Folders Created by Windows Updates?

chewynut

Hi. I'm hoping somebody can help me with this.

Every now and then, after a Windows update, folders with stupidly long names will appear on my external hard drive. The latest one is 'b185cd44fa013fde9244' and it won't let me delete it no matter what I do. Inside the folder there's 26 subfolders with names like '1025' and 'graphics'. There's nothing inside these folders but it won't let me delete it or even change them from read only so I could delete it. I've run Malwarebytes, AVG and Windows Security Essentials on it and none of them are picking anything nasty up.

It keeps asking for permission even though I'm using the administrator account. Every time I give it permission it wants me to try again so I'm going in a big circle.

Does anyone know what the heck the stupid programme keeps installing on my external hard drive, how to get it off, and how to stop it installing on the Ext drive? I never even gave any updates permission to keep installing crap on my Ext. drive in the first place so I'm confused and getting a bit grumpy with it. :mad:

It'd probably help if I gave more info. I'm using the wonderful Vista Home Basic and a Seagate desktop ext. hard drive if that helps.

Thanks in advance!

macman

I think you'll find that the folder contain system files which are not visible. If you change your folder settings to show hidden files then they will become visible. Sounds like you have somehow set downloads to install to your external drive rather than your hard drive.

S0litaire

Try starting in "Safe Mode"
Press the "f8" key during boot
Then see if you can delete the folders.

chewynut

Thank you for replying.

I've managed to delete the subfolders. Not entirely sure how but I've had to click the permission boxes a billion times. Yay Vista

I'm still stuck with the main 'b185cd44fa013fde9244' folder now. It's completely empty but every time I try and even remove the 'read only' so I can delete it, this comes up.

'An error occured applying attributes to the file:

f:/b185cd44fa013fde9244/$shtdwn$.req

acess is denied'

I'll try restarting it in safe mode. I did try a system restore to just before the update but the folder didn't budge.

chewynut

:mad:Ah, done it. It's gone. I have no idea what I did but I took all the permissions off the system owner and gave them to every other account on there. It let me delete the folder on the first attempt after that.

But I'd still appreciate it if anybody can tell me how to stop the updates from installing themselves on my ext. hard drive. It seems kind of rude for Windows to presume it can do what it likes with things like ext. hard drives

Lil306

chewynut wrote: »

:mad:Ah, done it. It's gone. I have no idea what I did but I took all the permissions off the system owner and gave them to every other account on there. It let me delete the folder on the first attempt after that.

But I'd still appreciate it if anybody can tell me how to stop the updates from installing themselves on my ext. hard drive. It seems kind of rude for Windows to presume it can do what it likes with things like ext. hard drives

Seems to me a known issue, the fix involves modifying the registry IIRC for where the windows update path is

I had this issue before with my old external drive but never bothered fixing it.

I'll keep an eye on this thread, if someone else chips in I'll see if I can post anything extra.

chewynut

Lil306 wrote: »

Seems to me a known issue, the fix involves modifying the registry IIRC for where the windows update path is

I had this issue before with my old external drive but never bothered fixing it.

I'll keep an eye on this thread, if someone else chips in I'll see if I can post anything extra.

That sounds a bit complicated for me. But anything you have will be appreciated, thank you.

S0litaire

Think i seen in a Microsoft forum that "Windows update" service looks for the drive with the most space to download files to of your main C:\ drive is getting full.

Only things they have suggested:

Not have the external drive attached when you run updates.
Or
See if you can free up some room on your C:\ drive.

expatdave

I'm sick of Microsort updates. On a few occasions after updates my computers have not been usable, so I make sure I turn updates off!

If you ever get a folder that you cannot delete the normal way you can do it via DOS by going to start/search/cmd (just do a google for it to get full instructions)

chewynut

S0litaire wrote: »

Think i seen in a Microsoft forum that "Windows update" service looks for the drive with the most space to download files to of your main C:\ drive is getting full.

Only things they have suggested:

Not have the external drive attached when you run updates.
Or
See if you can free up some room on your C:\ drive.

I do usually try and avoid having the ext. drive plugged in but sometimes the updates catch me by surprise. I think it must be these times that it sticks folders on there.

I have 77GB of 138 GB free on my C:\ but I'll try and free some more up. Ta.

chewynut

expatdave wrote: »

I'm sick of Microsort updates. On a few occasions after updates my computers have not been usable, so I make sure I turn updates off!

If you ever get a folder that you cannot delete the normal way you can do it via DOS by going to start/search/cmd (just do a google for it to get full instructions)

That's what made me so grumpy! I didn't even give permission for these updates. I had to restart for something else and bam, they jumped my PC. Cheeky blighters.