Files being corrupted

[sumpm1]

Hi. This problem is not related to video or audio files, but usually to program files.

Oftentimes, files necessary for programs to run change in size. It is impossible to say why this is, but it is very peculiar, like a virus or something.

It has happened over the past 3 years or so, over maybe 6 Windows XP installs, and all service packs. It always happens to the same programs or files.

For example, if I download ffdshow.exe adn install the program right away, it works. 2 days later, I get an error (the errors are always different depending on the program). But basically they say that a sector has been damaged, corrupted, deleted, etc... And to reinstall the program.

Reinstalling these programs works, but is obviously a pain. If I on the other hand ZIP or RAR the files that keep changing (and I can actually tell which files have changed in size if I keep a zipped copy of the folder) and then overwrite them before I run the program, it works. This is what I have done for the past 3 years with certain programs, such as Mp3Tag.

Also, even if I make copies, rename the original or the copy, AND move it to another disk, or directory, the same files get changed... pretty wild huh.

I have no clue how these files are getting changed. Is there a program that can monitor or log what programs access each file on your system?

[unmei]

sounds weird.
maybe sysinternal filemon is what you are looking for. I probably wouldn't run this forever, but maybe those corruptions are so often that you find something after a short time of monitoring.