Strange empty folders being put in my user directory

[Jahoyo]

Hello all. After I reboot, hundreds of empty folders with odd names are put in my user directory. I am enclosing a picture. It's driving me nuts, mostly because I can't find any solutions anywhere. OS 10.12.6 just upgraded but had the problem before too.

 

[smallcoffee]

When did it start? What software have you installed since then?

 

[mfram]

It could be disk corruption. Are you on a spinning disk or flash?

 

[Fishrrman]

Try downloading and running the free "EtreCheck" utility, and post the results here.

 

[DeltaMac]

Those folders are all different dates.
Are they ONLY in your user folder - those files and folders that you see when you open your home folder?
If you delete ALL those strange folders, then reboot, do new folders appear with only the current date - or do they show those random dates/random names?

The EtreCheck results will likely help you find out a cause --- great idea...

 

[jquebedeaux]

Those folders are all different dates.
Are they ONLY in your user folder - those files and folders that you see when you open your home folder?
If you delete ALL those strange folders, then reboot, do new folders appear with only the current date - or do they show those random dates/random names?

The EtreCheck results will likely help you find out a cause --- great idea...

Hello all. After I reboot, hundreds of empty folders with odd names are put in my user directory. I am enclosing a picture. It's driving me nuts, mostly because I can't find any solutions anywhere. OS 10.12.6 just upgraded but had the problem before too.

Did you ever figure out the cause? I have the exact same problem/issue, even with 10.13, but also started when I had 10.12.x i believe. I haven't been able to pin down exactly what's creating them.

 

[Jahoyo]

Did you ever figure out the cause? I have the exact same problem/issue, even with 10.13, but also started when I had 10.12.x i believe. I haven't been able to pin down exactly what's creating them.

I never figured out the solution but you're the first person I have seen who also has the problem. I ended up creating a new user account and deleting the corrupted one.

 

[Gregg2]

I never figured out the solution but you're the first person I have seen who also has the problem. I ended up creating a new user account and deleting the corrupted one.

That sounds like a solution to me. No need to pull your hair out trying to figure out how it happened and if there is a specific tweak to fix it unless it happens again.

 

[markles]

I'm having the same problem. Just posted it to reddit and referenced this discussion. Hope we can get it resolved!

https://np.reddit.com/r/applehelp/comments/76536d/strange_empty_folders_in_user_directory/

 

[zepfhyr]

I, too, have been having this problem. I had assumed it was caused when my computer would kernel panic, as the GPU in my MBP is going out. But I'm seeing them even when my computer hasn't had an issue for several days. They were definitely happening in 10.12.6, but I don't think I saw them before that.

I've looked to see what apps I installed between 10.12.6 and 10.13, but nothing jumped out at me.

 

[j_appel]

I've been having this problem as well. I've been unable to find a solution. I was thinking a reinstall of everything may be in order, but I'd like to keep that as a last resort.

 

[markles]

Solved!

Virtual ][ is the culprit.

You need to uninstall ActiveGS, which is added by Virtual ][.

~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins.

Deleted the plug in. No phantom folders. Restarted the Mac. Resarted Safari. Still no phantom folders. I think it's solved! You try it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MacOS/comments/76rbs3/strange_empty_folders_in_user_directory/

 

[j_appel]

Solved!

Virtual ][ is the culprit.

You need to uninstall ActiveGS, which is added by Virtual ][.

~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins.

Deleted the plug in. No phantom folders. Restarted the Mac. Resarted Safari. Still no phantom folders. I think it's solved! You try it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MacOS/comments/76rbs3/strange_empty_folders_in_user_directory/

This worked! No more empty folders! Thanks!

 

[jquebedeaux]

So glad to find this, solved my issue too. Thanks for pursuing it and documenting it.

 

[maria5diazz]

Solved!

Virtual ][ is the culprit.

You need to uninstall ActiveGS, which is added by Virtual ][.

~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins.

Deleted the plug in. No phantom folders. Restarted the Mac. Resarted Safari. Still no phantom folders. I think it's solved! You try it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MacOS/comments/76rbs3/strange_empty_folders_in_user_directory/

So i tried looking for that, but virtual isn't on my computer? And these folders aren't just sending to my mac.hd, its also putting random folders on my hard drive. Please help, its messing up my hard drive and cant look at my folders in there.