Mystery shortcut on desktop

[2girlsdad]

Anyone have a file appear on their desktop after going online? It has the generic icon Windows uses when it doesn't know what program to use to open it, filename is just "~" Scanned it with AVG, Spybot doesn't pick anything up. Its about a 212kb file. Have seen it both at work and at home, I didn't know if it's anything to worry about or just annoying.

Using Internet explorer at work on a cable modem, Windows 98SE, MSN at home, also Windows 98SE, dial-up modem.

I'd post a screenshot if I knew how...

Thanks in advance for your help. Was just wondering if there's a way to block it, or if it's harmful.

[jabarnutcase]

If I remember correctly, it's an Outlook Express glitch (maybe email addresses that were suppose to go to a temp folder?)
There were a couple of threads here dealing with the "mystery file", but I can't find them yet.

In any case, I believe its perfectly safe to delete....I'll keep looking for the thread.

(Maybe some of you other folks remember that one?) :confused:

(EDIT) OK....Here's one of the threads-(Including threads in the threads) ;)
http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22486&highlight=strange+file+on+desktop

Bottom line...It's not harmful and you can dump it. But interesting reading above anyway. :p
(I would look at it in notepad just to be sure we're talking about the same thing).
While you're at it, be sure you are up to date with critical patches, (and/or), that particular patch for OE. I believe that problem was fixed quite some time ago...At least I sure haven't seen or heard mention of it for a while.

[2girlsdad]

Thanks jabar, looks like that's what it was. It went away after I downloaded the latest patch for OE6. Hopefully that did it.

I appreciate your help. I'm constantly amazed by how much I learn just hanging around here. Since I'm not working in IT, I just play around, I really appreciate the "safety net" having a bunch of people who know what they're doing just a few keystrokes away. I know just enough about things to get myself into trouble. :D

[jabarnutcase]

Glad I could help!
Believe me, I can get myself into plenty of trouble too. ;) :D

[mjc]

It is your address book back up..........that instead of going where it was supposed to go got dumped on the desktop.

[jabarnutcase]

Yes 2girlsdad-
mjc brings up a good point....That is explained in the old threads, but you may want to back up your address book at some point....(Although, if I understand correctly it should be getting updated correctly now with the patch?)

(On the other hand, if I lost some of my address book, it wouldn't bother me a whole lot). :rolleyes: :p

[2girlsdad]

It looks like the patch took care of putting it in the right place--I haven't gone looking for it but as soon as I installed the patch the icon disappeared off of my desktop.

thanks again--you too mjc. :)