Mystery folder I cannot delete

[BarkingGhostar]

9c3976fd39ba99a7abc3f729a1 is the name of the folder, resides on a WDC Mybook Essential external drive. It is connected to a Windows 7 Professional PC it's entire life, but this mystery folder appeared in mid-August. When I try to delete this folder I am told I need permission from the SYSTEM.

Inside this mystery folder are files and folders, some (most) of which I cannot access and informed my attempt was Denied. I am the only user of this PC, and I've tried deleting it while logged in normally, and also as Administrator.

I do not perform Windows 7 backups to this external drive, which really makes me wondering where it came from. Other mystery folders also showed up between mid-August and now, but those I could delete (they were empty folders). I thought maybe this had something to do with Restore Point, but I'm lost here.

I can move my personal data off of this 2TB drive and reformat it (I think), but I figured I'd ask the community at large about it.

 

[MustISO]

Could be a temp folder for windows update but those are typically not protected. If you want to look inside the folder you can boot the PC with a Linux live CD and then browse the folders without any issue with security permissions.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Yeah, I was thinking of booting LinuxMint or something.

 

[Dahak]

its probably a temp file that windows updates uses. usually it goes away upon reboot but could boot linux and delete if you wish. or use unlocker to delete the folder

 

[QuietDad]

You can go into Properties of the folder (Right click-properties) then select the security taab. Click on the Advanced button and then the owner tab and change ownership to you. Then you should be able to delete it.

 

[rob426]

Check the date and time this folder was created.

then go into Reliability Monitor (In Action center) scroll back to the date in question, you will probably find it coincides with the "Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool" update

 

[BarkingGhostar]

QuietDad: I went in and changed the ownership to that of the user account I was logged in as. Same thing. It claimed I needed Administrator permission. I then logged out of the user account (even though it had admin rights) and into the Admin account. I tried to delete it and it said I needed permission from the user account. WTF?

rob426: I had just wiped the native OS disk and reinstalled W7pro. Unfortunately I can determine the date on this mystery folder (8/14/2013), but I can no longer tie it to an event on the OS disk.