Suddenly new "Games" folder in Start menu

Sounds like spyware, but I'm not convinced it is

[MatthewHSE]

When I did a clean install of Windows XP Pro on my computer recently, one of the first things I did was delete the "Games" folder from the Start > All Programs menu. Don't need them, don't want them, don't need to see them. It's the regular "Games" folder that includes the shortcuts to MSN Internet games like checkers and backgammon. Shortcuts point to the files in C:\Program Files\MSN Gaming Zone\Windows.

Suddenly, today I noticed that the "Games" folder was back in the Start menu. A quick check of the folder properties shows that it was created on Dec. 27 at about 10:44 A.M. (I don't use my Start menu very often.)

Naturally, my first thought was that I had some kind of spyware infection. I ran RootkitRevealer to start with - no problems. Then I checked the files in question with programchecker.com - they appear to be the unmodified MS versions.

Searching my computer for files and folders created on that date shows an empty folder named after my Windows User ID (not the "friendly" name; the long numerical one) in C:\Windows\system32\appmgmt. This folder was created just a few seconds after the "Games" folder had been created. The only reason this seems like it might be at all related is how soon after "Games" it was created.

Like I said, I ran RootkitRevealer and it came back clean. I have run deep scans with Spybot S&D, AdAware, and Windows Defender, all fully-updated, and besides a few tracking cookies, they all came back clean. My system is fully patched, I haven't visited any dodgy websites, haven't downloaded any smileys, or even punched any monkeys. ;) And assuming programchecker.com knows what they're talking about, the files the re-created shortcuts are pointing to are legitimate Microsoft files. Nothing weird shows up in Add/Remove Programs or in the Task Manager. And, the computer seems to be running normally.

Given that everything seems to be checking out all right, I'm inclined to say that the new "Games" folder was the result of either an automatic Windows update (yes, I have that turned on), a result of some action I may have taken (I can't remember what I was doing at 10:44 last Wednesday), or possibly just a fluke of some kind.

But as always, I like to have other opinions, so I thought I'd post here! :)

Any thoughts or advice will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Matthew

[jatar_k]

if everything looks clean then I am guessing your assessment is accurate

did messenger update or something, they have games in that, though I have never looked where it is

windows is notorious for things reappearing after you delete them, I just ignore it most of the time