System Volume Information files mysteriously appear

Cloning a backup drive on main HDD to a separate drive with xxclone, a large
quantity, more than 1 gig, of System Volume Information files were
identified by the copy program; except for relatively small number of
failures they were copied to the spare disk. The source drive for the
transfer has in it only the files to be backed up - double security. Not
possible the sys vol inf files could be placed there, unless windows
secretes them on all drives. The SysVolInf stuff doesn't show in Win
Explorer, source or receiving disk. I have option "show all files", and for
a minute or two unchecked "hide OS files", but still the SVInf files are
invisible.

Also, a virus was detected in the course of xxcopying SVI files. Not
serious. A leftover from a nuisance type infection some time ago. I've
removed svi restores from a date near to the original detection of the
virus. But I would like to be able to get at and edit those SVI files, and
if the virus is still there, get rid of it by applying Avast to it. Win XP
Home "help and support" gives directions for opening that huge volume that
are impossible to follow on my box.

All suggestions would be most appreciated.
--
R Tin
Address anti-spammed