Suspicious files XP from Windows Update?

Plagued by this problem for the 1.5 years I have had my AAO. Within days of XP reload from original media, my SSD C drive begins to show hidden Windows Update-related files named with bizarre characters. The files seem to multiply and SSD space continues to disappear,perhaps confused as to actual space . It doesn't seem wise to keep WU turned off, but until I determine where the junk files come from, I don't feel inclined to enable it. Ideas? My error? Thx.

 

I don't use Windows Update anymore, except to notify me when updates are available. Instead I use AutoPatcher on an SD card. It'll download the available updates and store them on the SD card, as well as installing them. You can then take the SD card from computer to computer to install them, or take the updates and integrate them into your XP install media.

I know the general consensus is that CC Cleaner is a favored hdd cleanup tool, but I haven't heard of anyone using Auslogics Disk Cleaner, it's part of a paid-for software suite that I use, but it's incredibly powerful when it comes to cleaning junk off your drive. One thing it does well is clean up Windows Update files. So you might want to give the 15 day trial a go.