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Empty WINDOWS folder getting created in the home folder directory

Jason Derulo 20 Reputation points
2025-09-03T09:21:21.7566667+00:00

I have a weird issue where from time to time, empty folders get created. These folders seem to get created in the location that is set as HomeFolder for the Active Directory user.

A folder gets created with name "WINDOWS" (all caps). Inside that WINDOWS folder, another folder gets created with name "system" (all small). Besides that, no other files or folders are present.

When I delete the folders manually, after some time they will appear again. The owner of the folder is the Active Directory user itself. However they are not actively created by the user, since I also experience the problem and I never created such folders. It must be some kind of background process.

What could cause the creation of these empty folders?

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Windows for business | Windows Server | Directory services | User logon and profiles
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  1. Quinnie Quoc 7,550 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-09-03T10:01:51.31+00:00

    Hi Jason Derulo,

    The behavior you're observing—automatic creation of empty folders named WINDOWS\system within the Active Directory HomeFolder path—is unusual but may be linked to legacy or background processes initiated by system services or third-party applications.

    In many environments, folder structures like WINDOWS\system are created by older scripts, roaming profile configurations, or redirected folder policies that attempt to replicate system paths. Since the folder owner is the user and the location is the HomeFolder, it's possible that a login script, scheduled task, or application is triggering this silently.

    We recommend:

    Reviewing any Group Policy Objects (GPOs) related to folder redirection or profile management.

    Checking for logon scripts or third-party agents that may be writing to the HomeFolder.

    Using Process Monitor or Audit Object Access to trace folder creation events.

    You can also refer to Microsoft’s guidance on automated folder creation in AD environments for best practices.

    Let us know if you’d like help analyzing your environment further.

    Best regards,

    Quinnie Quoc.

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  2. Ricci 1 Reputation point
    2025-09-09T15:04:14.41+00:00

    I am observing the same issue. Did you find a solution for this?

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