Windows 10 & 11 create tons of empty folders in System32

Wisewiz · 02 Nov 2021

Pejole2165 said:

[...] there is a login task that creates those folders, disable the task, folders don't get created, [...]

If you happen to think of the name of the task, please post back here.

RickC · 02 Nov 2021

Wisewiz said:

If you happen to think of the name of the task, please post back here.

Task Scheduler > Microsoft\Windows\Management\Provisioning > Logon

If you have a laptop with a WLAN mobile adapter (e.g. LTE cellular) then you may also need to delete the other Provisioning task:

Task Scheduler > Microsoft\Windows\Management\Provisioning > Cellular

For more info have a look at tw-xxx-yyyy-zzzz .tmp files (which also references a VBS script found here on TenForums and a PowerShell script on AskWoody).

These days I just disable the Logon task... and haven't noticed any adverse affects since, nor do I get the empty folders. However, I don't use any Microsoft Store apps so YMMV.

Hope this helps...

bro67 · 02 Nov 2021

Ancient news. "tw-7f0-87c-*****.tmp" folders

RickC · 02 Nov 2021

bro67 said:

Ancient news. "tw-7f0-87c-*****.tmp" folders

Except that thread explained what caused them and how to delete them via script... and a post how to disable a task to prevent them in the first place but without knowing of any side-effects.

My post on AskWoody went a bit further (after testing for a long time) and showed that Windows 10 just ignored the 'Disabled' flag (a) and ran the task anyway (b):

Windows 10 & 11 create tons of empty folders in System32-provisioning_logon.png

I should have posted again on AskWoody to note that I didn't get round to deleting the Logon task as planned... because the empty folders stopped being created once the task was disabled... even though the 'Last Run Time' timestamp was after I had disabled the task.

Pejole2165 · 02 Nov 2021

I think the default behaviour must have been changed, I have disabled the task some time ago and see none of the folders being created anymore.

Wisewiz · 02 Nov 2021

RickC said:

However, I don't use any Microsoft Store apps so YMMV.

Rick,

I use a bunch of those apps: Paint, People, Snip & Snatch, Calc, Notepad, Terminal, and the Store itself; not often (except for S & S), but occasionally. I don't see the connection between preventing the creation of empty folders and the use of Store apps. Can you clear that up for me? Do you expect that if I disable that task, I'll create a problem for myself? If so, how so?

Dan

Bree · 02 Nov 2021

Phone Man said:

My nose is running and my feet smell

Oh dear, you're built upside-down.

Wisewiz · 02 Nov 2021

Bree said:

Oh dear, you're built upside-down.

That is definitely the best laugh I've had all day! Thanks, Bree!

steve108 · 02 Nov 2021

RickC said:

Task Scheduler > Microsoft\Windows\Management\Provisioning > Logon

If you have a laptop with a WLAN mobile adapter (e.g. LTE cellular) then you may also need to delete the other Provisioning task:

Task Scheduler > Microsoft\Windows\Management\Provisioning > Cellular

For more info have a look at tw-xxx-yyyy-zzzz .tmp files (which also references a VBS script found here on TenForums and a PowerShell script on AskWoody).

These days I just disable the Logon task... and haven't noticed any adverse affects since, nor do I get the empty folders. However, I don't use any Microsoft Store apps so YMMV.

Hope this helps...

Thanks for the link and details. I decided to do like you and kill it at the root by disabling Logon like you. Cellular had never run before on my PC, so I left it alone.

Ghot · 02 Nov 2021

I have also disabled the Logon task, and cleared the C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local folder of the tw folders. We shall see...

Task Scheduler... (Retry and Run on Reboot, were already disabled).