Deleting a "malicious" folder?

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We installed MSN GAMING ZONE on our computer for the purposes of playing
online chess/backgammon. We did not like the program and deleted it using
add/remove programs. But the program's folder, and all its contents,
remained in C:\program files.

Intestingly, inside the MSN GAMING ZONE folder is another folder called
WINDOWS. It is in this latter folder that all the individual game files are
contained. It would not let me rename the WINDOWS folder (I thought I could
rename it, then maybe delete it).

Anyway, we could not delete either folder (access denied). So, we deleted
everything in "SAFE MODE," but the files returned in normal mode. We tried a
system restore to a date well before downloading the program, and afterwards
it was still there.

We were told that the only way to get rid of this folder now is to
completely re-install the Windows XP operating system, which would be some
trouble at this point. I don't like losing to a "malicious" program, but
perhaps I must simply take this drastic step.

Hence, my question: is there any way OTHER than a complete re-install of the
OS to get rid of an unwanted folder containing unwanted files?
Alternatively, would there be any harm in just leaving it on the hard drive?
My virus protection program does not recognize it as containing any malware.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
MLB said:
We installed MSN GAMING ZONE on our computer for the purposes of
playing online chess/backgammon. We did not like the program and
deleted it using add/remove programs. But the program's folder, and
all its contents, remained in C:\program files.

Intestingly, inside the MSN GAMING ZONE folder is another folder
called WINDOWS. It is in this latter folder that all the individual
game files are contained. It would not let me rename the WINDOWS
folder (I thought I could rename it, then maybe delete it).

Anyway, we could not delete either folder (access denied). So, we
deleted everything in "SAFE MODE," but the files returned in normal
mode. We tried a system restore to a date well before downloading
the program, and afterwards it was still there.

We were told that the only way to get rid of this folder now is to
completely re-install the Windows XP operating system, which would be
some trouble at this point. I don't like losing to a "malicious"
program, but perhaps I must simply take this drastic step.

Hence, my question: is there any way OTHER than a complete re-install
of the OS to get rid of an unwanted folder containing unwanted files?
Alternatively, would there be any harm in just leaving it on the hard
drive? My virus protection program does not recognize it as
containing any malware.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Have you tried an even earlier restore date?

Yes, there is a way to reinstall without losing data, but ... it's still
foolhardy to not have a backup as stuff still happens.
Google for it;
 
we tried several weeks prior to downloading the folder, and it didn't work.
I saw no reason to try earlier...

you are right -- should backup occasionally and be careful of downloads...

thanks
 
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