Application data and Apps folders being deleted periodically!

[sweetcow]

Ok, something weird and disturbing has started occurring on my computer. Approximately every 3 weeks or so my Application data and Apps folders just vanish without a trace (inside "C:\Documents and Settings\name\Local Settings"). I'll start Outlook and suddenly it can't find my Inbox, and I'll know it must've happened last night. Fortunately I do regular backups, so I can just restore them no problem, but what the hell??

Any one know what might cause this? I've done full system scans with McAfee and Ad Aware, but found nothing.

Any programs recommended that keep a log of all system activity and all file modification so I can pinpoint exactly when this is occurring during the night, and perhaps by what program?

I'm using XP SP3.

 

[linney]

Are you showing both System and Hidden files in Folder Options/ View?

C:\Documents and Settings\Usernamexxxx\Local Settings\Application Data..."is a Windows system folder and is required for Windows to run properly. It cannot be deleted", at least that is what I get when trying a manual deletion.

When you find it see if you can manually delete it.

Is it just your E-mail program that is the problem?

C:\Documents and Settings\usernamexxxx\Local Settings\Apps....is able to be manually deleted and is not a system or hidden file.

Whatever the problem, you may be re-infecting yourself, sort of speak, by running backups over the hard drive if they are image type backups rather than eliminating the fault.

Are there any clues in the Event Viewer? If the Application Data folder goes AWOL then perhaps you can narrow down the time frame?

The only logging program I know is not free, but has a free trial, it is....

StatWin Pro 7.8

http://www.soft32.com/download_4621.html

To audit access to files, you must perform two tasks:

1.) Enable the Audit Policy called "Audit Object Access".

2.) Enable auditing on the individual files and folders you wish to audit.


Both of these procedures are outlined here.

http://www.gregthatcher.com/Papers/IT/audit.aspx

 

[sweetcow]

Thanks for your help.

But I figured out the cause, and WOW. It was Acronis Backup. Apparently the version I have deletes the files in Application Data among others sometimes. So the program you use to backup your data DELETES it instead. What an incredible blunder by Acronis.

More info:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r21...-Image-Home-2009-is-deleting-files-after-back