HP Wolf security creates hidden folders that bewilder my backup software

[Luigi-IT]

hi,

I have "HP Wolf security" installed by default since I bought my PC. I have now installed a program to back up some of my personal folders.

The backup process always completes without errors.

The restore process (which I ran for testing purposes) notified me of several errors, like this: "File operation failed: ~ BROMIUM."

I have found that some hidden folders are present in my file system.

I never created them. But when I start the restore process, my backup software shows them: they are called "~BROMIUM". I think these folders were created by the "HP Wolf security" system. See the screenshot below:

If I open the source folder, I cannot see that folder , so I know it is an hidden folder. See the screenshot below:

I think those hidden folders confuse my backup program during the restore process, so I would like to ask you if there is any way to remove those folders from my file system. I have already disabled the "HP Sure click" module from the Wolf desktop console, but all hidden folders named ~BROMIUM remain in my file system.

And I cannot complete my backup-restore tasks.

Can someone help me? (I hope I have clearly explained my problem).

Best regards,

Luigi

[BeemerBiker]

You mention the restore fails.  Is the restore to a new disk drive?  Is it to the original drive and attempting to overwrite those files?

Does the restore app have an option to ignore errors?

If using, for example, the win10  WBAdmin for backup there is an exclude option that can be used to exclude those files and folders.  The tools is supported by Microsoft (FWIW).

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/wbadmin

and

https://sourcedaddy.com/windows-10/perform-backup-and-restore-wbadmin.html

That app comes with a lot of windows systems and the command line options can be different as a result.

[Luigi-IT]

hi, thanks for replying.

I have backed up some folders from my desktop (where I keep my personal data). I backed up them to the cloud.

So I restored those folders to another folder (the C:\MYBACKUP folder, which I created specifically). Therefore, it was not necessary to select the "overwrite existing files" option, as the destination folder was empty.

I don't want to silence the warning/error messages that come from the backup program because that way I can know (if I really need a restore, following a system crash) if the restore operation I will do will be fine or instead I should restore from an earlier backup set.

My backup program has an "exclude" option that I could use to exclude the "~BROMIUM" folders from the backup process. This  could definitely solve my problem. Unfortunately, that option is a paid option of the backup program (I'm using the free version).

So I would like to find another solution. Greetings,

Luigi

[BeemerBiker]

I have not actually used Microsoft's WBAdmin but my licensed Acronis True Image is dated 2018 and is not supported for Windows 11.   I may look at using it.  All these companies are switching to subscription services.  First Acrobat, then Office, Nero and Acronis.  At least WBAdmin is bundled with windows.

[Luigi-IT]

I spent days selecting the right backup program for me. I selected a free one, because I need months (at least six) to try a program and decide if it is right for me. Only after this hard work of tries and tries I can think about purchasing that program.

So I have selected the EaseUS program (free version, 2022 edition) which I think may be suitable for my purposes. But the free version lacks of the "exclude files" option, which is available in the paid version. I don't want to buy the program now.

So I asked the HP community to help me solve the problem of hidden folders "~BROMIUM" : is there a way to remove them wherever they are, and deny the system to create new ones? Greetings,

Luigi

[Luigi-IT · Accepted solution]

hi,

I solved the problem myself by removing the HP Wolf security from my PC.

Now I tell you what I did:

• I uninstalled the HP Wolf security program from my PC;
• I restarted the PC;
• I made hidden files visible (using the File explorer options utility);
• I made the protected operative system files visible (using the File explorer options utility);
• by doing so, I could see all the ~BROMIUM folders scattered in my personal files and folders;
• so I selected and erased them;
• I made hidden and protected files hidden again .

And, finally, I tried to backup and restore my personal folders. No errors now!

That's all.

Regards

Luigi