Strange Desktop file

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chuck
  • Start date Start date
C

Chuck

I've been using Windows XP Home for about a year now, and always with norton
antivirus.
There is a strange file that keeps re-appearing on my desktop. The file is
named ~. Yes, that is the tilde symbol. That's all the name it has, and it's
properties gives me no info at all except that is resides in my desktop
folder.

I have deleted this file several times with no adverse effects, and it
always re-appears a few days later.

This same file keeps appearing on my Wife's (XP Home) desktop too.

Does anyone here know what this file is all about?

Chuck
 
Chuck said:
I've been using Windows XP Home for about a year now, and always with norton
antivirus.
There is a strange file that keeps re-appearing on my desktop. The file is
named ~. Yes, that is the tilde symbol. That's all the name it has, and it's
properties gives me no info at all except that is resides in my desktop
folder.

I have deleted this file several times with no adverse effects, and it
always re-appears a few days later.

This same file keeps appearing on my Wife's (XP Home) desktop too.

Does anyone here know what this file is all about?

Chuck
Click to expand...

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1372833,00.asp
 
That is the result of one of the "true" bugs in Windows XP. It occurs when
you access your address book. It started happening about 1 year ago, after
one of Microsoft's updates. They are aware of it, and supposedly are working
on it (for a year now).

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)
 
Chuck said:
I've been using Windows XP Home for about a year now, and always with
norton antivirus.
There is a strange file that keeps re-appearing on my desktop. The
file is named ~. Yes, that is the tilde symbol. That's all the name
it has, and it's properties gives me no info at all except that is
resides in my desktop folder.

I have deleted this file several times with no adverse effects, and it
always re-appears a few days later.

This same file keeps appearing on my Wife's (XP Home) desktop too.

Does anyone here know what this file is all about?

Chuck
Click to expand...

It's a bug in a recent OE update (330994, I believe). Microsoft is aware of
it and working on it.
It's the backup of the Address Book that should have been named *.wa~ and
placed in the same Windows folder as your *.wab Address Book file.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP IE/OE
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Reply to Newsgroup. I won't answer email
Protect Your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
 
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