are you sure xp put those files there? many types of spyware regularly hide files like that all over the place. other less evil programs do too. toolbars come to mind right off the bat.
we all know that microsoft is evil, everything they do is suspect and they hate us, but there might be better explainations than that microsoft is big brother. (bill gates just called to remind me i missed a toe while clipping my toenails the other day; ill have to remeber to cover my webcam)
