"TVeblen" wrote:
"John Doe" wrote in message

....

I had to use DOS and dismount the drive/volume before formatting.
I have applied many service packs, none of the remains were that
difficulat to remove. However, I recently slipstreamed service
pack 3 into the original Windows XP files to make an updated CD,
using the most popular utility. Perhaps it was that process.

Mmmm. I'd be real wary of a mystery folder that did not want to be
opened and resisted deletion. Sounds like malware.

A search for "updspapi.dll" makes it sound like Microsoft.

Since when did Windows ever try and stop you from deleting
important system files!

Microsoft restricting access to files is nothing new. Typically, system
files are never even seen by the average user.