Very odd AVG message

[karohemd]

Off and on, this

pops up and confuses me as this folder doesn't exist on my HD, and AVG will not pick it up, when I run a system scan. Very odd.
Any ideas?

Updated info: I run Win XP and Explorer is set to show hidden files and folders. A search for the quoted file doesn't come up with anything, either.

Comments

[acheron-hades.livejournal.com]

Is it a system or hidden folder? There's an option in explorer somewhere to show these objects (or there used to be in Win98/NT 4).

Are you running Win XP? I haven't used Windows for a few years, so my knowledge is a little out-of-date - "System Volume Information" certainly sounds like it is internal OS data of some sort, but I couldn't hazard a guess as to what. Looks like it may be an automatically maintained back-up of systems files, or something like that.

(BTW, this post appeared on my friends-of-friends of page, if you're wondering who the hell I am or where I came from <g>)

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

I'm running XP, and Explorer is set to show hidden files and folders.

The odd thing is that the message claims to be from AVG but if I run a full scan, AVG can't find anything.
I'm just updating Spybot S&D, maybe it's some odd trojan/dialer or whatever.

I gladly accept from people I don't know, abuse is a different matter. ;o)

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

This folder doesn't exist on my HD either. So, not a lot of help, but it's not meant to be there either.

[acheron-hades.livejournal.com]

Hmm.. If I remember correctly, XP and 2000 have a feature that is akin to Unix mount-points or symlinks (can't remember the MS terminology). Maybe the folder in question is some sort of virtual file-system.. though in that case I would expect it to be accessible through Explorer.

It does seem quite plausible that it's a fake error message from a trojan or similar.

This sort of thing makes me glad I run Linux ;-)

[duncanneko.livejournal.com]

I think that's the place WinXP stores it's "System Restore Point" information.. which can be a lovely haven for viruses if you clean them up and windows then saves a system restore with the virus still in it. You may be able to disable system restore (wiping the stored ones), run a full virus just to be on the safe side, then re-enable system restore to make sure it only has a 'clean' image stored.

Or, I may be on the wrong track entirely. Don't use XP much...

[skinny-cartman.livejournal.com]

iirc thats a system restore thing, it won't exist as a folder as its just a thing in a backed up memory place.
To stop it if its a sys restore thing just right click on my computer from the start menu or whatever and hit properties then system restore check or uncheck the box (I can't remember which it is). Then restart your computer, run AVG complete check, then turn sys restore back on by the same process. and restart again.
Should get rid of it.
Then again trojans and backdoor virii are tricky bastards as I've discovered before

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Ah, thanks for the tip, I'll try that.
The strange thing still is that the message pops up but an AVG scan won't find it...

[skinny-cartman.livejournal.com]

sounds even more familiar, been a while since I had one like that.
I recall having problems with a part of Kazaa being seen as a virus (its a spy ware thing I think) which even after removal did that trick.

[chrisvenus]

I've got a System Volume Information folder on my computer. You say you've got hidden files set to show, what about system ones?

Not that I would expect it to do much good since that isn't part of the file system as I understand it...

A 2 second google (come on folks, it ain't hard) turns up:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=309531

which says "The System Volume Information folder is a hidden, system folder that the System Restore tool uses to store its information and restore points. There is a System Volume Information folder on every partition on your computer." (that's the only particularly relevant bit).

You'll have to google further for more info but that should be a start for you as to why you can't find the folder...

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Ah, I missed the option for hiding system files, now it's there...

I've now run an AVG test on that folder and still nothing. Spybot S&D found a couple of things, let's see if it turns up again.