Question about computer "adding" folders itself.

I'm pretty sure I'm in the right place, but I hope I'm at the right board is what I mean.

My question is this: Is it possible for a computer to add new folders by itself? This might sound strange, but a new subfolder appeared in my computer today, and my husband says he didn't put it there. It's in the "My Documents" folder in the same place with the cache folder (not inside the cache folder, but this new one is right next to it) and it's called "cache.trash". Did the computer do it or did my husband? If I'm not at the right forum, someone please redirect me! I'm a good typist, but when it comes to computers or anything related, I'm clueless. Thanks!!

Emily

 

Hi emmy75, welcome to Wilders!

There are a million ways a folder can be created without you doing it.
Windows itself won't just randomly create a folder, but you may have a program running or installed that created it to store information in.

 

I'm not sure that was an exact answer to your question..

To know more about what could have created it (a lot of different programs), Can you give us some insight as to what you run on your machine?

That would help

 

Thanks for your quick reply! What kind of program would create a new folder? My husband takes care of fixing the computer when it breaks, etc., and is constantly getting a program to play this or do that or some crazy thing. Do any programs ever add a " . " to the folder title? What struck me as odd is that this folder has a period in it. Why isn't it just called "Cache Trash" instead of "Cache.Trash"? This is the first time any new folders like this have popped up since I've had the computer, and my husband hasn't been online much recently to download anything like this. Sorry for being a pain!

 

Just a thought, you might right click the folder and then click properties and see what it says about the folder.

 

You're not being a pain at all If you don't ask, how else are you going to learn.


Have you tried doing a scan on your system with an Anti-virus programs or anti-spyware apps lately?

 

Oh God...what programs we run on the computer? I don't know where to begin! I can try (I really am NOT computer literate, so please bear with me!)

Right now, we have running:

AVG Free Edition - Control Center
OUTLOOK.EXE
iexplore.exe
taskmgr.exe
fxssvc.exe
pptd40nt.exe
realsched.exe
wdfmgr.exe
SVCHOST.EXE
ViewMgr.exe
SDPASVC.EXE
Acrotray.exe
AVGUPSCV.EXE
AVGAMSVR.EXE
SPOOLSV.EXE
BRSS01A.EXE
avgcc.exe
SVCHOST.EXE
ALG.EXE
LSASS.EXE
SERVICES.EXE
WINLOGON.EXE
scrss.exe
SMSS.EXE
EXPLORER.EXE
System
System Idle Process
and about 20 instances of something called "BrMfcWnd.exe"

I don't know what that last one is...I've never seen it before, but there really are about 20 of them open.

I'm sorry if I come off sounding like an idiot, but I hit CTRL ALT DEL and typed the list of processes running at the moment. Is this what you meant?

 

The BrMfcWnd.exe is the Scanner Monitor. I take it you have a scanner connected to your pc.

 

Some softwares install additional folders automatically.
I found this, but I don't know what kind softwares you are using
http://ilias.ca/mozilla/profilefaq/

And NO, your husband isn't cheating on you.

 

.....It sure doesn't seem like that ought to running that many instances

 

Trust me, you don't sound like an idiot at all.

From what I can tell by your running processes, there isn't any major problem apps.

Hmm....

 

To Bigc:

When I right click on it, it says it's a file folder, created today (with the date and time on it), size is 0 bytes, size on disk is 0 bytes, contains 0 files, 0 folders, and in the attributes section, "read only" is checked.

 

Do you use Mozilla or Firefox at all?

 

Well what ever it is there is nothing in it so it should be safe to leave or delete which ever is your preference. If it is needed by some application it will replace it if needed

 

This computer is such a piece of crap. It was nice when I bought it a few years ago, but now it's always "acting up" if you will. I'm tired of it being sooo slow.

My husband uses Mozilla, but I don't like it. I'm used to Internet Explorer. He seems to like it though.

And Erik, what would possibly make you think *I* thought my husband was cheating on me?

 

Read this: http://gemal.dk/mozilla/files.htmlScroll down just a little bit and it gives some info about the cache.trash folder

 

Well I had the impression that you didn't believe your husband concerning the cache.trash folder, but I was just kidding.

 

Erik, I know you were kidding. I'm just giving you a hard time. It's my personal right as a woman. lol

Capp:

Thanks for the site. When it says "Cache.Trash Temporary cache directory. Only used when deleting the real Cache directory." does that mean that the Cache directory was deleted? It's still there, but is it possible part of the cache could have been deleted? In the Cache folder, there are a couple documents...something like "Cache001, Cache002, etc., then a bunch of little documents that make no sense when opened.

 

I think that means, if you have Mozilla clear the cache, it creates a temporary folder to do so.... cache.trash

 

Hi Emily....
Capp summed it up for you, it's to do with Mozilla's caching of trash.

see pic of my own files.

Cheers, TAS