Hey everyone, I'm in a bit of a strange situation. I just got a new laptop in September, and I've discovered Cyberpunk 2077 save files on it, even though I never downloaded the game on any of my devices. These files started appearing the day after I got my laptop, and some have bizarre modification dates, like in the year 2033.
I've done some digging and learned that sometimes save files can show odd dates. I initially thought maybe the retailer sold me a refurbished laptop, but everything checks out—manufacturing date, warranty info, and the retailer is reputable. Then I wondered if they might have come bundled with an Elden Ring repack I installed, but the timing doesn't align, and a friend who downloaded the same file didn't have this issue.
Tracking these files has shown me that their last-modified dates update occasionally, which is just plain weird. Some folders also contain screenshots with random details in the properties, but they are definitely Cyberpunk save files—I checked the contents. Another thought was that my laptop could be compromised, and someone is running crypto mining operations on it, but my GPU usage and temperatures seem perfectly normal. At this point, I'm out of ideas and really need help figuring out where these files came from.
2 Answers
If you set up your laptop with a fresh installation, you should have encountered the "select region/language" screen. If you went through that setup, it's highly unlikely anyone else used the laptop before you. Cyberpunk save files are typically stored in the C:Users directory, so it's odd to think someone would sell you a machine loaded with old files. One possibility is that the retailer received a return and just did a minimal cleanup, leaving some files behind. Or maybe you forgot that you tested the machine with some game downloads or lent it to someone who installed it?
But the changing dates on the files? That’s still puzzling.
Where are the save files located exactly? Typically, they should be under C:Users(YourUsername)Saved Games or something similar. In normal circumstances, does your C:Users directory have any files that belong to other users?
The saves are in Users(my username)Saved GamesCD Project RedAutoSave.
I did boot up at the store to check it, and you're right about the setup screen. It’s possible, but it seems like they could've just triggered the setup sequence on an older machine, which would leave old files. Still, warranties and everything from a big company really feel solid. The timestamp on the files doesn’t line up with the time I’ve had the laptop, so it's confusing.