Strange folder on desktop

[mammaduck]

When I turned my puter on this morning I noticed a strange folder on it named "~" (without the quotes). According to the properties it was created last night. I opened it with notepad and it turned out to be a list of my Outlook Express address book.

I have run Spybot and two virus scans but everything is clean. Does anybody know how and why that folder was created and why it suddenly was placed on my desktop?

Thanks for any info.
Hanneke

[slim]

Sounds like a similar problem as in this post

http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22064

Slim

:D :D :D

[mammaduck]

Thanks for your reply. It's exactly the same thing. I did do a search for "folder ~" but I got the following error message:
The search term you specified (~) is under the minimum word length (2) and therefore will not be found. Please make this term longer.

I didn't know how I could make ~ longer so I gave up the search :rolleyes:

Hanneke

[Sylvander]

I have this also.
There are three of these files in my recycle bin at the moment.
I opened one with Wordpad and there is no text inside.

They started appearing [when I shut down Outlook Express] after I tried customising the toolbar in Outlook Express.

The only other thing I've done that might have an effect is to delete outdated files for the address book and paste in the latest copies.
I did this after restoring an old backup taken in February.
See folder "C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book"
and the two files "[your PC's name].WAB" & "[your PC's name].WA~"
Notice the "Tilde" = "~" at the end of ".WA~".
Is that of any significance I wonder?
These two files hold the address book and should be backed up and restored as necessary.
I may have backed these up, then updated Outlook express, then restored the files to be used by a version of OE that didn't make them.
Incompatible?
[Just grabbing at straws]

[YODA74]

What that file is (which I believe you will see is named "~") is your yourname.wa~ file which on my PC resides in C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book . That file is the backup for yourname.wab (the OE Address Book). But now, after the glitch, the .wa~ file is no longer getting updated when you make a change to Address Book. Rather it goes to your Desktop as "~" instead of to C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book as yourname.wa~. However, your Address Book, itself, is still getting updated. So unless you worry about the backup no longer being updated(what good is it, anyway??), you can delete the "~" file. Or if you cannot live without the updated backup .wa~ file, then just rename that suspicious "~" file to yourname.wa~ and send it to the C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book folder (replacing the existing and now outdated yourname.wa~ file).
Supposedly MS was working on a fix many months ago, but I have seen no announcement of one yet, and none of the recent MS fixes have cured the problem.

[mjc]

Yep, Yoda is spot on on this. It seems to be becoming a much more common occurence..as if one of the recent updates makes OE more prone to screw up the addressbook backup.

[Sylvander]

excellent!

A mystery solved.
I tried it out by making an alteration in my address book then closing down Outlook Express and sure enough, the file was produced.

So I renamed it and cut and pasted it into the Address Book folder.
I suppose it would be too much to hope for, that this would end the glitch.
Do you have any idea of the root cause Yoda?

[YODA74]

:D Microsoft

actually i believe it started with this this patch
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/recommended/q331923/default.asp
And this
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/critical/330994/default.asp

I think it has something to do with the *tilde file * ??

[ErnieK]

Not to sure about this but check the following.

When I turn on Hidden files I get them showing on desktop as well.

Go to folder options/view and see if "Hidden Files and Folders" is selelcted. If so deslect it and these files should dissapear from the desktop.

[Sylvander]

My configuration is set to show all hidden files.

Hiding them would only mean you could have numerous files being created and stored on the desktop unseen.

I'd rather know my PC had a problem than be ignorant of its presence.

[jabarnutcase]

Wow! This whole week has been like living in the twilight zone for me...(Or the "outer limits" as gracious corrected me). :p

I was following this "glitch" post with interest....And wouldn't you know it! Just showed up on my desktop tonight too!

Glad I have all this info now, or I'd be asking you guys what the heck it was too! (Right now, it's sitting in my recycle bin looking for a friend)

Strange days...:D


(EDIT) Sylvander- I deleted mine and tried your experiment. Altered my address book, closed OE, opened again etc....But the "mystery" file didn't come back again for me...(At least not yet) I think it's too scared to come back.
:p

[ErnieK]

I have cut and pasted the following from Fred Langa's newsletter (30/6/2003)

Answers the question and once again shows that Yoda is once again in front of many others with the answers :D

Fred Langa 30/6 ~
---Mystery solved! It is the result of a windows update 330994
patch. You get the temp file after a change is made to your
address book in Outlook express. You can see if you have the
patch by going to IE....Help...About and seeing if the patch
is listed there. I made a change to my address book this
morning and "Bingo" the file appeared!

---That (tilde) file is most probably appearing as the result
of installing the "April 2003, Cumulative Patch for Outlook
Express (330994)". Microsoft is aware of the problem and is
supposedly working on a fix. Many people are experiencing this
problem and from what I've read about this problem that icon
will also reappear when you reply to an e-mail and you have
your Outlook Express set up to enter the persons e-mail
address to your address book whenever you reply to an e-mail.
You can either just put up with it or follow the uninstall
directions for the patch at the link below.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/critical/330994/default.aspn