~ Appears

[Robert]

For some reason, an icon with the label "~" keeps
appearing on my desktop, and as a file on my "C" drive.
Its appearance has something to do with either the use of
OE for email or IE for browsing. I have done a complete
system scan with Norton Antivirus, using the latest virus
definitions, and have used both Spybot and Spygone to
ensure there are no spy programs. When I try to open it,
the only thing that opens it is MS Excel, and it contains
some entries from my address book.
Any ideas as to what this is or how to get rid of it?

 

[Bruce Hagen]

For some reason, an icon with the label "~" keeps
appearing on my desktop, and as a file on my "C" drive.
Its appearance has something to do with either the use of
OE for email or IE for browsing. I have done a complete
system scan with Norton Antivirus, using the latest virus
definitions, and have used both Spybot and Spygone to
ensure there are no spy programs. When I try to open it,
the only thing that opens it is MS Excel, and it contains
some entries from my address book.
Any ideas as to what this is or how to get rid of it?

This is a known bug that was in the April 2003 Cumulative Patch.
Microsoft is aware of it and is suppossed to be working on a fix.

It is a backup of your address book and you can safely delete it.

See this for more information:
http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com/problems/bugs.htm#~file

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

What is the Tilde (~) file that appears on my Desktop?
http://www.pchell.com/support/tildefile.shtml

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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| For some reason, an icon with the label "~" keeps
| appearing on my desktop, and as a file on my "C" drive.
| Its appearance has something to do with either the use of
| OE for email or IE for browsing. I have done a complete
| system scan with Norton Antivirus, using the latest virus
| definitions, and have used both Spybot and Spygone to
| ensure there are no spy programs. When I try to open it,
| the only thing that opens it is MS Excel, and it contains
| some entries from my address book.
| Any ideas as to what this is or how to get rid of it?

 

[Robert]

Thanks very much for your help. Now I need not worry
about a virus or spy program!