A folder named $Temp

barzak

A new folder has appeared on an external drive named $Temp

I searched for this and while there are many responses for Temp, there are none specifically for "$Temp" and using quote marks around it in a search gives zero results in duckduckgo.

Anyone out there know the meaning of such a named folder?

I suspect it was produced by one of:

1: Windows 11

2. Bitdefender

3. a bad actor

Anyone know the answer?

Flexx

https://community.bitdefender.com/en/discussion/100428/a-folder-named-temp

The folder named "$Temp" on your external drive is likely not created by Windows 11, Bitdefender, or a bad actor. Here's why:

• Windows Temporary Files: Windows usually creates temporary files in folders named "Temp" or "Temporary Files" (without the dollar sign).
• Bitdefender: Bitdefender doesn't typically create folders with this specific name on external drives.
• Bad Actors: While malware can create unusual folders, the name "$Temp" doesn't follow the typical obfuscation patterns used by malicious software.

Possible Explanations:

• Third-Party Software: It's possible that another program you're using created this folder. Some applications use temporary storage on external drives, and they might use unique naming conventions.
• File System Error: A file system error or glitch could have resulted in this oddly named folder.

What to Do:

1. Scan the Drive: Run a full scan of your external drive using Bitdefender or another reputable antivirus/antimalware program to rule out any malicious activity.
2. Check Recently Used Software: Review the software you've recently used with the external drive. Check their settings or documentation to see if they mention creating temporary files on external storage.
3. Inspect the Folder: If the scan comes up clean, carefully inspect the contents of the "$Temp" folder. If the files appear to be related to a specific program, that might be the culprit.
4. Delete (If Safe): If you're confident the folder and its contents are not needed, you can delete them.

Additionally, Open the Run command and execute the following commands one by one:

temp – delete all the files in the folder.

%temp% – delete all the files in the folder.

prefetch – delete all the files in the folder.

Regards