unrecognizable files...

I just noticed today that there seem to be more files than usual in my C: Drive folder. I don't recognize the files below WINDOWS, except for SystemInfo. When I double click on them, a message says that I need to creat a program to run them. Any clues?

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/5989/ssvy5.th.jpg

It was just over the limit to attach as a thumbnail. If it's too small, let me know and I'll get a bigger shot.

 

I didn't take the AIM popups to Malware, bc it was deemed unrealated to Malware. So I took it to Software. I did install the AIM AdHack and it didn't curtail the problem. Before I posted this thread, I did in fact check to see if I had the hidden folders and files showing and it is set to hid all of them.

Are these files related to AIM AdHack you think?

 

Do you have HP Digital Imaging installed? Is not, then there may be cause to worry. But if you do, that's who those files belong to.

I like HP products, but the past few years their software has really gone to hell, in my opinion. Maybe a result of off-shoring, combined with insufficient specifications for the off-shore teams. I've seen it happen plenty of times, where very good engineering teams turn out really inefficient and less-than-elegant code, mostly because they were never given a good strong set of requirements.

There is file monitor software available - don't remembere where I saw it, but maybe at karenware.com
It should be easy for you to find it if it's not there. It "watches" to see what application(s) read/write files, and shows a nifty log of all activity. If pretty cool, except you don't want it running all the time because of performance issues. But in this case, you could add only those files to it's list, and then see exactly what software is looking at them.

Good luck with it.

 

I do have HP Digital Imaging Monitor, but why would all those files just randomly appear when i've had that for over a year on this computer?

 

>> ..but why would all those files just randomly appear when i've had that for over a year on this computer?..

Could be that some configuration parameter changed - sometimes it happens.

Search your drive for some of those "dbf" filenames and see if duplicates appear. If so, then the software could be confused when it tries to find image files.
If not, then probably nothing to worry about. HP support could probably explain it.

 

As far as AIM is concerned, I am going to uninstall it completely and start from scratch as you mentioned Steve. Do I need to uninstall AIM AdHack or does it remove itself with the uninstall of AIM since it's in the same directory?

This however is a separate issue and doesn't answer the question of the files randomly showing up. Yes, they aren't causing a problem, but I am simply curious as to why they just decide to appear there one day out of the blue with no apparent reason...:confused

 

I did look at the HP program and it has 2 startup items in msconfig (HP Digital Imaging Monitor and HP Image Zone Fast Start). These have been there since i booted this computer for the first time. Would they just up and randomly spit files out everywhere? Also, it doesn't appear to me that all of those files are related to HP. As noted early by someone else, there's a file from Comodo, my firewall, and just a bunch of junk looking stuff.

 

What's the before an after? I've done searches as to whether or not it should be a startup item and everything says "Matter of opinion" or "If you use it a lot, then keep it"

I just want to know what the deal is with and without it on as a startup item... Does the printer take longer to respond, does the scanner take longer, etc.

Upon seraching several of those items, it does appear that a lot of them are HP related as you mentioned.

Also, by killing... is there a way through HJT to terminate the startup entry and remove it from the list?

 

Will do, thanks for you advice and patience in helping me to understand how to do everything.