Have you encountered a mysterious file on your desktop with a generic icon and a tilde? If so, you've encountered a bug that occurs with Outlook Express and Internet Explorer. Before you trash this file, find out what it really is and why you may want to keep it.

Eventually, it's going to happen. You're going to look at your desktop and see an icon with a tilde underneath.

The good news is the file isn't a virus or spy ware. This is a byproduct of a security update Microsoft released for Outlook Express last year. The file is a backup of your Windows Address book. This file is supposed to be called yourusername.wa~. However, a bug in the patch creates a tilde instead.

Although you can delete the file, the better idea is to rename to something meaningful such as backup.wab. You can also move it to another folder if you don't want it cluttering your desktop.

Microsoft has a Hotfix for this problem if you find it annoying. However, the fix will require you to make a registry change.

Additional Information

• URL: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=830921