strange folders created on new XP instal?

[HotRodChiken]

help!

i recently did a fresh install and now i have about 30 strange folders in my C directory.

they all have different names like "2c200" and "3e43c682a09c63f8d29". BUT inside them all is the same folder structure:

SP2 / Update / update.exe

there are no virus' detected, i repair computers, but this has me baffeled!

i get the whole "write protected/may be in use " error when i try to delete and of them.

thanks for the help.

[MadCatChiken]

ERmm delete them, and if all goes bad re-format the hard drive.

[DruidChiken]

They sound like the folders that are created by windows during install setup and are normally deleted automatically.

boot into safe mode and see if u can delete them there

[HotRodChiken]

yeah.... no luck with deleting in safe mode :(

i need to figure out the process or app that is running through update.exe so i can terminate it and then delete them all.

i tried that "unlocker" app. but it did not work either....
any other ideas?

[MaliciousSoul]

Did you try booting to safe mode command prompt only and deleting them?

[HotRodChiken]

how do i do that in dos (i hate dos!)?

[DruidChiken]

have u looked in task manager (ctl-alt-del) to see if there any programs running that could be associated?

[DruidChiken]

how do i do that in dos (i hate dos!)?

F8 on start up same as into safe mode, but option 3 if i remember correctly

[HotRodChiken]

yeah
i can get the command prompt

but then what?

[MaliciousSoul]

First off start by type 'rd /?'.

That will give you the command prompt options.

You'll want something like 'rd /s /q c:\directoryname' assuming the directories and files on the C drive. If now just put the correct drive letter in.

If it get stuborn due to Read Only files etc. try using the Del command with the /f /s options to delete all the files and subdirectories in the directories in question. Something like 'del /f /s c:\directoryname'. DON"T do that at the root level (i.e. C:\*.*) or you'll be reloading.

MS

[HotRodChiken]

ive tried combinations of "/?"
but it does nothing


@druid
can not see anything in TM that is odd

[MaliciousSoul]

Call me. Hit me up on IM and i'll give you my number so i can walk you through what you need to do. My IM is llhobbs@yahoo.com. Xfire is Msoul.

L - MS

[HotRodChiken]

ok i figured it out...
for those that want to know

boot to safe mode
launch windows explorer
right click folder
properties
security
select "full control"
OK

delete file

move on to next one

thanks to all for looking at this