Hello, Thanks for the further advice. All is now resolved, in each folder was
a hidden .db folder referencing the database software (Fotostation Pro)
thumbnail versions of my images. I think they are generated to simply speed
up the viewing process. Nothing sinister.

Again, thank you for all your help, the problems are resolved and I will
leave you in peace.

Mike

--
Mike H


"Wesley Vogel" wrote:

> What actually scanned the folder?
>
> HOW TO: Search For Hidden Or System Files In Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302347
>
> To display Hidden files and folders...
>
> Start | Settings | Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab
> Check:
> Display the contents of system folders
> and
> Show hidden files and folders
> UNCheck:
> Hide extensions for known file types
> and
> Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)
> Click Apply | Click OK
>
> When you uncheck: Hide protected operating system files,
> you will get this message...
>
> Warning
> ----------
> You have chosen to display protected operating system files (files labeled
> System and Hidden) in Windows Explorer.These files are required to start and
> run Windows. Deleting or editing them can make your computer inoperable.Are
> you sure you want to display these files?
> ----------
>
> Click YES.
>
> [[Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are not
> typical items.]]
>
>
> --
> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>
> Wes
> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
>
> In news:E972A7C5-A7C9-49CA-9985-9B3CC6132C66@microsoft.com,
> Mike Hoban <MikeHoban@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
> > Fun indeed. Thanks. Your suggestion re copying to CD and back to the HD
> > worked, and the folder I tested now has no ADS data (visibly) attached to
> > the file name. It also took a fraction of the time to scan the folder.
> > However on doing so, it claimed to have scanned 450 files, when in fact
> > there are only 150 files in the folder, is this something else I should
> > be worried about?. I am currently looking many thousands of afected files.
> >
> > Many Thanks again.
> > --
> > Mike H
> >
> >
> > "Wesley Vogel" wrote:
> >
> >> Keep having fun, Mike. :-)
> >>
> >> --
> >> Hope this helps. Let us know.
> >>
> >> Wes
> >> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
> >>
> >> In news:31D37451-0D8C-4A53-8A60-73AF2555D657@microsoft.com,
> >> Mike Hoban <MikeHoban@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
> >>> Extraordinarily helpfull and usefull response, thank you very much. I
> >>> will read everything and take it all on board.
> >>> Best Wishes
> >>> Mike
> >>> --
> >>> Mike H
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> "Wesley Vogel" wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> Hi Mike,
> >>>>
> >>>>> Thank You. Very Helpfull, I will try that. All of my external HDs are
> >>>>> NTFS formatted, and all retain the ADS when files are copied between
> >>>>> them.
> >>>>
> >>>> To get rid of Alternate Data Streams on any file, move to a non NTFS
> >>>> media, like a floppy, a CD or a memory stick and then move the file
> >>>> back to the hard drive.
> >>>>
> >>>>> If I
> >>>>> were to create new external HD's formatted to FAT32, then copy the
> >>>>> files from the NTFS drives, would that remove the ADS?.
> >>>>
> >>>> Seems awful drastic.
> >>>>
> >>>> Keep in mind that adding Comments to any file adds ADS.
> >>>>
> >>>> <quote>
> >>>> To add a comment to a file
> >>>>
> >>>> 1. Right click a file.
> >>>> 2. Click Properties.
> >>>> 3. On the Summary tab, type your comment in the Comments area.
> >>>> -or-
> >>>>
> >>>> On the Summary tab, click Simple, and then type your comment in
> >>>> the Comments area.
> >>>>
> >>>> Notes
> >>>> To display the comments you add to files, double-click the folder that
> >>>> contains the files you want to view. On the View menu, click Choose
> >>>> Details, and select the Comment check box, and then click OK. On the
> >>>> View menu, click Details to see comments for several files at once, or
> >>>> select a file and click Details in the left pane to view the comment
> >>>> for the selected file. <quote>
> >>>> from...
> >>>> Add a comment to a file
> >>>> http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d...d_comment.mspx
> >>>>
> >>>> Not all Alternate Data Strems are evil. Although with SP2 Microsoft
> >>>> adds zone info as ADS with the Attachment Manager.
> >>>>
> >>>> You can use the HijackThis ADS Spy to remove ADS.
> >>>>
> >>>> Both of these are copied and pasted from HijackThis.
> >>>>
> >>>> HijackThis ADS Spy
> >>>> ---------------------------
> >>>> Alternate Data Streams (ADSs) are pieces of info hidden as metadata on
> >>>> files. They are not visible in Explorer and the size they take up is
> >>>> not reported by Windows. Recent browser hijackers started hiding their
> >>>> files inside ADSs, and very few anti-malware scanners detect this
> >>>> (yet).Use ADS Spy to find and remove these streams.Note: this app also
> >>>> displays legitimate ADS streams. Do not delete streams if you are not
> >>>> completely sure they are malicious!
> >>>> ---------------------------
> >>>> OK
> >>>> ---------------------------
> >>>> HijackThis
> >>>> ---------------------------
> >>>> Using ADS Spy is very easy: just click 'Scan', wait until the scan
> >>>> completes, then select the ADS streams you want to remove and click
> >>>> 'Remove selected'. If you are unsure which streams to remove, ask
> >>>> someone for help. Don't delete streams if you don't know what they
> >>>> are!The three checkboxes are:Quick Scan: only scans the Windows folder.
> >>>> So far all known malware that uses ADS to hide itself, hides in the
> >>>> Windows folder. Unchecking this will make ADS Spy scan the entire
> >>>> system (i.e. all drives).Ignore safe system info streams: Windows,
> >>>> Internet Explorer and a few antivirus programs use ADS to store
> >>>> metadata for certain folders and files. These streams can safely be
> >>>> ignored, they are harmless.Calculate MD5 checksums of streams: For
> >>>> antispyware program development or antivirus analysis only.Note: the
> >>>> default settings of above three checkboxes should be fine for most
> >>>> people. There's no need to change any of them unless you are a
> >>>> developer or anti-malware expert. ---------------------------
> >>>> OK
> >>>> ---------------------------
> >>>>
> >>>> HijackThis (More for the advanced user)
> >>>> http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html
> >>>>
> >>>> HijackThis log tutorial
> >>>> http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/htlogtutorial.html
> >>>>
> >>>> HijackThis Log Tutorial
> >>>> http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm
> >>>>
> >>>> See 9. How to use ADS Spy
> >>>> How to use HijackThis to remove Browser Hijackers & Spyware
> >>>> http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tuto...utorial42.html
> >>>> --------
> >>>>
> >>>> NTFS Alternate (Multiple) Data Streams articles
> >>>>
> >>>> The first four are short and to the point.
> >>>>
> >>>> NTFS Data Streams - Windows Alternate Data Stream, NP.EXE
> >>>> http://www.auditmypc.com/freescan/re...tfsstreams.asp
> >>>>
> >>>> Windows Alternate Data Streams
> >>>> http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/tutorial25.html
> >>>>
> >>>> Windows NTFS Alternate Data Streams
> >>>> http://www.securityfocus.com/infocus/1822
> >>>>
> >>>> NTFS Streams
> >>>> http://www.alcpress.com/articles/ads.html
> >>>>
> >>>> -----
> >>>>
> >>>> Alternate Data Streams Threat or Menace Why Alternate Data Streams
> >>>> http://www.informit.com/articles/art...?p=413685&rl=1
> >>>>
> >>>> FAQ Alternate Data Streams in NTFS
> >>>> http://www.heysoft.de/nt/ntfs-ads.htm
> >>>>
> >>>> Fork (filesystem)
> >>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternate_data_stream
> >>>>
> >>>> Hidden NTFS Alternate Data Streams (ADS) Explained - Are You At Risk?
> >>>> http://www.diamondcs.com.au/web/streams/streams.htm
> >>>>
> >>>> Hidden Threat Alternate Data Streams
> >>>> http://www.windowsecurity.com/articl...a_Streams.html
> >>>>
> >>>> NTFS Alternate Data Streams » Girl Geekette dotNet
> >>>> http://www.girlgeekette.net/2005/09/...-data-streams/
> >>>>
> >>>> NTFS Data Streams
> >>>> http://www.relsoft.net/datastreams.html
> >>>>
> >>>> NTFS Streams - Everything you need to know (demos and tests included)
> >>>> http://www.diamondcs.com.au/index.ph...d=ntfs-streams
> >>>>
> >>>> Practical Guide to Alternative Data Streams in NTFS
> >>>> http://www.irongeek.com/i.php?page=security/altds
> >>>>
> >>>>> Is there any advantage to the NTFS format over FAT32?, . Finally, can
> >>>>> I reformat the existing NTFS drives to FAT32 (obviously losing the
> >>>>> data in the process?.
> >>>>
> >>>> You cannot reformat an NTFS drive to FAT32 without some 3rd party
> >>>> utility.
> >>>>
> >>>> You can do whatever you like, but NTFS is the way to go, not FAT32.
> >>>>
> >>>> What Is NTFS?
> >>>> http://technet2.microsoft.com/Window...ae4781033.mspx
> >>>>
> >>>> FAT & NTFS File Systems in Windows XP
> >>>> http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/ntfs.htm
> >>>>
> >>>> Limitations of the FAT32 File System in Windows XP
> >>>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314463
> >>>>
> >>>> NTFS vs. FAT: Which Is Right for You?
> >>>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e.../october01.asp
> >>>>
> >>>> Overview of FAT, HPFS, and NTFS File Systems
> >>>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/100108
> >>>>
> >>>> --
> >>>> Hope this helps. Let us know.
> >>>>
> >>>> Wes
> >>>> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
> >>>>
> >>>> In news:F869C836-D6CC-4D0B-83D6-15589BB5F4DF@microsoft.com,
> >>>> Mike Hoban <MikeHoban@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
> >>>>> Thank You. Very Helpfull, I will try that. All of my external HDs are
> >>>>> NTFS formatted, and all retain the ADS when files are copied between
> >>>>> them. If I were to create new external HD's formatted to FAT32, then
> >>>>> copy the files from the NTFS drives, would that remove the ADS?.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Is there any advantage to the NTFS format over FAT32?, . Finally, can
> >>>>> I reformat the existing NTFS drives to FAT32 (obviously losing the
> >>>>> data in the process?.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Many Many Thanks
> >>>>> Mike
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> --
> >>>>> Mike H
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> "Wesley Vogel" wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>> ADS probably does not slow down your system.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> To get rid of Alternate Data Streams on any file, move to a non NTFS
> >>>>>> media, like a floppy, a CD or a memory stick and then move the file
> >>>>>> back to the hard drive. ADS can only exist on NTFS formatted drives,
> >>>>>> moving or copying files strips the files of the ADS crap.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> You get Confirm Stream Loss messages when copying files with ADS to
> >>>>>> non-NTFS formatted media...
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Confirm Stream Loss
> >>>>>> -----------------------
> >>>>>> The file 'xxxxxxxxxxxxx.zzz' has extra information
> >>>>>> attached to it that might be lost if you continue copying. The
> >>>>>> contents of the file will not be affected. Information that might be
> >>>>>> lost includes:
> >>>>>> Summary Info
> >>>>>> Document Summary Info
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Do you want to proceed anyway?
> >>>>>> -----------------------
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Click YES because there is nothing you can do about it.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> --
> >>>>>> Hope this helps. Let us know.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Wes
> >>>>>> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> In news:790E5795-6EFE-40EE-93C2-150D3DD87F10@microsoft.com,
> >>>>>> Mike Hoban <MikeHoban@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
> >>>>>>> Hello, I am looking for advice on how to locate and remove Alternate
> >>>>>>> data Streams from jpeg files. They during in my virus scan, but no