Funky Files?

[malcore]

Anyone have any idea what these files are?? They are (were) located in my Windows folder (ME). I have scanned them with AVG and TDS-3, come up clean. I have moved them to the bin for now, all seems well.

They have various dates, so not sure what may have put them there.

Any ideas?

[ErnieK]

Do you know what format they are (e.g doc/txt/jpg etc)

If you have them in the bin and no adverse effects then just delete them after a couple of days.

Also have you tried opening up the large one (NULL) with note pad or similar to see if you can garner some info that way?

[malcore]

Hey Ernie , thanks.

As you can see, the files have no extension at all. Type is just "file".
Tried notepad, can't make out a thing.

Seems to be no problem with them gone, so I probably will delete them.

Just really curious about what they are.

[Budfred]

What folder did you find them in??? I run WinME and I didn't see them in the root directory or the main Windoze folder. I can look further if you didn't find them in either of those locations.

[malcore]

Thanks Budfred.

They were in the main Windows folder, not any subfolder.

What I am thinking they may be are voided files. My WinME computer is sort of my lab for experimenting. I made a few wrong moves a while back, and didn't have my data completely backed up (I know Sylvander, shame, shame). Anyway, instead of reformatting, I just re-installed ME over top so I could recover any data I wanted. Just haven't got around to a complete reformat. Considering a dual boot when I do.

So I'm thinking maybe these non-files have something to do with that???

[FrankSG]

I made a folder in drive C: called DeleteLater. Of course you can call it whatever you want and put it wherever you want. When I have some files that I think are unnecessary--but I'm not 100% sure. I just move those files in the DeleteLater folder. If everything is running Ok, then after a coupe of weeks, I just delete the files. In case I find it necessary to replace the files, I need to remember where they were. If for example, they came from C:\Folder1\Folder2\Folder3, I create the same folders in my DeleteLater folder and put the files in there. Since I clean my recycle bin every few days, the DeleteLater folder has saved my butt a couple of times.

[Budfred]

I know for sure that I don't have anything like those folders in my Windows main folder. I didn't look specifically for the Null file, but I know I didn't see any of the others. I do have things set to view all files BTW.

[pave_spectre]

NULL seems to be the only one in english. I did find NULL on my computer but it has a size of 0.
I do know that 'nul' (with one l) and 'con' are some kind of windows reserved file and trying to name any file with those and no extension gets windows upset.

[ErnieK]

Malcore
Reinsert the file called NULL to the original place (Click restore from within recycle bin) and then do a search for it.

Now make a copy of it onto your desktop. Then delete the original again.
(Doing it this way means that IF you do HAVE to restore from recycle bin at a later date then you will not have any probs)

Now with the copy on the desktop RENAME it to NULL.txt or NULL.doc. Then right click and choose to open it with notepad. To be doubly sure run virus-scan over it before attempting to open it.

You MIGHT be able to read some of the info stored in it this way.