a file you can't open or delete try:
Unlocker or FileASSASSIN
I use:
Avira
CCleaner
SuperAntiSpyware (I just run scans weekly with this)
and now and again i'll run, then remove:
Spybot S&D (install, run, then remove when i'm paranoid. I like how it blocks via hosts file)
Ad-aware (again if i'm paranoid, install, run, remove)
all of that along with Firefox and you should be safe, with some common sense web browsing. there are also a few good add-ons you should run with FireFox as well, I haven't got the time to link them atm, sorry.
/Edit
Noscript for Firefox
Adblock plus
I don't have any 'active' spyware protection running at all, just Avira. and I do visit the darker end of the internet ;-p
also I'd like to add that if you ever run into a file you can't open or delete try:
Unlocker or FileASSASSIN
Atlantis29
They look like other user folder (or yours if you did system restor) and they are password protected you need to login as a root admin and resync those folder to you
Nihilim Dhiamara
@ flubber; I also use firefox with those add ons, i'll try runing superantispyware
@ atlantis; It's not possible that those are files from a different user, it's my personal pc and I'm the only user
When i move those files and all the other ones on the D drive to my E drive, my D drive was still filled with 80 GB but nothing is on it! How does this happen and will it be resolved with just formatting it?
@ atlantis; It's not possible that those are files from a different user, it's my personal pc and I'm the only user
When i move those files and all the other ones on the D drive to my E drive, my D drive was still filled with 80 GB but nothing is on it! How does this happen and will it be resolved with just formatting it?
gone
if the files are still in the recycle bin, they will still take up the space from where they were deleted from. (until deleted from system/recycle bin)
you might also want to enable 'view hidden folders' and see if anything else is on the drive.
you might also want to enable 'view hidden folders' and see if anything else is on the drive.