What purpose does C:\USERS\%username%\Tracing\WPPMedia serve?

What purpose do the C:\USERS\%username%\Tracing\WPPMedia\*.* folder and files serve? It appears to be related to Skype and potentially Windows Live Messenger according to random forum posts. Also curious what WPPMedia is.

Mine has the following files:

Skype_MediaStack-6.0.8878.0-lcsmedia_vnext_release3(rtbldlab)-x86fre-U.etl
Skype_MediaStack-6.0.8878.0-lcsmedia_vnext_release3(rtbldlab)-x86fre-U.etl.bak
Skype_MediaStack-6.0.8885.7-lcsmedia_vnext_release4(rtbldlab)-x86fre-U.etl
Skype_MediaStackETW-6.0.8878.0-lcsmedia_vnext_release3(rtbldlab)-x86fre-U.etl
Skype_MediaStackETW-6.0.8878.0-lcsmedia_vnext_release3(rtbldlab)-x86fre-U.etl.bak
Skype_MediaStackETW-6.0.8885.7-lcsmedia_vnext_release4(rtbldlab)-x86fre-U.etl

Xonatron

Posted 2015-04-14T19:36:59.847

Reputation: 1 024

Answers

Everything under %username%\Tracing seems to be diagnostic logging and debugging data created by apps that use the Unified Communications Client API, such as Office Communicator/Lync, Windows Live Messenger, Skype etc.

Event Trace Log (ETL) files can be viewed using the Event Viewer among other tools. The WPP in WPPMedia refers to the Windows software trace preprocessor used for logging and debugging.

Karan

Posted 2015-04-14T19:36:59.847

Reputation: 51 857

2Is there any way to remove them? – redbeam_ – 2015-05-02T12:50:45.687

1If not while Windows is running they can definitely be deleted via a LiveCD or perhaps even in Safe Mode. Question is, will the programs involved complain or break, and even if they don't, will they not continue to create more such files? I have not investigated any of these issues. – Karan – 2015-05-02T18:48:24.093

The .etl extension usually refers to Event Trace Log files. My guess would be that it contains data for debugging purposes. If you would like to see what is in the files you can open them via the Event Viewer built into Windows.

imtheman

Posted 2015-04-14T19:36:59.847

Reputation: 3 503