IGDUMP folder in AppData\LocalLow - Can it, or its contents be deleted

[GTM]

The IGDUMP folder in AppData\LocalLow contains a lot of folders with each having two files in them.  One of the files has the .ext extension and the other one is a dll with the name sample.dll (looking at its properties, it is a file signed by Malwarebytes - both sha1 and sha256).

There are 271 such subfolders in IGDUMP containing a total of 508 files using up about 170MB (177,999,872 bytes). 

Can the IGDUMP folder, or its contents be deleted ?

[Malwarebytes]

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[Porthos]

17 minutes ago, GTM said:

Can the IGDUMP folder, or its contents be deleted ?

Yes you can delete the contents. They should not build up like that though. I have one currently. We can look deeper for an issue if you like.

Edited March 8, 2021 by Porthos

[GTM]

Thank you for the quick reply. 

I will delete the sub-folders. 

Why/When are these sub-folders getting created?  

[Porthos]

10 minutes ago, GTM said:

Why/When are these sub-folders getting created?  

All I can say it is part of the scanning process.

We can look deeper,

Can you please collect and upload as an attachment the diagnostic data using our MBST?

• Download and run the Malwarebytes Support Tool
• Accept the EULA and click Advanced tab on the left (not Start Repair)
• Click the Gather Logs button, and once it completes, attach the zip file it creates on your desktop to your next reply

[GTM]

The zip file was generated but it cannot be attached because it is larger than the Max file size of 87.89MB.

The generated zip file is144MB.

 

[Porthos]

12 minutes ago, GTM said:

The generated zip file is144MB.

Something is off there. Mine is only 11.4 mb.

Delete the zip you have and restart the computer and do the log again.

[GTM]

I deleted some .rrr files from C:\ProgramData\Malwarebytes\MBAMService that were causing the bloated zip file. 

Re-Ran the mb-support tool and I am attaching the generated zip file.

Thanks for your help and patience.

 

 

 

mbst-grab-results.zip

[Porthos]

1 hour ago, GTM said:

Thanks for your help and patience.

It is possible that Bitdefender is keeping MB from deleting those files.

Lets do a proper clean install of MB.

Please do the following Uninstall and reinstall using the Malwarebytes Support Tool

Please have lots of patience with the tool.  The first phase is a cleanup and does require a Windows Restart.
After the Restart, it may take 2 - 3 - 4 minutes till the Support tool screen shows up.   Please be patient and have faith.  Wait for it, whatever it takes.
The 2nd phase is where it offers to do a new Install.

After that is done,

I would  also create exclusions between Malwarebytes and Your AV to help prevent any possible conflicts or performance issues.  Please add the items listed in this support article to Your AV 's allow list(s)/trust list(s)/exclusion list(s) particularly for any of its real-time protection components and likewise add Your AV 's program folder(s) (likely located under C:\Program Files and/or C:\Program Files (x86)) to Malwarebytes' Allow List using the method described under the Allow a file or folder section of this support article and do the same for its primary data folder which is likely located under C:\ProgramData (you may need to show hidden files and folders to see it).

Finally, I suggest you uninstall and stop using any registry cleaners on your system. The can cause more issues than they can fix.

https://decentsecurity.com/#/registry-cleaners/
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2563254/microsoft-support-policy-for-the-use-of-registry-cleaning-utilities
https://www.howtogeek.com/171633/why-using-a-registry-cleaner-wont-speed-up-your-pc-or-fix-crashes/
https://www.howtogeek.com/162683/pc-cleaning-apps-are-a-scam-heres-why-and-how-to-speed-up-your-pc/
https://lifehacker.com/5482701/whats-the-registry-should-i-clean-it-and-whats-the-point
https://lifehacker.com/5033518/debunking-common-windows-performance-tweaking-myths

[GTM]

I added the items listed in this support article to the Bitdefender AV exception list and then uninstalled and re-installed Malwarebytes using the   Malwarebytes Support Tool.  After that I ran scan and noticed that the IGDUMP folder was created in AppData\LocalLow  but got deleted after the scan terminated.  

I'll check tomorrow after the daily scan and see if the issue has been resolved.   BTW, I also uninstalled the registry cleaner. 

It looks like your suggestion worked. 

Thanks for your help.      

 

[Porthos]

15 minutes ago, GTM said:

I added the items listed in this support article to the Bitdefender AV exception list and then uninstalled and re-installed Malwarebytes

Be sure to add the BitDefender folders to the Malwarebytes allow list as well.

The goal is to exclude each one from the other one.🙂

17 minutes ago, GTM said:

BTW, I also uninstalled the registry cleaner. 

Get rid of all of them.

Quote

Auslogics Registry Cleaner (HKLM-x32\...\{8D8024F1-2945-49A5-9B78-5AB7B11D7942}_is1) (Version: 9.0.0.4 - Auslogics Labs Pty Ltd)
Auslogics Registry Defrag (HKLM-x32\...\{D627784F-B3EE-44E8-96B1-9509B991EA34}_is1) (Version: 13.0.0.4 - Auslogics Labs Pty Ltd)

jv16 PowerTools (HKLM-x32\...\jv16 PowerTools) (Version: 5.0 - Macecraft Software)

I would also uninstall HiJackThis as it is really not used anymore.

I suggest you also uninstall CCleaner because of the data collection policy's they have now since they were purchased by Avast. If you "must" keep it, never use the registry cleaner part of it.

I would also uninstall Bonjour. It is not really needed on a Windows PC.

Quote

What exactly is mDNSResponder.exe? (Bonjour)

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/howto/what-is-mdnsresponder-exe-and-why-is-it-running/

MDNSResponder, also known as Bonjour, is Apple’s native zero-configuration networking process for Mac that was ported over to Windows and associated with MDNSNSP.DLL.  On a Mac or iOS device, this program is used for networking nearly everything.  On Windows, this process is only necessary for sharing libraries via iTunes and other Mac applications like the Apple TV that were ported to Windows.  Bonjour allows different computers running iTunes to communicate with each other regardless of network configuration, this is because it enables automatic network discovery.

What Is mDNSResponder.exe / Bonjour and How Can I Uninstall or Remove It?
https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/6456/what-is-mdnsresponder.exe-bonjour-and-how-can-i-uninstall-or-remove-it/

I also highly recommend running on a regular basis,  Patch My PC . It is good at keeping most non MS 3rd party software up to date.

[GTM]

I removed the registry cleaners you pointed out, and the Bonjour app (I had left it there because I was not sure whether removing it would have any adverse effect on Windows).   I do not have HiJackThis - I had installed/used it one many years ago and then uninstalled it but I guess it left traces in the Registry?  

I was not aware that AVAST purchased CCleaner.   Have not removed CCleaner yet - I have not been using it to clean the registry, I have only been using it to clean the crap other applications leave.   I wonder if there is another decent app to cleanup the remnants as they tend to build.

It is quite a different world when it comes to software written for PC's vs software written for Mainframes.   I am a retired mainframe system software designer/developer - we took extreme care when we would update the Operating System libraries so it is difficult for me to accept that software developers would not cleanup the Registry and other Windows system directories/folders when removing their products - oh well ...

BTW, thanks for the tip regarding the app Patch My PC.  I was using the portable version of UCheck to determine which apps needed updates and then manually downloaded and updated them.  Patch My PC is definitely more convenient.  The only issue I had with it is during the updating it turned the desktop screen to black, and it remained so until I hit Ctrl-Alt-Del and got into Windows Task Manager and signed off my session.   I wonder if there is an option that I had to tweak and I missed it.   
    

 

  

[Porthos]

7 minutes ago, GTM said:

The only issue I had with it is during the updating it turned the desktop screen to black, and it remained so until I hit Ctrl-Alt-Del and got into Windows Task Manager and signed off my session.

That can happen when explorer needs to restart after an update. Seen it several times myself. (use it on every computer I touch).😉

When I uninstall, I use a little utility called Geek uninstaller. It gets just the leftovers just from the program you are uninstalling and not a full reg clean.

Edited March 9, 2021 by Porthos

[GTM]

I'll try the Geek uninstaller.  I took a quick look at it and it seems nice and has a small footprint.  Thank you for the recommendations and also for all the help you've provided.  I really appreciate it.   

George

 

[Porthos]

Stay safe. If you need something in the future, just ask.