Summary: Folders with random and unreadable names will occasionally appear on your machine. They're typically the side effect of an update that didn't clean up.
I found these two entries while using Windows Explorer in Local Disk C:
5b6de5225ad398e1a3d65428
5da1b70ef43f9d294a281e704
What do they mean? Can I safely delete them or transfer them to My Documents?
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What they are is easy.
Whether or not you can, or should, delete them depends on where they are.
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These folders are most often created by various update utilities - most often Windows update - as temporary locations to store files before or while the update is applies to your machine. They're supposed to be deleted automatically when the update is finished. But as you've experienced, that's not always the case.
Same for me, by the way. I just found a folder "C:\66b56c24fd10a4d55d658cce1cc19e" on my machine.
If you have more than one drive, you may find them on drives other than C: as well. I've found them on my external hard drive, E:, on occasion as well.
The short answer is that if these folders exist at the root of one of your drives, you're quite safe to delete them, particularly if they've been around for a while. They're just unnecessary leftovers from a previous software update.
If you're paranoid - and it's often good to be paranoid - you can always copy the folder to some other location or burn it to a CD. That way in case we were wrong, in case something appears to start misbehaving after removing the folder, you can always restore it from the backup.
Me? I just deleted "C:\66b56c24fd10a4d55d658cce1cc19e" from my machine.
One caveat: if you find these folders anywhere underneath your Windows directory, I'd be tempted to leave them alone. I've seen comments that it's possible that they might hold the updated files for a possible uninstall, or for Windows System File Protection. As long as they're not taking up much space, then they're fairly benign anyway.
However if you can't resist and want to delete them anyway, then I definitely recommend copying them somewhere for safety first, just in case.
Related:
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Ask Leo! - What are those strange folders in my Temporary Internet Files?
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Ask Leo! - What is the UserData directory in my Documents and Settings?
Article C2915 - January 30, 2007
Everybody runs into files or folders that you can't delete because they are in use or something. The program "unlocker" which you can get here: http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/ takes care of that problem very easily. I use it regularly and recommend it.
Posted by: David at May 16, 2007 2:06 AMhave two folders on external drive E: Properties are:
E:\be0224887b466ec6b6ba11edbaa265\update\updspapi.dll
and
E:\eb99fa32721d7821dfea81e9\update\update.exe
I cannot delete these folders nor their contents, get Cannot delete (filename)ACCESS DENIED. They have been there for months. Unlocker does not work on them. Booted in safe mode, .. same problem. Have ticket open with Microsoft Support, but so far, nothing back from them. XP Home SP2.
Posted by: John Booth at May 1, 2008 2:33 PMNice and important article Leo , thanks.
Posted by: peter at July 28, 2008 1:58 AMJohn i think these files is necesary for Xp system , any way if you didn't like to be these folders visible in your drive , just make them hidden from the folders option for these folders "eb99fa32721d7821dfea81e9" "be0224887b466ec6b6ba11edbaa265"...
http://www.fosdir.com
If you get an access denied error, note the file name, and boot of your XP disc into the Recovery Console. Trust me, you can't miss it.
Then, type in
del (Drive Letter):\(Filename)
Example: C:\62sdf0ajsf2adfs
Posted by: Tech0utsider at December 24, 2008 1:57 PMAhh.. thanks for the information.
You're awesome.
I had three oddly named folders in the root of my E:\ drive, and now those ugly folders are gone. :]
Posted by: Roger at December 30, 2008 9:04 AMIf you are unable to delete the folders, you need to take ownership of the folder and sub folders and files.
First remove "use simple file sharing"
In explorer Tools-Folder Options-View then uncheck "use simple file sharing" at the bottom of the list.
This will enable the security tab when you right click on the folder and access the properties page.
Select the security tab and click advanced.
Select the owner tab then select your user account and check replace owner on subcontainer, then click apply.
You should be able to delete the folder subfolders and files.
Hope this helps
Posted by: David at January 5, 2009 11:14 AMIf you are unable to delete the folders, you need to take ownership of the folder and sub folders and files.
First remove "use simple file sharing"...
Thanks David.
If that doesnt work for you (I did not for me) try this:
Right click on the folder>Properties>Security.
Click on your account. At the bottom check the "Allow" box for "Full Control" option.
Im using XPSP2 Pro on a corperate image...
Posted by: Jesse at January 13, 2009 1:13 PMI have an external hd that I used to use on my XPSP3 machine that has 6 of these folders on it, and nothing I do (setting permissions, security etc) is working to remove these files. Formatting the drive is out of the question, as the drive hold artwork and photography projects. How can I get rid of them?
Posted by: Sandra at January 16, 2009 3:12 AMForgot to mention, using the external drive for my Vista Home Premium.
Posted by: Sandra at January 16, 2009 3:14 AMI found a combo of David's steps and Jesse's suggestion to work for every set of folders I had of this type. Try both suggestions, and make sure you select 'replace permission entries on all child...'. Make sure when you switch ownership, it's to a user with Admin rights and you then give it full permissions.
Thanks guys - this was a big annoyance on all my NTFS removeable drives.
Posted by: John at November 1, 2009 12:56 PM