Topic: Windows XP PRO. Question Need Help Please!!

[Ravok]

 Every time i get a automatic up date i get a file on my desk top with a tilde ( a squiggly thing) underneath it.
 I have tryed to open it up , it tells me I'm not authorized to look at the file?
 What is it? Why can't i look at it if its on my PC?
 Why is it on my desk top ? And what am i supposed to do with it? I don't want it on my desk top.
 I'm afraid to move or delete it because i don't know what it is ,
 
 Please help !!! Thanks  

[Capt. Mike]

Well, 1 thing is, I don't automatically update...I just take a little time in the morning and check..and if I think it's worthwhile or unavoidable..I do it...I don't like automatic updates, mainly what happens if someone hacks it..and they updtae off thier perverted sick sense of humor??

Mike
 

[Iceman]

My advice to you,

Did you just install WIN XP Pro? if so, go back to your formatted HDD state. (clear the C drive, etc). Reinstall win xp pro, run internet explorer. Go to microsoft.com and let it update that way. I find it much safer/more informative than auto-updating.

[mc_cloud]

if your talking about the ~.......... then I think its a temp file.... in which case...dont worry about it......... lol

[Ravok]

 Yes!!!!!! Thats it , can i delete it?  

[Ravok]

 Capt. Mike , Iceman thanks i will take your advice, And down load my self.
 I get really nervous when i don't know exactly is being down loaded to my PC.  

[Praxis]

Yeah, I believe in windows the ~ is before a temp file.

In a Unix environment it is before the user directory, at least in a Unix web server.

Clear your temp files, and see if it disappears.  Otherwise, delete it, if it doesn't go away.

[Ravok]

 Thanks !! I really do appreciate it.  

[mc_cloud]

no problem :P

[Iceman]

I think MS Word tends to generate them quite a bit, especially if you're working/saving/working/saving etc.  So if you edited/started a word doc on your desktop that might be it. If so, trash it.  

And you're welcome, of course!

[Barabbas]

 
The ~ file is a backup from Outlook Express, and you can delete it.  

Nobody's ever explained to me why OE drops these backups all over the place (Desktop, C:\, C:\Windows, etc...) at random, but that's what it is and it won't hurt to get rid of it.

 

[mc_cloud]

its not just an outlook file...
~ really is a temp file..........most commonly from a word document

[SL-Punisher]

I'm sorry dave I can't delete that. Wouldn't you much rather play a game of minesweeper while I use your credit card to buy microsoft products I think you might like?

[Barabbas]

Quote:
its not just an outlook file...
~ really is a temp file..........most commonly from a word document  

No, it really is just an  Outlook Express file.

 

[Iceman]

While it's obviously possible it is, I'd put my money on a word doc. I see it all the time doing papers and such.  

[mc_cloud]

i've never used outlook express on this computer before...
but I have got teh ~ many times......... only when im using large word docs like said above......but who konws...we could both be right

[Sethan]

Quote:
 Every time i get a automatic up date i get a file on my desk top with a tilde ( a squiggly thing) underneath it.
 I have tryed to open it up , it tells me I'm not authorized to look at the file?
 What is it? Why can't i look at it if its on my PC?
 Why is it on my desk top ? And what am i supposed to do with it? I don't want it on my desk top.
 I'm afraid to move or delete it because i don't know what it is ,
 
 Please help !!! Thanks  

It is most likely a temporary file created by the automatic update process.  Those files are supposed to go away when the applicaiton is no longer being used, and it shouldn't be created on your desktop.

My guess is that for some reason, your desktop has been identified as the temp folder location for the update process.

As to why you cannot delete the files, if it is before a reboot, it is probably because the system thinks they are still in use.  If it is after a reboot, that would likely be because the 'owner' of those files (as far as the system is concerned) is not you, and you don't have administrative privileges on the account you are logged in as.  If you log in as a system admin, you should be able to delete them.

It is also possible you have a virus, adware, or spyware which has installed .DLL files to your desktop (have seen this once before), which the system will not let you remove while the virus, adware or spyware is still installed.

[Demandred]

Quote:
  If it is after a reboot, that would likely be because the 'owner' of those files (as far as the system is concerned) is not you, and you don't have administrative privileges on the account you are logged in as.  If you log in as a system admin, you should be able to delete them.  

Sometimes you can't, even when logged in as administrator. The OS and some programs run as system which is the true god account on Windows. This is why Linux is better - the highest level is root, which you can log in as. :P

[Ravok]

 Every time i get a automatic up date i get a file on my desk top with a tilde ( a squiggly thing) underneath it.
 I have tryed to open it up , it tells me I'm not authorized to look at the file?
 What is it? Why can't i look at it if its on my PC?
 Why is it on my desk top ? And what am i supposed to do with it? I don't want it on my desk top.
 I'm afraid to move or delete it because i don't know what it is ,
 
 Please help !!! Thanks  

[Capt. Mike]

Well, 1 thing is, I don't automatically update...I just take a little time in the morning and check..and if I think it's worthwhile or unavoidable..I do it...I don't like automatic updates, mainly what happens if someone hacks it..and they updtae off thier perverted sick sense of humor??

Mike