Why are folders called <photo_name>.JPG.files appearing on my laptop?

I've got a new laptop. When I copy photos to it from my camera I get additional folders with the same file name prefix e.g. DSC01234 and the suffix ".JPG.files". I get one for each photo. They each contain files with names like vcm_s_kf_m160_160x120.jpg and vcm_s_kf_repr_832x624.jpg. Does anyone have any idea where they're from? My concern is that it's a virus although NIS 2010 hasn't found anything.

sony-vaio

serialhobbyist

Posted 2009-12-20T15:47:59.293

Reputation: 320

Says here, if the laptop is a Sony Vaio, the Vaio Content Manager creates those automatically, http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistaprograms/thread/e624603a-4eb2-4e84-8303-89c1c8c48447.

– hyperslug – 2009-12-20T16:10:41.283

I've +1'd that for you as it is a Vaio and I've found Vaio Content running - yet one more piece of crap on this box. If you post it as an answer, you'll get the tick (in case you're a points-junkie!). I'm really disappointed: this is my first Sony and I didn't expect all this pre-installed crap from them - I thought they were better than that. I won't be paying over the odds again. – serialhobbyist – 2009-12-20T16:19:27.470

1Actually serial, could you post a step-by-step answer of how to fix the issue (you may have to wait 2 days to accept)? I don't have a Vaio and I only skimmed the link so I wouldn't be able to verify what the solution was. – hyperslug – 2009-12-20T16:42:16.247

It was as harrymc wrote below. I didn't wait around to see if the content analyser would clean up after itself, I just searched for .JPG.files using Windows Explorer and deleted them. – serialhobbyist – 2009-12-23T06:26:16.943

Answers

This thread seems to discuss the same problem:
When adding pictures to Vista Picture folder it creates a HIDDEN folder of the same name with two copies of same picture in it.

The answer there was:

Problem is with vaio content analyzer software that comes along with vaio...
Just search for the Vaio content analyzer (settings) and unmark

Video analyzis
picture analyzis
music analyzis

harrymc

Posted 2009-12-20T15:47:59.293

Reputation: 306 093

Those subfolders are hidden files, so you need to change the setting in the folder options. Go to Control Panel > Folder Options > View > In advance settings, click Don't show hidden files, folders or drives.

This should hide those unwanted subfolders inside My Pictures folder.

sakana

Posted 2009-12-20T15:47:59.293

Reputation: 11

I didn't ask how to get rid of them, I asked what they were. -1 for not reading the question. If your approach to fixing problems is to hide them perhaps you should keep your advice to yourself. – serialhobbyist – 2010-12-10T10:26:45.563

How are you copying the files fro your camera?

If you are using a specific piece of software rather than a straight file copy using Windows explorer then I assume that this software maintains meta-data about the images and/or thumbnails (so it doesn't need to recreate the thumbnail every time it wants to display it) of them in these extra files.

David Spillett

Posted 2009-12-20T15:47:59.293

Reputation: 22 424

Nice idea but no, I only use Explorer to copy files. The SD card goes into the slot on the laptop and I use Explorer. My phone mini-SD goes into a USB adapter and into a USB socket. I use Explorer for that, too. – serialhobbyist – 2009-12-20T16:03:54.810