Unknown file on desktop

[Jim]

Hello all

I have a problem wil an unknown (to me) file appearing on the desktop of
several of my computers. The file is named "~" with no extension and
contains address book information. I'm seeing it on Win XP and Win 98SE
boxes. If I delete it it will come back in several days, been going on on
one machine for a few months.

I have McAfee virus scan running on the machines (and up to date) and run
AdAware 6 . Any ideas on the source of this file or utilities to track it
down ?

Thanks

Jim

 

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

Quoth the raven named Jim:

I have a problem wil an unknown (to me) file appearing on the desktop of
several of my computers. The file is named "~" with no extension and
contains address book information. I'm seeing it on Win XP and Win 98SE
boxes. If I delete it it will come back in several days, been going on on
one machine for a few months.

Known bug in one of the last (previous) OE upgrades/patches. When you
make changes in your address book, OE makes a temporary copy, which
you have found. Unfortunately, the developer forgot to delete the temp
copy after you save.

It's harmless. Just delete it.

I have McAfee virus scan running on the machines (and up to date) and run
AdAware 6 . Any ideas on the source of this file or utilities to track it
down ?

Not being a virus or ad-ware, these programs won't do anything with it.

 

[Jim]

That was fast !!! Thanks for the info. I have been googling and
looking on technet for a few weeks trying to figure that out.

Thanks Again

Jim

 

[Jim]

I tried to verify that this is the source of the file by editing, deleting
and creating new entries in the address book.
Non of them created the file. Do you have a link for info relating to the
OE bug ?

Thanks again

Jim

 

[T.R.]

The file is named "~" with no extension and contains address book information.

Same here. I asked around and was told this started with one of the
past MS upgrades on certain configured systems unknown as to why right
now. It is associated with Outlook Express and appears each time you
edit, add to or anything else with your Outlook Express Address Book.

I was told not to worry about it and just keep deleting it after each
address book usage until MS figures out what, when and where the
problem is stemming from and puts a fix out.

The above information did not come from MS but from a NG that I have
forgotten which and who now so, the above information is not official.
However, scans with NAV 2003 Pro, AdAware and SpyBot S&D have turned
nothing up on this. Also, this is happening on my Win 98SE machine
running Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1123 but not my Win XP and Win 2000
machines also running the same version of Outlook Express.

Regards,
ô¿ô
~


Communists: Liberals who know what they're doing!

 

[Jim]

Update
I tried on one of the other machines and deleting and address did trigger
the file onto the desktop. I fooled around a bit and sometimes the file is
created and sometimes not. Hopefully a fix is on the way.

I tried to verify that this is the source of the file by editing, deleting
and creating new entries in the address book.
Non of them created the file. Do you have a link for info relating to the
OE bug ?

Thanks again

Jim

Quoth the raven named Jim:

on

on

Known bug in one of the last (previous) OE upgrades/patches. When you
make changes in your address book, OE makes a temporary copy, which
you have found. Unfortunately, the developer forgot to delete the temp
copy after you save.

It's harmless. Just delete it.

track

 

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

Quoth the raven named Jim:

I tried to verify that this is the source of the file by editing, deleting
and creating new entries in the address book.
Non of them created the file. Do you have a link for info relating to the
OE bug ?

Google is your friend. <g> This was first link found:
http://www.pchell.com/support/tildefile.shtml

 

[Jim]

I had google up a storm for that problem and didnt find anything. That was
a good reference. I had installed a file logger and had tracked it down to
msimn but could not figure out why some times it happend. I have two
machins with Win98SE, the same version of mail and news and the patch. One
machine will do it every time if I use the desktop shortcut (If I use the
other shortcut file appears in root dir.) But on my main machine I cant
recreate the file but have seen it on this machine before.

I moved the shortcut to the taskbar now I wont have to see the file on the
desktop.

Thank-you for your help.

Jim

 

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

Quoth the raven named Jim:

I had google up a storm for that problem and didnt find anything.

The keywords I used: outlook express temp file tilde ~

Trying to find the right words can be frustrating at times. <g>

 

[GSV Three Minds in a Can]

That was fast !!! Thanks for the info. I have been googling and
looking on technet for a few weeks trying to figure that out.

You didn't google very well. try 'tilde on desktop', and use google's
'groups' option - you'll get plenty of hits. (Tilde is what ~ is known
as .. you can't actually google for a ~, as far as I know, which is a
real pain).

 

[Jim]

I think I got stuck trying to use the symbol and using phrases without the
tilde that returned mega hits.

I have another simular problem with reoccuring root directory entries that
are named with a one character name and a file size of zero bytes. The
names are in symbol format so I dont know how to serch for them. Sometimes
it will be a pipe sign them one symbol then another pipe sign.

Any ideas on a search for that ?

 

[GSV Three Minds in a Can]

I think I got stuck trying to use the symbol and using phrases without the
tilde that returned mega hits.

I have another simular problem with reoccuring root directory entries that
are named with a one character name and a file size of zero bytes. The
names are in symbol format so I dont know how to serch for them. Sometimes
it will be a pipe sign them one symbol then another pipe sign.

Any ideas on a search for that ?

Spybot S&D from www.security.kolla.de, and/or your favourite virus
checker. 8> .. I haven't seen that one discussed on any of the Windows
NGs, so it may be something other than an MS glitch.