Strange file...

[SpaghettiHoops]

Every once in a while a file appears on my desktop that windows(XP) doesnt recognise.Its 176KB in size and has a '~' icon on it.Does any body know what it is?Ive (stupidly?)opened it once and it contains code.At first I thought it might be something to do with Quicktime as my friend streams a lot of stuff through this program,but the 'time file created' doesnt tie in with this theory.Could this file be a 'trojan' or virus?My system seems to be ok,but this file is annoying me! Thanks in advance.

[Iceman]

first thing you could try is doing a full system scan using some wicked anti virus software like <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.grisoft.com">AVG</a> and if that doesn't say you have anything then the chances are that it is a piece of software making temporary files to your desktop...if you post the exact filename someone might recognise it

[MonkeyNuts]

Hey Spaghettihoops,<BR><BR>I have seen the same thing before, I believe what you have is just what Iceman states is a temp file.<BR><BR>If you right click on it and chose properties it will more than likely say "custom.dic" file which is a dictionary file for either Microsoft word or when using the spell check in outlook express. For some reason it dumps that temp file on the desk top. <BR><BR>If you have a different file extension than ".dic" post back or do a search in google.

[in54n3]

ive seen the ~ file, it was on a skool comp...weird ms glitch i think

[grafton26]

I've seen it too winxp and win me (that i know of ) will add the TILD symbol to older files sometimes, such as when you have upgreded from an earlier OS, some of the old files will have the symbol replacing part of the filename.<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

[joesnavel]

In the beginning there was DOS, and that was good. Then DAVE made Windows...<BR><BR>Dos had restrictive rules for file names. They had to be 8.3 format (8 characters.3 char extension) and couldn't have special characters. When windows hit the scene the rules relaxed for file names, but earlier windows OS's were still based on DOS, so there had to be a way for windows to translate file names between the two. Hence the tilda (~). Windows would truncate file names and put a ~1 at the end (or ~2....3...etc if there were similar names after shortening them) So the folder Program Files became Progr~1. Windows lost it's dependence on DOS somewhere around the Windows 2000/NT era, but every once in a while it still reverts to this 8.3 file name format. Can't tell you why. I did recently learn that you can keep windows from keeping track of the 8.3 file translations if you don't use any programs that rely on DOS interfaces. It's a registry tweak. You can find out how in the PCStats top 101 windows tweaks.

[TranceJunkieXL]

Au Contraire! That ~ file that keeps appearing on the desktop is from either Outlook or Outlook express. Some glitch with one of the updates (as if there are only a few - LOL) causes the program to save it's address book to the desktop in that manner. Give me a few as I'm checking back issues of WinXPNews (.com) to see how to fix that.<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

[TranceJunkieXL]

Ahhh, <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.pchell.com/support/tildefile.shtml">here</a>we go. Guess it's the backup copy of Windows address book. Article includes a fix as well. You guys might find it beneficial to subscribe to the WinXPNews newsletter. I know I do.<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">