sig.tmp files in C:/WINDOWS/Temp folder - what is that?

General Topics
1

Hi there folks,
I’ve noticed some weird files suddenly started to pop out in the WindowsXP’s C:/WINDOWS/Temp folder. They are named sig[number].tmp so it’s like sig9.tmp sig10.tmp sig11.tmp … sig1A.tmp sig2B.tmp sig2C.tmp and so on… most is 0 bytes but some have some data.
I’ve opened the ones with data with a text editor, the parts that are not encoded say something of this kind:

“This program cannot be run in DOS mode.” " S _ V E R S I O N _ I N F O S t r i n g F i l e I n f o C o m p a n y N a m e M i c r o s o f t C o r p o r a

t i o n F i l e D e s c r i p t i o n I M A P I K e r n e l D r i v e r b !  F i l eV e r s i o n  I n t e r n a l N a m e I M A P I . s y s .

 L e g a l C o p y r i g h t © M i c r o s o f t C o r p o r a t i o n . A l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d .
O r i g i n a l F i l e n a m e I M

A P I . s y s P r o d u c t N a m e M i c r o s o f t ® W i n d o w s ® O p e r a t i n g S y s t e m  P r o d u c t V e r s i o n D  V a r F i l

e I n f o T r a n s l a t i o n "

They often mention the name " I M A P I ".

Any idea from where these files come from? I haven’t installed any new software on my laptop. And the only software with autoupdate is Avast. I don’t browse the web on this laptop so I don’t get viruses here as well.
I suspect it might be Avast having some influence on WindowsXP. And they might be created by some part of WindowsXP but I’m not sure.
I haven’t found any info about such files on the web.
Help me to find out what they are and why suddenly they are getting created.
Thanks in advance. :slight_smile:

2

Just noticed the same weird files in C:/WINDOWS/Temp folder.

Win XP Pro SP3
Avast! Free AV 6.0.1289 (Behaviour/Script Shield removed)
Online Armor Free 5.1.0.1331 (Web Shield disabled)

EDIT: I forgot to ask if Avast! is able to clean up by itself these files once in a while.

3

avast cleans up its own clutter (or at least some of it) on a regular basis; but its not responsible for other software’s junk,and this doesnt seem to be generated by avast.

4

Those are Avast’s files. Besides Online Armor and Avast! no other applications/services run in the background on my system.

EDIT: It seems that I need to add that obviously I have several OS services running in the background because otherwise I could not have a working system…

5

windows runs in the background.

6

Really?

7

i mean,its possible that they’re generated by windows.

8

I tried several things. I disabled/enabled Avast, rebooted my system with Avast disabled/enabled and so on. I always checked those file and their creation date. I’m quite sure they’re generated by Avast.

9

you should ask essexboy or davidr,or some of the other veterans here.

10

you can empty your temp files with this

TFC - Temp File Cleaner by OldTimer
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/files/file/187-tfc-temp-file-cleaner-by-oldtimer/
TFC requires a reboot immediately after running. Be sure to save any unsaved work before running TFC.

11

ccleaner doesnt do this?

12

TFC will clean ALL temp files…CCleaner will not

13

if you assure me its safe i’ll use it as well.

does cleaning temp files affect performance?

14

well Essexboy use it in his monthly house cleaning :wink:

and it is made by OldTimer who also made OTL/OTS…and many others

15

ok,thanks pondus,i’ll give it a shot.

if my laptop breaks, i’ll send u the bill. ;D :wink: :smiley:

16

send it to Geeks2Go or OldTimer ;D

17

i downloaded it from the link you gave,its the latest version?

18

to my knowledge yes

19

Thanks guys for the info but as per the original post, the problem here is not how we can clear Windows temp folder.

Could any of the Developers please confirm that the sig*.tmp files are related to Avast?

If they are actually Avast’s files could you please tell us what they are and why suddenly they are getting created? - apparently all started on 19/10 and they continue to be created.

Thanks and sorry for my English.

20

@ Born To Be Wild and Tetsuo
As and when avast creates temp files there are A) in one of the avast folders, commonly c:\windows\temp_avast_ and B) the file format is like this unp999999.tmp. So there files don’t appear to have anything to do with avast.

Given their file formal sigXX.tmp (were XX is an alpha numeric combination), I would say that there is a possibility they are signature updates (but not avast); so what other security software do you have installed ?