what is C:\$AVG\$VAULT\V_00000009.fil

Hi and thanks for the response,

I did find out what it is to a limited extent, in that it is one of MANY hidden remnants of the AVG AV program that I removed - meaning uninstalled - and yet there are still manyof these hidden all over the place. I knew I was not supposed to delete any file with $ in it, as that is represented by MSFT to contain hidden system files. But I wanted to know if it's ok to delete the $AVG files since I uninstalled and they weren't removed.

I also found out on many good forums that there are many customers who have also had the same issues with AVG once they try to remove it.

I ran into several problems in removing their leftover files, in that they were tied to some system functions or files. Despite the fact that I uninstalled and deleted the non-"$" denoted AVG files in addition, IE continues to use their search bar as default. I have tried to remove the add-on, but Win/IE will not allow me to. The best I can do is disable that. God knows what else these AVG files are tied to or doing! I'm really bothered with that company and will never use their products again. They are like leeches that will not let go, and Windows is complicit in their continued presence because, clearly, UNINSTALL does NOT UNINSTALL.

Not only that: deleted AVG folders & files reappear! The sole blame for that has to lie with MSFT WIN and the supposed "Defender" of my system. Considering how many have this problem, maybe there's a class action lawsuit in the making, especially if MSFT benefits from this.

But putting files in removed or hidden folders is not my idea of uninstall. My computer, my rules. :)

I'm hoping that if and when my current Win X ever finishes installing, and actually works, that all leftover files from uninstalls will STAY in win.old and not mutate to the new system. When win.old is created, that is.

It really isn't right or ethical for MSFT to allow files or folders for programs to remain, and especially remain hidden, AFTER the computer owner says UNINSTALL. We are MSFT's customers, not these other companies. Everyday - on the rare occasions I now choose IE over Chrome, FF, or DDG ever since- I am reminded that MSFT Windows did not do what was clearly instructed, and also fibbed when saying the AVG program had been uninstalled when it had not been completely removed.

No consumer wants bits and pieces of uninstalled programs floating around behind the scenes, doing anything, really, but especially not continuing to be the IE add-on for search. Disabling it does nothing, it appears with its logo everytime. Does MSFT get advertising $ for letting them remain?

Maybe that's the real truth behind the appropriately labeled "$ files"....

yes, I also have AVGs free antivirus on my system, and I have this folder as well. I just did a search on Bing for the folder name, which is what i always do when I find something in my computer that I'm not sure about.

     So, yes, I believe it must be where AVG quarantines the viruses that it finds until you decide what must be done with the infected files.

I think the far more important question is: what is C:$AVG$VAULT\V_00000009.fil

I'm trying to help someone who has a problem related to this hidden folder, and I don't know what it is or even if it's a system file or a virus that's hiding by using a dollar sign in the name.

Whatever it is, it does not exsist on my computer so it's not a standard Windows folder. It does seem that $AVG/$Vault is a hidden folder placed by AVG antivirus, which it moves quarantined files to.

See this KB.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314984