C:

[rocky12345]

I have a file in C: call just ~ ,how can I know where does it come from Rocky

[photolady]

how about right click, choose properties. See if it shows the path it comes from.

[deltarho]

The Properties sheet will only tell you C: which you know anyway.

Have a look at the creation & modified dates. Chances are they will be old. You could move the file and leave it moved for say a month. If nothing complains then delete it. It's probably a temp file but it is poor programming to drop it into your root directory.

Every now and then see if another ~ appears in C: If not then the app that put it there is probably gone. If there is a new ~ then, again, check the dates and then 'home in' on it by removing it and check at more regular intervals. You may be able to establish what is putting it there.

How big is it? I wouldn't be surprised to hear that it is a zero byte file.

Will you cause any problems by moving the file? I doubt it. Most programmers will check that a file exists before trying to open it and if critical will then issue an error. If non critical then existence will not be checked but the 'Open file' will be flagged to create a file if not found.

[Welshjim]

rocky12345--It probably is one of your more recent OE Address Book backup files ( usually .wa~). You can test by clicking on it and using wab from the Open With menu to read it.
As a result of one of the recent MS patches this backup is now being stored in the wrong place. Some people find it on the Desktop. Seems you are getting it in the C:\ directory. No fix from MS yet.
See details here
http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread...threadid=16820

[rocky12345]

I have deleted the file many times but it keeps coming back,and the size of it is 178kb.the name is just ~


Rocky

[deltarho]

Make a copy, rename to ~.txt and load into a text editor. You may see some giveaway alpha/numeric characters.

Better still, if you can, examine a binary dump. I use TextPad and often look at binary dumps of dlls & exes looking for commands and such. This is a better route as Hex0D & Hex0A will show as 0D & 0A rather than be treated as carriage returns and linefeeds.

Keep an eye on the file's creation & modified date/time stamps.

[deltarho]

I haven't had my second coffee yet?

Rename to ~.txt and attach to your post. I'll download it and examine it. Can you virus check it first?

[Welshjim]

Good Grief!! Didn't anyone read my first post??
P.S. If I am correct, the ~ file is not coming back. A new one is being created every time you make a change to your Address Book. Like when you reply to someone in OE and have that person's email address automatically added to the Address Book.