multiple empty folders being generated in C:\Users\Derek\AppData\Local

I've noticed an ever-growing list of empty folders being created in
C:\Users\Derek\AppData\Local. They're given numerical names like the
examples below this line.

{3AF8D36F-3C2F-4066-85FC-9911D5B2E892}
{7C08B29F-8B99-4448-B618-A7D8F1A67AA0}

Can anyone tell me what's generating them and whether it's safe to
delete them?

On 21/11/2011 23:00, Derek wrote:
> I've noticed an ever-growing list of empty folders being created in
> C:\Users\Derek\AppData\Local. They're given numerical names like the
> examples below this line.
>
> {3AF8D36F-3C2F-4066-85FC-9911D5B2E892}
> {7C08B29F-8B99-4448-B618-A7D8F1A67AA0}
>
> Can anyone tell me what's generating them and whether it's safe to
> delete them?

Do you use AVG?

Ed

On Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00:55 +0000, Ed Cryer <>
wrote:
>On 21/11/2011 23:00, Derek wrote:
>
>> I've noticed an ever-growing list of empty folders being created in
>> C:\Users\Derek\AppData\Local. They're given numerical names like the
>> examples below this line.
>>
>> {3AF8D36F-3C2F-4066-85FC-9911D5B2E892}
>> {7C08B29F-8B99-4448-B618-A7D8F1A67AA0}
>>
>> Can anyone tell me what's generating them and whether it's safe to
>> delete them?
>
>Do you use AVG?
>
>Ed

Nope, Microsoft Security Essentials.

On 22/11/2011 12:35, Derek wrote:
> On Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00:55 +0000, Ed Cryer<>
> wrote:
>> On 21/11/2011 23:00, Derek wrote:
>>
>>> I've noticed an ever-growing list of empty folders being created in
>>> C:\Users\Derek\AppData\Local. They're given numerical names like the
>>> examples below this line.
>>>
>>> {3AF8D36F-3C2F-4066-85FC-9911D5B2E892}
>>> {7C08B29F-8B99-4448-B618-A7D8F1A67AA0}
>>>
>>> Can anyone tell me what's generating them and whether it's safe to
>>> delete them?
>>
>> Do you use AVG?
>>
>> Ed
>
> Nope, Microsoft Security Essentials.

Right, well it's not AVG then.
I have lots in mine too, and I use AVG not MSE.
We need fedeback from others on this.

Ed

On 22/11/2011 2:34 PM, Ed Cryer wrote:
> On 22/11/2011 12:35, Derek wrote:
>> On Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00:55 +0000, Ed Cryer<>
>> wrote:
>>> On 21/11/2011 23:00, Derek wrote:
>>>
>>>> I've noticed an ever-growing list of empty folders being created in
>>>> C:\Users\Derek\AppData\Local. They're given numerical names like the
>>>> examples below this line.
>>>>
>>>> {3AF8D36F-3C2F-4066-85FC-9911D5B2E892}
>>>> {7C08B29F-8B99-4448-B618-A7D8F1A67AA0}
>>>>
>>>> Can anyone tell me what's generating them and whether it's safe to
>>>> delete them?
>>>
>>> Do you use AVG?
>>>
>>> Ed
>>
>> Nope, Microsoft Security Essentials.
>
> Right, well it's not AVG then.
> I have lots in mine too, and I use AVG not MSE.
> We need fedeback from others on this.
>
> Ed
>

AFAIK, these folders are related to installations and updates of
miscellaneous programs. The registry refers to them. Some are junk, left
over from Windows uninstall (which does an incomplete job). But since
you don't know which are which, I wouldn't advise deleting them. OTOH, a
compete uninstall with a utility like Revo will delete any of folders of
this type that have become redundant.

HTH
Wolf K.

On Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:25:16 -0500, Wolf K wrote:

> AFAIK, these folders are related to installations and updates of
> miscellaneous programs. The registry refers to them. Some are junk, left
> over from Windows uninstall (which does an incomplete job).

From time to time I point out that uninstallation in windows is done by
the maker of the program you are uninstalling, not by Microsoft. Windows
just calls the uninstaller provided by the software company.

The exception, of course, is in uninstalling Windows components.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

Derek wrote:
> I've noticed an ever-growing list of empty folders being created in
> C:\Users\Derek\AppData\Local. They're given numerical names like the
> examples below this line.
>
> {3AF8D36F-3C2F-4066-85FC-9911D5B2E892}
> {7C08B29F-8B99-4448-B618-A7D8F1A67AA0}
>
> Can anyone tell me what's generating them and whether it's safe to
> delete them?

The format of the numbers, is they're GUIDs.

"Globally unique identifier"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guid

"The total number of unique keys 3.4 * 10**38.
This number is so large that the probability of the same number
being generated randomly twice is negligible."

You can try running "regedit.exe" from Start, and search
for the strings. Remove the brackets and just copy the GUID
part into the regedit "find" box, and see what turns up.
You could either be swimming in a sea of digits, or perhaps
a product name will be part of the key the GUID is stored in.
(Don't make changes inside Regedit - you're there just to
read and observe.)

That's only if you wanted to trace down what might be using that GUID.
If they're being temporarily generated (to make a random path name),
then they might not exist outside that entry in the file system.
The fact they're in "AppData", suggests a byproduct of installing something.
And an installer, might leave "tracks" in the registry.

Paul

On Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:30:39 -0500, Paul <> wrote:

>Derek wrote:
>> I've noticed an ever-growing list of empty folders being created in
>> C:\Users\Derek\AppData\Local. They're given numerical names like the
>> examples below this line.
>>
>> {3AF8D36F-3C2F-4066-85FC-9911D5B2E892}
>> {7C08B29F-8B99-4448-B618-A7D8F1A67AA0}
>>
>> Can anyone tell me what's generating them and whether it's safe to
>> delete them?
>
>The format of the numbers, is they're GUIDs.
>
>"Globally unique identifier"
>
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guid
>
> "The total number of unique keys 3.4 * 10**38.
> This number is so large that the probability of the same number
> being generated randomly twice is negligible."
>
>You can try running "regedit.exe" from Start, and search
>for the strings. Remove the brackets and just copy the GUID
>part into the regedit "find" box, and see what turns up.
>You could either be swimming in a sea of digits, or perhaps
>a product name will be part of the key the GUID is stored in.
>(Don't make changes inside Regedit - you're there just to
>read and observe.)
>
>That's only if you wanted to trace down what might be using that GUID.
>If they're being temporarily generated (to make a random path name),
>then they might not exist outside that entry in the file system.
>The fact they're in "AppData", suggests a byproduct of installing something.
>And an installer, might leave "tracks" in the registry.
>
> Paul

I followed your instructions but the search didn't find anything. I
made a small capture file of the 'Local' folder where these folders
are being generated;
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/15227039/Capture.PNG
and, as well as being generated in pairs at the same time and date,
the latest pair were made this morning at 5:52am. The only thing I had
running overnight was truecrypt. I was encrypting a 2T external drive.
I'm starting to wonder if truecrypt may be the culprit. My whole
system drive and my external drive are encrypted, and instead of
starting up as usual a boot loader loads, telling me to input my
password before the PC starts.

Correction - they're being generated in 4s, not pairs


On Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:54:41 +0000, Derek <>
wrote:

>On Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:30:39 -0500, Paul <> wrote:
>
>>Derek wrote:
>>> I've noticed an ever-growing list of empty folders being created in
>>> C:\Users\Derek\AppData\Local. They're given numerical names like the
>>> examples below this line.
>>>
>>> {3AF8D36F-3C2F-4066-85FC-9911D5B2E892}
>>> {7C08B29F-8B99-4448-B618-A7D8F1A67AA0}
>>>
>>> Can anyone tell me what's generating them and whether it's safe to
>>> delete them?
>>
>>The format of the numbers, is they're GUIDs.
>>
>>"Globally unique identifier"
>>
>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guid
>>
>> "The total number of unique keys 3.4 * 10**38.
>> This number is so large that the probability of the same number
>> being generated randomly twice is negligible."
>>
>>You can try running "regedit.exe" from Start, and search
>>for the strings. Remove the brackets and just copy the GUID
>>part into the regedit "find" box, and see what turns up.
>>You could either be swimming in a sea of digits, or perhaps
>>a product name will be part of the key the GUID is stored in.
>>(Don't make changes inside Regedit - you're there just to
>>read and observe.)
>>
>>That's only if you wanted to trace down what might be using that GUID.
>>If they're being temporarily generated (to make a random path name),
>>then they might not exist outside that entry in the file system.
>>The fact they're in "AppData", suggests a byproduct of installing something.
>>And an installer, might leave "tracks" in the registry.
>>
>> Paul
>
>I followed your instructions but the search didn't find anything. I
>made a small capture file of the 'Local' folder where these folders
>are being generated;
>http://dl.dropbox.com/u/15227039/Capture.PNG
>and, as well as being generated in pairs at the same time and date,
>the latest pair were made this morning at 5:52am. The only thing I had
>running overnight was truecrypt. I was encrypting a 2T external drive.
>I'm starting to wonder if truecrypt may be the culprit. My whole
>system drive and my external drive are encrypted, and instead of
>starting up as usual a boot loader loads, telling me to input my
>password before the PC starts.

On 23/11/2011 11:59, Derek wrote:
> Correction - they're being generated in 4s, not pairs
>
>
> On Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:54:41 +0000, Derek<>
> wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:30:39 -0500, Paul<> wrote:
>>
>>> Derek wrote:
>>>> I've noticed an ever-growing list of empty folders being created in
>>>> C:\Users\Derek\AppData\Local. They're given numerical names like the
>>>> examples below this line.
>>>>
>>>> {3AF8D36F-3C2F-4066-85FC-9911D5B2E892}
>>>> {7C08B29F-8B99-4448-B618-A7D8F1A67AA0}
>>>>
>>>> Can anyone tell me what's generating them and whether it's safe to
>>>> delete them?
>>>
>>> The format of the numbers, is they're GUIDs.
>>>
>>> "Globally unique identifier"
>>>
>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guid
>>>
>>> "The total number of unique keys 3.4 * 10**38.
>>> This number is so large that the probability of the same number
>>> being generated randomly twice is negligible."
>>>
>>> You can try running "regedit.exe" from Start, and search
>>> for the strings. Remove the brackets and just copy the GUID
>>> part into the regedit "find" box, and see what turns up.
>>> You could either be swimming in a sea of digits, or perhaps
>>> a product name will be part of the key the GUID is stored in.
>>> (Don't make changes inside Regedit - you're there just to
>>> read and observe.)
>>>
>>> That's only if you wanted to trace down what might be using that GUID.
>>> If they're being temporarily generated (to make a random path name),
>>> then they might not exist outside that entry in the file system.
>>> The fact they're in "AppData", suggests a byproduct of installing something.
>>> And an installer, might leave "tracks" in the registry.
>>>
>>> Paul
>>
>> I followed your instructions but the search didn't find anything. I
>> made a small capture file of the 'Local' folder where these folders
>> are being generated;
>> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/15227039/Capture.PNG
>> and, as well as being generated in pairs at the same time and date,
>> the latest pair were made this morning at 5:52am. The only thing I had
>> running overnight was truecrypt. I was encrypting a 2T external drive.
>> I'm starting to wonder if truecrypt may be the culprit. My whole
>> system drive and my external drive are encrypted, and instead of
>> starting up as usual a boot loader loads, telling me to input my
>> password before the PC starts.


Here's a snapshot of some of mine, sorted into date order;
http://tinyurl.com/cvxu878

I don't use truecrypt, nor any other encryption program.
Mine seem to be being generated in twos, but sometimes just one.

Ed