msxml4-KB927978-enu -- is it good or bad?

Hi,

I have Windows XP Pro. When transferring some files to an external hard drive, I came across this file: msxml4-KB927978-enu. I Googled it but got mixed results about it. I went to the Microsoft site http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927978 and read that it shouldn't be deleted. It then went on to explain instructions:

Is this only for people who are having a problem with update 927978? My computer isn't showing any problems that I can see, and we're just about joined at the hip. The creation date of the file is 11/16/06.

Also, I think it's strange that the update would place the file on an external hard drive that contains only video files, no program files.

Should I move it to my C drive, leave it alone or do something else with it?

 

Hi Halo,

The size of the file is 277Kb.

I have automatic updates turned on.

There are no files that begin with kb in my C:windows/system32 folder, not even the numbers that don't start without the kb in front of them.

Update KBKB927978 is not in Add/Remove Programs. There are no updates listed for 11/16/06.

Clicking on the file gave me the message that the extension is unknown and I could look it up on the internet.

I updated all of my anti-virus programs and ran CCleaner. I then went into Safe Mode and ran SpyBot, AdAware, Windows Bit Defender, AVG, and Microsoft Malicious Spyware Remover. Nothing came up, not even a cookie. I then went into Safe Mode with Networking and ran Trend Micro but it only came up with ASP.NET, as it usually does. I have ASP.NET turned off in System Services because I don't use .NETFramework 2.0.

I then deleted the file. I also did a System Restore to a date prior to 11/16/06 and ran the programs in Safe Mode again (but not Trend Micro), and again nothing came up. I never go into the Registry and make changes on my own, even with Microsoft directions because they're not going to help me step by step if something goes wrong.

The external hard drive where the file is located is turned on only when I want to move a file to it, and then I usually turn it off within a few hours. I didn't need to use the drive for 2 days and I then noticed the file when I turned it on last night. I just thought it very strange that an update was placed on an external hard drive that's almost never turned on, as if it were snuck in there or Microsoft lost its way.

My computer's been working fine today without the file and I booted and rebooted several times to see if there would be any problems. I also checked my email and went to a few other safe sites, like eBay and NewEgg and roamed around in them to see if there would be any changes, but there weren't . . . not even a slow down. Hopefully, it'll stay that way.

I just wanted to let you know how it ended. Thanks for your advice. If in doubt, check with MajorGeeks.

If you have any more advice, please let me know.

 

I did a search for MSXML 4.0 (including hidden files and system folders) and it returned a lot of results:

In C:Windows\WinSxS\x86_Microsoft.MSXML2 . . . . . . .(very long numbers)
it found 4 msxml4.dll files and one msxml4r.dll file.

In C:\Windows\WinSxS\Manifests, it found
x86_microsoft.msxml2r_6bd6b9abf345378f_4.1.0.0_x-ww_29c3ad6a.cat
x86_microsoft.msxml2r_6bd6b9abf345378f_4.1.0.0_x-ww_29c3ad6a.manifest
x86_microsoft.msxml2_6bd6b9abf345378f_4.1.0.0_x-ww_b319d8da.cat
x86_microsoft.msxml2_6bd6b9abf345378f_4.1.0.0_x-ww_b319d8da.manifest
x86_microsoft.msxml2_6bd6b9abf345378f_4.20.9818.0_x-ww_8ff50c5d.cat
x86_microsoft.msxml2_6bd6b9abf345378f_4.20.9818.0_x-ww_8ff50c5d.manifest
x86_microsoft.msxml2_6bd6b9abf345378f_4.20.9839.0_x-ww_ed80bd5c.cat
x86_microsoft.msxml2_6bd6b9abf345378f_4.20.9839.0_x-ww_ed80bd5c.manifest
x86_microsoft.msxml2_6bd6b9abf345378f_4.20.9841.0_x-ww_18171213.cat
x86_microsoft.msxml2_6bd6b9abf345378f_4.20.9841.0_x-ww_18171213.manifest

In C:\Windows\System32, if found
msxml.dll
msxml2.dll
msxml2r.dll
msxml3.dll
msxml3a.dll
msxml3r.dll
msxml4.dll
msxml4a.dll
msxml4r.dll
msxmlr.dll

In C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles\i386, it found
msxml.dll
msxml2.dll
msxml3.dll

In C:\Windows\$NtUninstallKB924191$, it found
msxml3.dll

In C:\Windows\$hf_mig$\KB924191\SP2QFE, it found
msxml3.dll


To me, it looks like I have 2 versions of Windows running at the same time, but I know almost nothing about it.

 

I received some updates from Microsoft on 11/14/06, shown in Add/Remove Programs:

KB923273
KB920817
KB894541
KB923092
KB923089

They were all updates to the programs in Microsoft Works.


When I ran a search for kb, it found (all dated 11/17/06):

KB922760.CAT
KB922760.cat
KB920213.cat
KB920213.CAT
KB924270.CAT
KB924270.cat
KB923980.CAT
KB923980.cat

One of each was put into each folder :

C:\Windows\system32\CatRoot\{(long number)
C:\Windows\$hf_mig$\(update number)\update


In the folder "Microsoft Security Updates," the following files are listed (dated 9/3/06):

windowsxp-kb921883-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb917422-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb911280-v2-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb921398-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb920670-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb922616-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb917953-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb823980-x86-enu.exe
windowsxp-kb908531-v2-x86-enu.exe
windowsmedia9-kb917734-x86-enu.exe


On 10/13/06, the following were uploaded:

kb923980.cat
kb923980.cat
kb924270.cat
kb924270.cat
kb920213.cat
kb920213.cat

Again, one of each into folders:

C:\Windows\system32\CatRoot\{(long number)
C:\Windows\$hf_mig$\(update number)\update


I received a result of 31 files when I did a search for MSXML.

I won't delete anything.

I just ran a custom scan at the Microsoft Update site and it recommended that I install:

Windows Internet Explorer 7.0 for Windows XP

I thought I was already using 7.0 but I installed the update.